Space policy roundup – May.3.2021 | Space-for-All at HobbySpace

A sampling of links to recent space policy, politics, and government (US and international) related space news and resource items that I found of interest (find previous space policy roundups here):

International space

Australia:
- ESA to build second deep space dish in Australia – ESA
Brazil:
- Virgin Orbit Selected to Bring Orbital Launch Capabilities to Brazil | Virgin Orbit
- Brazil to launch from Alcântara on Virgin Orbit – SpaceWatch.Global
China:
Europe
- Setting sail for sustainable space – ESA
- ESA Explores a fictional asteroid impact – ESA
India:
- Second Covid wave sweeps ISRO’s rocket station, 350 new cases reported in Sriharikota- The New Indian Express
Israel:
- Israeli startups can disrupt the global space industry – CTech
Lithuania:
- Lithuania becomes ESA Associate Member state – ESA
Norway:
- Space Flight Laboratory’s NorSat-3 Maritime Smallsat Launched — Commissioning Underway For The Norwegian Space Agency – SatNews
Portugal:
- Portugal leading in tracking space junk – The Portugal News
Russia:
Scotland:
- Space Café Scotland Recap by Angela Mathis: Movers and Shakers from the Scottish Space Leadership Council – SpaceWatch.Global (Includes video)

Webcasts:

** China Space Station Tianhe Module Launched, Megaconstellation Operator China SatNet Created – Ep 31 – Dongfang Hour – YouTube

Hello and welcome to another episode of the Dongfang Hour China Aero/Space News Roundup! Without further ado, the news update from the week of 26 April – 2 May.

1) Chinese Space Station: launch of the core Module Tianhe on-board Launch March 5B …
2) Creation of a New Space SoE China SatNet …
3) Long March 6 launches a Batch of 9 Smallsats into Orbit, many payloads of interest …

#SpaceWatchGL Column: Dongfang Hour China Aerospace News Roundup 26 April – 2 May 2021 – SpaceWatch.Global

** China plans four crewed missions to space – SciNews

According to Yang Liwei, China’s first astronaut, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) plans for crewed missions to space. A total of 12 astronauts will be launched in 2021 and 2022 to the China Space Station. The Tianhe Core Module, the first component of the China Space Station, is scheduled to be launch this spring. Credit: China Central Television

** New journey begins: China launches space station core module Tianhe – New China TV – China’s Space Station: Assembly Plans Detailed – Leonard David

** China’s ISS Competitor Begins Construction In Orbit – Scott Manley

** Episode 35 FCC NEPA Ruling on Space X Starlink Constellation – Space Thoughts (YouTube) – Space Law & Policy Solutions/Michael Listner

** Sunday, May.2.2021 – Dr. David Livingston led an open lines program discussion “with multiple callers, lot of subject and topic variety, email questions and more“.

**Thursday, Apr.29.2021 – Rod Pyle and Aggie Kobrin discussed

the NSS Ad Astra Special Issue devoted to space settlement which they referred to as living in space. The second part of our program focused on the all virtual and completely free ISDC 2021 toward the end of June this year.

** Hotel Mars – John Batchelor Show/The Space Show – Wednesday, Apr.28.2021 – Anatoly Zak of RussianSpaceWeb.com spoke with John Batchelor and Dr. David Livingston about

the Russian plans to build a new space station after the ISS agreement expires in 2024. We talked about their new station plans, the use of existing modules though never flown on the ISS, their plans for the existing modules connected to the ISS, their plans to handle the ISS in its final period plus build out the new station, both at the same time. Also discussed was the planned orbit of the new Russian station and what this might mean for ISS activities with the Russians, especially regarding costs. The development of the Chinese space station came up and Anatoly discussed the TRL for China and their space station work.

** The Space Show – Tuesday, Apr.28.2021 – Eric Berger of Ars Technica discussed “is new book about the beginning phase of SpaceX, Liftoff: Elon Musk and the Desperate Early Days That Launched SpaceX [Amazon commission link]. Eric responded to multiple questions about Artemis, the recent NASA Human Lander Award and what might come next plus general Elon Musk and SpaceX questions.”

***How Starlink, Project Kuiper and other satellite broadband providers could change society – GeekWire

*** NLRA 2021-7: Technology Advancement and Applied Research on the ISS National Lab (Cycle 2) – ISS National Lab

** Space Café WebTalk REGIONAL NETHERLANDS – Dr. Hilde Stenuit – 19. March 2021 – spacewatch. global – News Room – YouTube

Dr. Hilde Stenuit is a seasoned researcher and team leader for Space Applications Services working to provide fast and direct access to space for research and technology users through the ICE Cubes, or International Commercial Experiment Cubes program. This program offers cube-sized experiments in microgravity allowing or people on Earth to interact directly with their experiments up in space. This past week, space-interested students Bano Barzingi and Chiara Moenter, sit down with Hilde to discuss her work as well as the factors of space sustainability trends and a need for awareness outside of the space sector.

With over 20 years of experience working within the space industry and an immense passion, Hilde’s experience and knowledge are incredibly valuable. Onboard the International Space Station, Hilde, and her team are using the ICE Cubes to conduct research in microgravity. The first ICE Cube was installed by Alexander Gest in July 2018. Ever since, multiple experiments were conducted in life science, biology, fluid dynamics, agriculture, and many other fields.

So what happens if you take gravity out of the equation?