'SpaceSummer 2009' Lunar High Tide To Peak In Silicon Valley CA

40 years later, the Apollo Moon missions stand even more clearly as the greatest achievement of the 20th Century, if not the last 20 centuries. This Jun-Sep, 'SpaceSummer 2009', people all over the world will commemorate this species transforming event, and look to a future where humanity's potential for space exploration will be realized. The lunar high tide peaks with a host of July events in the Northern CA San Francisco Bay Area. SpaceSummer 2009 begins with International Space University's '21st ISU Summer Session Program' at NASA Ames Research Center in Moffett Field CA from Jun 29-Aug 28. On July 4th, experts on Galaxy science and education will advance 21st Century Education at 'Galaxy Forum USA 2009.' The climax of the summer, SpaceWeek (Jul 16-24), begins with Space Frontier Foundation's Annual NewSpace Conference from Jul 17-20. On July 20th, space and lunar enthusiasts everywhere will pause to commemorate the first human to step on another world 40 years ago. Then on Jul 21-23, at the NASA Lunar Science Institute '2nd Annual Lunar Science Forum 2009,' experts will advance science of, on and from the Moon, with the priority of permanent human return. SpaceWeek in Silicon Valley concludes with the International Lunar Observatory Association's (ILOA) Board of Directors meeting. ILOA is working to land and operate multifunctional observatories near the South Pole of the Moon, and help facilitate an Independent Human Moon Mission well before the 50th commemoration of Apollo 11. (Credit: NASA, ISU, ILOA, SFF)

The '1st International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) Planetary Defense Conference: Protecting Earth from Asteroids' is being held on Apr 27-30 in Granada, Spain. At the conference, specialists in astrometry, orbital dynamics, physical characterization of asteroids, and aerothermodynamics will join spacecraft mission designers, risk analysts, systems engineers and policy-makers to discuss one of the most dangerous threats facing planet Earth. There are currently 900 asteroids and comets considered Potentially Hazardous Objects (PHOs), objects larger than 140 meters that could eventually impact Earth. This number continues to grow as ground-based observatories discover about 80 more each year. Experts now believe the total number of PHOs could be over 4000. One of these asteroids, known as 99942 Apophis, will be a particular focus at the conference. Current predictions indicate the 270-meter, 20 billion kg Apophis will pass within 32000 km of Earth in 2029, with 2 more potential impact dates in 2036 and 2037. The conference will also include discussions on NEO impact consequences, discovery and tracking with observatories such as Pan-STARRS and LSST, and deflection technologies using such techniques as electromagnetic forces, nuclear explosives and multi-spacecraft swarms. (Credit: ESA, IAA)