Activism, Space Policy

Space policy roundup – May.3.2021

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

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 …

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

#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?

** April 30, 2021 Zimmerman/Batchelor podcast

** April 28, 2021 Zimmerman/Batchelor podcast

====

=== Amazon Ads ===

Liftoff: Elon Musk and the Desperate Early Days
That Launched SpaceX

====

America’s New Destiny in Space

Activism, Space Policy, SpaceCasts

The Space Show this week – May.3.2021

The guests and topics of discussion on The Space Show this week:

1. Monday, May. 3, 2021; 7 pm PDT (9 pm CDT, 10 pm EDT: A Hotel Mars program with John Batchelor and Dr. David Livingston talking with Rod Pyle of the National Space Society (NSS) about the NSS Ad Astra magazine‘s latest issue, which is focused on space settlement.

2. Tuesday, May. 4, 2021; 7 pm PDT (9 pm CDT, 10 pm EDT): We welcome  Col. (USAF Ret) Karlton Johnson, the new National Space Society (NSS) Chairman of the Board. We have multiple topics to discuss with our guest.

3. Wednesday, May. 5, 2021: No program scheduled.

4. Thursday, May. 6, 2021; 7-8:30 pm PDT (9-10:30 pm CDT, 10-11:30 pm EDT): No program scheduled.

5. Friday, May.7 2021; 9:30-11 am PDT (11:30 am-1 pm CDT, 12:30-2 pm EDT): We welcome Tom McCarthy of Motiv Space Systems on their technology and hardware for Mars and more.

6. Sunday, May.9, 2021; 12-1:30 pm PDT (3-4:30 pm EDT, 2-3:30 pm CDT): We welcome Dr. Casey Handmer of NASA JPL to discuss his recent blog articles on SLS, SpaceX and more.

Some recent shows:

** 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“.

** Friday, Apr.30.2021 – Greg Meholic of The Aerospace Corporation talked “about fusion, nuclear propulsion, Dr. Woodward and the Mach Effect, EMdrive and other forms of advanced propulsion“.

**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.

** Tuesday, Apr.27.2021 – Eric Berger of Ars Technica discussed

his 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.

** See also:
* The Space Show Archives
* The Space Show Newsletter
* The Space Show Shop

The Space Show is a project of the One Giant Leap Foundation.

The Space Show - David Livingston
The Space Show – Dr. David Livingston

=== Amazon Ads ===

Space Mining and Manufacturing:
Off-World Resources and Revolutionary Engineering Techniques

====

Extraterrestrial:
The First Sign of Intelligent Life Beyond Earth

Astronomy, Education, Space participation

Videos: May 2021 night sky highlights

** What’s Up: May 2021 Skywatching Tips from NASA – NASA JPL

What are some skywatching highlights in May 2021? Beginning mid-May, find all four inner planets (including Earth!) near the western horizon after sunset. And on May 26, a supermoon total eclipse.

Additional information about topics covered in this episode of What’s Up, along with still images from the video, and the video transcript, are available at https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/whats-up…​.

** Tonight’s Sky: May – Space Telescope Science Institute

In May, we are looking away from the crowded, dusty plane of our own galaxy toward a region where the sky is brimming with distant galaxies. Locate Virgo to find a concentration of roughly 2,000 galaxies and search for Coma Berenices to identify many more. Keep watching for space-based views of galaxies like the Sombrero Galaxy, M87, and M64.

** What to see in the night sky: May 2021 – BBC Sky at Night Magazine

What can you see in the night sky tonight? Astronomers Pete Lawrence and Paul Abel guide us through April’s night sky highlights and reveal the stars, constellations and planets worth looking out for over the coming weeks.

** What’s in the Night Sky May 2021 #WITNS – Alyn Wallace

** Night Sky Notebook May 2021 – Peter Detterline

** See also:

=== Amazon Ad ===

Stellaris: People of the Stars

===

Envisioning Exoplanets:
Searching for Life in the Galaxy

In Space Infrastructure, Living in Space, Space Systems

Videos: “Space to Ground” + Other ISS reports – Apr.30.2021

Here is the latest episode in NASA’s Space to Ground weekly report on activities related to the International Space Station:

** Crew-1 Astronauts Advance Research in Space – NASA Johnson

After six months aboard the International Space Station, NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 astronauts will return home on April 28, 2021. The four crewmembers — NASA astronauts Mike Hopkins, Victor Glover, and Shannon Walker, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Soichi Noguchi — will travel back to Earth inside a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. The crewmembers contributed to hundreds of scientific investigations and technology demonstrations while aboard the orbiting laboratory. This valuable scientific research helps to prepare humans for future space exploration missions while generating numerous innovations and benefits for humanity on Earth. Take a look at some of the scientific milestones accomplished during the Crew-1 mission: https://go.nasa.gov/3aoWxGn​ Learn more about the research being conducted on station: https://www.nasa.gov/iss-science​

** Expedition 65 Space Station Crew Talks With CBS News – April 29, 2021 – NASA Video

Aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 65 Flight Engineers Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur of NASA discussed the early days of their planned six-month mission on the outpost during an in-flight interview April 29 with CBS News. They launched to the station on April 23 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on the Crew Dragon spacecraft “Endeavour”.

** Expedition 65 ESA Inflight Astronaut Pesquet Speaks With European Media – April 30, 2021 – NASA Video

Aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 65 Flight Engineer Thomas Pesquet of ESA (European Space Agency) discussed his ride to the complex aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon “Endeavour” and the early days of his mission during a question and answer session with European reporters April 30. Pesquet is making his second flight into space and will assume command of the station this fall in the final days of his planned six-month journey.

