The Space Show this week – Dec.7.2020

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

1. Monday, Dec. 7, 2020; 7 pm PDT (9 pm CDT, 10 pm EDT: No special programming.

2. Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020; 7 pm PDT (9 pm CDT, 10 pm EDT): As we approach the end of 2020, Dr. Haym Benaroya suggested a light hearted and fun program around a book written years ago by a then NASA engineer, Josef F. Blumrich, titled The Spaceships of Ezekiel [pdf]. Dr. Benaroya is co-hosting this program with our featured guest, Dr. William Belfer who brought the book to the attention of Dr. Benaroya who told me about it.

3. Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020: Hotel Mars TBA pre-recorded. No Hotel Mars scheduled for this week.

4. Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020; 7-8:30 pm PDT (9-10:30 pm CDT, 10-11:30 pm EDT): No program today.

5. Friday, Dec. 11, 2020; 9:30-11 am PDT (11:30 am-1 pm CDT, 12:30-2 pm EDT): We welcome back space attorney Laura Montgomery for a review of space law activity in 2020 and a look ahead to 2021.

6. Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020; 12-1:30 pm PDT (3-4:30 pm EDT, 2-3:30 pm CDT): We welcome back OPEN LINES. Call in, tell what is on your mind with space. We want to hear from you. All callers welcome.

Some recent shows:

** Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020Dr. Michael Gleason discussed “national security with our space forces”.

** Friday, Dec.4, 2020Doug Stewart and Ron Miller talked about the famous space artist Chesley Bonestell and Doug’s film, Chesley Bonestell: A Brush With The Future.

** Hotel Mars (Joint John Bachelor Show/Space Show program) – Wed. Dec.2.2020Douglas Messier spoke with John Batchelor and Dr. David Livingston about “the upcoming SpaceX Starship hop test to 15KM. In addition, [they] talked about the new public information regarding longer duration human spaceflight and mitochondrial changes in the cells that are shown to cause problems with humans in space.”

Audio file not yet posted.

** Tuesday, Dec.1.2020Derek Webber discussed lunar commercial development as laid out in his Space Review article of Nov. 15, 2020, , Lunar commerce: a question of semantics?

** 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

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Videos: “Space to Ground” + Other ISS reports – Dec.4.2020

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

** Radishes Growing in Space: 27 Days in 10 Seconds – NASA

Researchers are growing radishes aboard the International Space Station as a part of the Plant Habitat-02 experiment. The experiment tests radishes growing in different types of light and soils as part of ongoing efforts to produce food in space. Radishes are used because they are nutritious, grow quickly and are genetically similar to Arabidopsis, a plant studied frequently in microgravity. Check out one month of space station radish growth for the study in 10 seconds!

** International Space Station 20th Anniversary Panel Expanding the Market in Low Earth Orbit – NASA

NASA is committed to stimulating the low-Earth orbit economy as the next step in humanity’s exploration and expansion into the solar system. Low-Earth orbit provides an ideal environment for crew training, fundamental and applied research, and advanced systems development, as well as other activities. In recognition of the 20th anniversary of continuous human presence aboard the International Space Station, listen as NASA Public Affairs Officer Gary Jordan sits down with some of the most influential people leading these commercialization efforts and learn how the space station will play a critical role in NASA’s goal to develop a robust commercial economy in low-Earth orbit. Joining the conversation are Mike Read – International Space Station Business and Economic Development Manager at NASA, John Mulholland – Vice President and Manager for the International Space Station Program at Boeing, Christine Kretz – Vice President of Programs and Partnerships for the International Space Station U.S. National Lab, Jeffrey Manber – Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder at Nanoracks, Rich Boling – Vice President of Corporate Advancement at Techshot, Phil McAlister – Director of Commercial Spaceflight at NASA, Benji Reed – Senior Director of Human Spaceflight at SpaceX, and Ven Feng – Deputy Manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

** ISS National Lab Overview Video: SpaceX CRS-21 ISS National Lab:

SpaceX’s 21st commercial resupply mission (CRS-21) to the International Space Station (ISS) is slated for launch no earlier than December 5 at 11:39 a.m. ET from Launch Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The ISS U.S. National Laboratory is sponsoring more than 15 payloads on this mission that will bring value to our nation and further enable a sustainable market in low Earth orbit. Many investigations included in this launch are in the areas of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, and results could provide insights that may lead to therapeutics capable of improving patient care on Earth and beyond. Additionally, this launch will feature multiple student experiments that will engage and excite the next generation of researchers and explorers.

** View of Earth From Space | NASA Astronaut in Space | ISS International Space StationAESTHETIC CHANNEL

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Space transport roundup – Dec.3.2020

A sampling of recent articles, videos, and images dealing with space transport (find previous roundups here):

** SpaceX set to launch Starship prototype SN8 to 15 km following successful static firing of its three Raptor engines on Nov. 24th. The company currently has a FAA permit for a flight during a 3 day window opening on Dec. 4th. (There are local restrictions on closing access to the beach on weekends so the window may effectively be 1 day long.) A wet dress rehearsal took place on Wed. Dec. 2nd. Elon Musk had indicated that there would be another static firing before the flight but it looks like they may skip this.

