International Conferences in Greece, Ukraine Explore Space Research and Technology

Space research and the technology required to achieve it will be the focus of 2 upcoming international conferences. On August 24-26, the Greek Space Agency, IEEE and the University of Patras will host the '1st International Conference on Space Technology.' Designed to bring together people who work on different aspects of space technology research, the conference will focus on such topics as space electronics, space robotics, micro-satellites, Earth and deep space observation and security space technologies. Prof. Helmut Suess (CL) of the German Aerospace Agency (DLR) will give the keynote address on Modern Spaceborne SAR Missions for Security Purposes and William Pike of Imperial College London will give a lecture on the Phoenix Mars mission. Then on Aug 31-Sep 5, the '9th Ukrainian Conference on Space Research with International Participation' will be held at the National Space Center of Ukraine in Yevpatoria (BL). Speakers from Ukraine, Russia, Poland, Belarus and France will review diverse topics of space research including solar physics and space weather, space exploration projects, study of the Moon, microgravity science, planetology and astrobiology. The conference will also include a roundtable on the 'Exploration-UA' program and 'Selena' mission, as well as a workshop for young scientists on space research. (Credit: GSA, IEEE, National Space Agency Ukraine)

Discovery STS-128 Set to Launch August 25

Commander Rick Sturckow, Pilot Kevin Ford, flight engineers Patrick Forrester, John 'Danny' Olivas, Jose Hernandez and Nicole Stott of NASA, along with ESA astronaut Christer Fuglesang are set to launch on space shuttle Discovery from Cape Canaveral, FL. The 13-day mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS) is the 128th space shuttle flight and the 4th flight to take place this year. Discovery STS-128 will deliver over 6.35 metric tons of supplies, science racks and equipment as well as the newest Expedition 20 crew member, Nicole Stott, who will be replacing mission specialist Timothy Kopra. Stott will remain aboard the ISS for 3 months and will return on STS-129, scheduled for November 2009. The mission agenda includes 3 spacewalks to replace experiments outside ESA’s Columbus laboratory, installation of a new ammonia storage tank and temporary installation of the Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM). The MPLM will house 2 new experiment racks for crew members to test materials and fluids outside the confines of Earth’s gravity. 6 flights to the station remain after STS-128 before the shuttles are set to retire in 2010. Expedition 20 will conclude in September with the arrival of the Soyuz TMA-16.  The assembly and maintenance of the ISS will enable humans to venture further into space and establish a permanent presence on the Moon, Mars and Beyond. (Credit: NASA, ESA, about.com)