** Q&A with NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 Astronauts Aboard the Space Station – NASA

Hear from NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 astronauts ahead of their return to Earth! At 12:30 p.m. EDT, join NASA astronauts Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover, and Shannon Walker, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Soichi Noguchi for a Q&A about their six-month mission and upcoming departure from the International Space Station.

=== Amazon Ad ===

Outpost in Orbit:
A Pictorial & Verbal History of the Space Station

====

LEGO Ideas International Space Station Building Kit,
Adult Set for Display,
Makes a Great Birthday Present
(864 Pieces)

Activism, Roundup

Space policy roundup – Apr.26.2021

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

Webcasts:

** Episode 34 – What’s Hot 1st Quarter 2021 – Space Thoughts (YouTube) – Space Law & Policy Solutions/Michael Listner

** China’s Mars rover named Zhurong, China Space Day, Satellite Laser Comms, Tianbing Rockets – Ep 30 – 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 19 – 25 April.

1) The 6th China Space Day took place in Nanjing on Saturday April 24 …
2) ChinaSat Made Some Big Statements about China’s Constellation Plans …
3) Spacety and Intane Optics complete China’s first private satellite-ground laser comms experiment …
4) Tianbing Aerospace Announces an Intelligent Rocket Manufacturing Base in Suzhou …

** Space Solar Power Incremental Demonstrations and Research Project (SSPIDR) – AFResearchLab

SSPIDR is a series of Integrated Demonstrations and Technology Maturation efforts at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Space Vehicles Directorate to address space-based power collection and transmission capabilities. Space solar power beaming is not a new concept; yet until recently, the technology did not have a clear path forward. In conjunction with primary industry partner Northrop Grumman, AFRL established the SSPIDR project to mature technology critical to building an operational solar power transmission system for providing reliable and logistically agile power to expeditionary forces. Learn more: https://afresearchlab.com/technology/…

** Friday, Apr.23.2021 – The Space Show – James A. M. Muncy discussed “space policy and the new administration, Sen. Nelson, SLS, SpaceX and lots more“.

** Hotel Mars – John Batchelor Show/The Space Show – Wednesday, Apr.21.2021 – Rand Simberg spoke with John Batchelor and Dr. David Livingston about “the nomination of retired Senator Bill Nelson to the position of the new NASA Administrator. Rand talked about Sen. Nelson being considered the father of SLS, what might happen when the new SpaceX big rockets start flying which will likely impact SLS, plus Rand talked about risk taking and Sen. Nelson being risk averse.”

*** Space Café WebTalk – BLACK OPS by Ralph Thiele – Edition 3 – 11. March 2021 – spacewatch. global – News Room – YouTube

In this Space Cafè “Black Ops by Ralph Thiele #3”, Colonel (Ret`d) Ralph Thiele, Chairman of the Berlin based Political-Military Society, President of Euro Défense-Germany, and Managing Director of StratByrd Consulting, Germany talked with his guest about the Implication for Security & Defence coming with:

Outpace, Outthink, Outmaneuver – New Technologies and Competition in Space

Geostrategic competition is global in scope and includes outer space. The boundaries between civil and military competition have become fluid and are marked by multiple hybrid threat situations, attacks on businesses and critical infrastructure, and the threat of prolonged, low-intensity or shorter, high-intensity conflict. Across the threat spectrum, space holds a critical role. In particular, Russia and China are using new, disruptive dual-use technologies as the key to advancing their own capabilities and geopolitical ambitions. Both countries have weaponized space and have repeatedly demonstrated their capabilities for precise maneuvers in space. Space is becoming increasingly contested in multiple domains-physical, cyber and electromagnetic.

A discussion about threats, new technologies such as AI and warfare in space with : Robie I. Samanta Roy, Ph.D., Vice President, Technology, Intelligence, Cyber and Technology, Lockheed Martin Government Affairs

** Space Café WebTalk – José Achache – 16. March 2021 – spacewatch. global – News Room – YouTube

José Achache is the founder and CEO of ALTYN, a Geneva-based Swiss company that develops space-related projects such as space security. This week, he and SpaceWatch.Global publisher, Torsten Kriening, discuss trends in space, as well as space warfare and how the industry’s increasing value is increasing the margin for threats that could affect our everyday lives.

With over 40 years of experience spanning multiple countries, José’s experience is paralleled by few. In addition to his role as CEO of ALTYN, he is the Managing Director of AP Swiss, which administers the European Space Agency’s Advanced Research in Telecommunications Programme (ARTES), and is the chair of several space company boards, including Media Lario S.r.l and Dotphoton. His previous roles include the Deputy General for France’s space agency, CNES, and Director of Earth Observation for the European Space Agency, to name a few.

** JADO, 5G and the Speed of Mission Need – Constellations Podcast

Listen to Stacy Kubicek, Vice President and General Manager for Mission Solutions at Lockheed Martin talk about mission critical solutions that benefit the warfighter and support national defense. She will discuss getting data to the warfighter much faster with transformational technology that includes 5G. Ms. Kubicek discusses interoperability and battle space connectivity being critical to staying ahead of our adversaries, as well as an explanation of the types of assets that would support this kind of capability. Learn about the adoption of agile software development methods that accelerate delivery of software to address threats – hint, it is not the waterfall model. Finally, hear about the need to take a team approach to provide the best solutions for the military and the warfighter, which is essentially what matters at the end of the day.

** 20 years of ESA on the ISS – ESA

** Dodging debris to keep satellites safe – ESA

** April 23, 2021 Zimmerman/Batchelor podcast

** April 21, 2021 Zimmerman/Batchelor podcast

====

Jupiter

=== Amazon Ads ===

America’s New Destiny in Space

====

Stellaris: People of the Stars

Everyone can participate in space