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Vol 28, No 5
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NOAA Weather Satellite To Track Climate Change, Search & Rescue

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's latest polar-orbiting satellite, called NOAA-N Prime, will be launched by NASA on Feb 4 via a Delta 2 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in CA. The mission is the 16th and last in this series of Polar Operational Environmental Satellites (POES) that have been collecting data on Earth's surface and atmosphere for nearly 50 years. The POES constellation provides total global coverage 4 times a day, supporting the data requirements of 140 nations. NOAA data can be accessed by all countries and several instruments are provided by international partners. On Earth, the collected data assists in weather forecasts, climate change studies, vegetation monitoring, biomass burning, El Nino and La Nina predictions, and pollution and sea ice tracking. In space, the satellites provide data for warnings of solar winds that can disrupt satellite communications and endanger the safety of astronauts. Additionally, NOAA-N Prime will support the Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking System, or SARSAT, which detects emergency distress beacons from aviators, mariners and individuals in remote locations. The POES satellites will be replaced by the National Polar-Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System, or NPOESS, beginning in 2013. Pictured: NASA Search and Rescue Mission Manager Dave Affens (R), POES Observatory Manager Laurie Kleppin (L). (Credit: NASA, NOAA)

Constellation Program 2009 Progress To Include Engine / Launch Tests

As the new administration is establishing its agenda and priorities in Washington DC, NASA and its prime contractors continue to advance the main components of the USA exploration program that is intended to return humans to the Moon as early as 2015, and then later on to Mars and beyond. Currently, the first Ares 1 test rocket (Ares 1-X) is being prepared for the first of several uncrewed demonstration launches, which will take place this summer from KSC in FL. Ares 1-X will climb about 40.2 km in 2 minutes providing data on its first stage performance, parachute recovery system and overall vehicle aerodynamics to support the vehicle's critical design review in 2010. The larger Ares 5 rocket (TR) will be the heavy lifter of the program. NASA has put out a RFP for Phase 1 concept definition, due Feb 9, and the first test flight of Ares 5 is expected around 2018. The Orion crew exploration vehicle (B) is projected to be the most capable and adaptable spaceflight vehicle in history. The conical module, measuring approximately 5 meters in  diameter, will be developed at the newly renovated High Bay Facility of the O&C Building at NASA KSC. Lockheed Martin is scheduled to begin Orion spacecraft assembly activities in 2012. Altair lunar lander development is also advancing with Pratt & Whitney's successful completion of its 3rd round of tests of the Common Extensible Cryogenic Engine (TL), which may be used for the craft's soft landing on the Moon. NASA has also issued a RFP, due Feb 27, for concept definition and requirements analysis support for the Moon lander. (Credit: NASA)
THIS WEEK
FEBRUARY
MARCH
APRIL
LEGEND
All times for terrestrial events in local time unless noted.
All times for international terrestrial events in local time unless noted.
All times for space events, and...
All times for international space / astro events in Hawaii Standard Time unless noted. Add 10 hours to obtain UT ('Universal Time;' Greenwich, England).
Weekly Planet Watch – Morning Planets: Mercury (ESE), Saturn (S) / Evening Planets: Venus (SW).
 