[ Update: The flight has been postponed till Monday Dec. 7th at the earliest. Also, the max altitude will be 12.5 km rather than 15 km.]

Find more about this and other SpaceX activities below

** Arianespace launches Soyuz with reconnaissance satellite for UAE on Dec.1st from the spaceport in French Guiana: Flight VS24: Soyuz lifts off from the Spaceport in French Guiana – Arianespace

On Tuesday, December 1, at 10:33 p.m. (local time), Arianespace successfully launched the FalconEye optical observation satellite using a Soyuz rocket from the Guiana Space Center (CSG), Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. FalconEye is a very-high-performance optical Earth observation satellite developed in a consortium led by Airbus Defence and Space and Thales Alenia Space for the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces (UAEAF).

See also Soyuz rocket launches Emirati military satellite after lengthy delay – Spaceflight Now.

Continue reading Space transport roundup – Dec.3.2020

Videos: Night sky highlights for December 2020

Update: What’s Up: December 2020 Skywatching Tips from NASA – JPL

What are some skywatching highlights in December 2020? Catch the year’s best meteor shower, the Geminids, in the middle of the month. Then witness an extremely close pairing of Jupiter and Saturn that won’t be repeated for decades. And mark the shortest day of the year on the northern winter solstice. 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….

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** Tonight’s Sky: DecemberSpace Telescope Science Institute

Step outside on a cold December night when the stars shine bright to find the Big Dipper, Cassiopeia, and Cepheus. They will help you locate a binary star system, a fan-shaped open star cluster, and a variable star. Stay tuned for space-based views of a ragged spiral galaxy, an open star cluster, and an edge-on galaxy.

** What to see in the night sky, December 2020BBC Sky at Night Magazine

What can you see in the night sky tonight? Astronomers Pete Lawrence and Paul Abel talk us through the best sights to see in the night sky throughout December 2020, including how to see the Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn (03:30) and the Geminid meteor shower (08:48).

** What’s in the Night Sky December 2020 #WITNS | Great Conjunction | Solar Eclipse | Geminid Meteors – Alyn Wallace

** The Night Sky & A Telescope – The Night Sky Sights – December 2020Richard J. Bartlett

This month, Jupiter and Saturn are at their closest for 400 years, while Mars still shines in the evening hours. The Geminid meteor shower reaches its maximum on the 13th, and we’ll take a closer look at the Pleiades star cluster.

** More night sky advice:

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Space policy roundup – Nov.30.2020

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:

** Space Café Podcast Episode 016 Featuring Pamela Melroy … – SpaceWatch.Global

It is not easy to summarize Pamela Melroy in a few lines. No matter what she gets in touch with, she is most likely one of the best at it. One of the highlights was certainly one of the most daring outdoor missions that any human being has ever done on the International Space Station ISS. Now she looks back on one of the most exciting careers ever and has exciting messages for the future of space travel.

**Dongfang China Aerospace News Roundup – 23 Nov – 29 Nov 2020 – SpaceWatch.Global

1) Chang’e-5 Lunar Return Mission …
2) China Satcom replacing older broadcast satellites …
3) The Trump Administration could blacklist 89 companies with “military ties” …
4) CASIC Methalox Engine …
5) World 5G Convention in Guangzhou …

** Dongfang China Aerospace News Roundup – 16 Nov – 22 Nov 2020 – SpaceWatch.Global

ChinaSat-16 5G Test…
Launch of Tiantong-1 02 …
Galaxy Space Funding Round …
Appearance of Shandong Space …
Our “Only in China” News of the Week: …

** Eric Felt – What’s New At The AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate?Cold Star Technologies

Col. Eric Felt is the Director at Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate. He is also one of 49 Air Force Research Lab, Phillips Research Site officers selected to join the United States Space Force. With host Jason Kanigan on the Cold Star Project, Col. Felt discusses: – Regarding the State of the Space Industry 2020 Report that you were one of the four main signatories of, what were your biggest takeaways from both the process of developing this report and the concluding product? How would you recommend space industry folks (civilians included) make use of it? – What is the focus of the Space Vehicles Directorate; what do you believe are the necessary elements to a plan for keeping American capabilities and effectiveness ahead of our geopolitical opponents?

** Official launch of the European Space Resources Innovation Centre (ESRIC)Luxembourg Space Agency

Watch our video «Driving the future of Space Exploration» to see what is planned and how space resources will be used to make space exploration missions possible and viable.

https://youtu.be/CSdaWvDwL-Y

** The Space Show – Sunday, Nov.29, 2020 – Open lines program with Dr. David Livingston leading a discussion with callers on a wide range of space topics.

** The Space Show – Tuesday, Nov.24.2020Douglas Messier discussed “space in 2020 plus a look ahead for space 2021. All the key events and not so key events were examined.

** November 20, 2020 Zimmerman/Batchelor podcastBehind the Black

** November 25, 2020 Zimmerman/Batchelor podcast

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