MONDAY
Feb 2 — International Space Station, LEO: Expedition 18 crew preparing for expansion to 6-person crew in May, NASA to hold briefing with E20, 21 crew members Mar 4; http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html.
Feb 2 — Conrad Foundation, Online: Finalist teams for the Pete Conrad 'Spirit of Innovation Awards Competition' to be announced at the Conrad Foundation USTREAM.tv channel; http://www.ustream.tv/channel/conrad-award-expert-sessions.
Feb 2-3 — Applied Technology Institute, Beltsville MD: 'Space Environment Course;' http://www.aticourses.com/space_environment.htm.
Feb 2-5 — International Association of Broadcast Manufacturers, et al, Moscow, Russia: '11th International Exhibition & Conference: CSTB-2009;' http://www.cstb.ru/en/cstb/.
Feb 2-23 — NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt MD: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center celebrates Black History Month, this week's featured employees: Dewayne Washington, Noble Jones; http://www.spaceref.com/calendar/calendar.html?pid=5289.
Feb 2 — Cassini Flyby, Saturn Orbit: Spacecraft conducts distant flyby of Saturn moon Rhea (altitude = 97,000 km); http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/saturntourdates/saturntourdates2009/.
Feb 2 — Mars, Red Planet: The operating team for the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit is conducting diagnostic tests on the rover after it did not report some of its recent activities and was unable to determine its orientation; http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2009-011.
Feb 2 — Moon: First Quarter; 13:12.
Feb 2 — Asteroid 2008 CD119: Near-Earth Flyby; (0.044 AU).
Continued from . . .
Jan 13 — Portland Center Stage, Portland OR: 'Apollo' play about spaceflight; through Feb 8; http://www.pcs.org/.
Jan 26 — NASA, Germany / Middle East: Endeavour STS-126 crew to visit US military personnel serving overseas; through Feb 5; http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2009/jan/HQ_M09015_Crew_visits_troops.html.
Jan 30 — American Astronautical Society / Rocky Mountain Section, Breckenridge CO: '32nd Annual Guidance and Control Conference;' through Feb 4; http://www.aas-rocky-mountain-section.org/conf_info.htm.
Feb 1 — Aspen Center for Physics, Aspen CO: '2009 Aspen Winter Conference on Astrophysics: 30 years of Magnetars - New Frontiers;' through Feb 7; http://www.pd.infn.it/astro/pers/aspen2009/.
Feb 1 — University of Utah Department of Physics, Snowbird UT: '2009 Snowbird Workshop on Particle Astrophysics, Astronomy and Cosmology (SNOWPAC2009);' through Feb 7; http://www.physics.utah.edu/snowpac/.
Feb 1 — National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), La Thuile, Italy: '44th Rencontres de Moriond: Very High Energy Phenomena in the Universe;' through Feb 8; http://moriond.in2p3.fr/J09/.
TUESDAY
Feb 3 — Space Telescope Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD: Public Lecture 'Transiting Exoplanets;' http://hubblesite.org/about_us/public-talks.shtml.
Feb 3 — NASA Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral FL: News conference on status of Discovery STS-119 mission, slated for Feb 12; http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2009/jan/HQ_M09-020_STS-119_FRR.html.
Feb 3 — Cassini OTM #181, Saturn Orbit: Spacecraft conducts Orbital Trim Maneuver #181 today; http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/saturntourdates/saturntourdates2009/.
Feb 3 — Moon: 0.92° NNW of center of Pleiades; 16:00.
Feb 3 — Asteroid 2009 BP5: Near-Earth Flyby; (0.053 AU).
WEDNESDAY
Feb 4 — Launch Delta 2 / NOAA-N Prime, Vandenberg Air Force Base CA: United Launch Alliance Delta 2 rocket will launch the NOAA-N Prime civilian weather satellite into polar orbit for NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; http://www.spaceflightnow.com/tracking/index.html.
Feb 4-6 — NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field CA: 'Solar-Extrasolar Planet Formation Meeting;' http://www.spaceref.com/calendar/calendar.html?pid=5210.
Feb 4 — Moon: 10° N of Aldebaran; 10:00.
Feb 4 — Asteroid 2009 BW2: Near-Earth Flyby; (0.021 AU).
THURSDAY
Feb 5 — NASA Advisory Council, Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral FL: 'NASA Advisory Council Meeting;' http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/oer/nac/.
Feb 5 — NASA Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral FL: Media deadline for Mar 5 launch of NASA Kepler telescope;' http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2009/jan/HQ_09-018_Kepler_foreign_press.html.
Feb 5 — ESA / ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands: 'Alert Workshop;' http://www.congrex.nl/09m02/.
Feb 5-6 — American lnstitute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Arlington VA: '12th Annual Commercial Space Transportation Conference;' http://www.aiaa.org/content.cfm?pageid=230&lumeetingid=2178.
Feb 5-10 — National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, China: 'TIARA Winter School on Star Formation;' https://www.tiara.sinica.edu.tw/activities/winterschool/2009/.
Feb 5-13 — Gemini Observatory, `Imiloa Astronomy Center, Hilo HI: 'Journey through the Universe;' educational initiative; http://www.gemini.edu/journey.
FRIDAY
Feb 6 — Norfolk Physics Network, Norfolk, UK: Apollo 17 Moonwalker Charles Duke public talk about his experiences in the Apollo program; http://www.advertiser24.co.uk.
Feb 6 — Chabot Space & Science Center, Oakland CA: 'eXo Party;' part of International Year of Astronomy, commences with Moonlight hike; http://chabotspace.org/visit/calendar/?date=2/6/2009#calendar.
Feb 6 — Asteroid 2009 BR5: Near-Earth Flyby; (0.072 AU).
SATURDAY
Feb 7 — Cassini Titan Flyby, Saturn Orbit: Spacecraft conducts close flyby of Saturn moon Titan (altitude = 960 km); http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/saturntourdates/saturntourdates2009/.
Feb 7 — Moon: 5.2° SSW of Pollux; 07:00.
Feb 7 — Moon: at Perigee (distance 56.67 earth-radii); 10:00.
Feb 7 — Alpha Centaurid Meteor Shower Peak: Minor meteor shower with average hourly rates of 3 and average magnitude 2.45; http://meteorshowersonline.com/showers/alpha-beta_centaurids.html.
Feb 7 — Asteroid 3169 Ostro: Near-Earth Flyby; (0.898 AU).
SUNDAY
Feb 8-12 — American Astronautical Society / AIAA, Savannah GA: '19TH AAS / AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Meeting;' http://www.space-flight.org/AAS_meetings/2009_winter/2009%20winter.html.
Feb 8 — Moon: 1.1° S of center of Beehive Cluster; 07:00.
 
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Space Calendar Published Weekly, Mondays. ISSN 0741-1731. All Rights Reserved. Copyright Feb 2, 2009, Space Age Publishing Company, 65-1230 Mamalahoa Highway - Suite D-20, Kamuela, Hawaii 96743; 480 California Avenue - Suite 303, Palo Alto, California 94306, USA. Editor & Publisher, ILOA Director / Steve Durst. Associate Editor, ILOA Executive Director / Charles Bohannan. Managing Editor / Jason Ventura. Assistant Editor / Joseph Sulla. Marketing Editor / Michelle Gonella. Special Contributors: Hawaii Aloha. Australia / Kirby Ikin. Canada / Robert Richards. China, Asia / Patricia Yu, Chen Kan Arth. Europe-Russia / Theo Pirard. India, South Asia / Radhakrishna Rao, USA, Bill Carswell. www.spaceagepub.com, news@spaceagepub.com.