Global Events to Accelerate Astrophysics in New Decade

From Mangalore to Padova, Ghana to Mexico, Sydney to Washington DC, worldwide astronomy and physics events boost science, education and international cooperation in the 2010 New Year. On December 28-30, Field Marshal Cariappa College and Mangalore University will hold the ‘International Intradisciplinary Conference on the Frontiers of Astronomy’ (IICFA) in Karnataka, India. IICFA is the last event in 2009 to commemorate the International Year of Astronomy. Topics will focus on ISRO Chandrayaan-1 and the recent discovery of the widespread presence of water molecules on the Moon. At the start of 2010, 2 major, traditional first of the year events in the USA will push for breakthroughs in astronomy and technology. On January 3-7, over 3,500 astrophysicists, planetary scientists and science journalists will attend the 215th meeting of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) in Washington DC. Astronomy experts from professional and academic institutions will discuss astrobiology, space mission instrumentation, detection of extrasolar planets and the solar system. 2009 Danny Heineman prize winner for astrophysics Lennox Cowie (BL) and NASA JPL Scientist David Garafalo (CL) will be speaking.  In the same week, the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics will hold its 48th meeting on Jan 4-7 in Orlando FL which will highlight new technology for space exploration. Other astrophysics events taking place include the University of Arizona Astronomy Study Abroad program in Ghana, Africa on Dec 28-Jan 8 and the 6th CPS International School of Planetary Sciences in Kobe, Japan on Jan 4-9. (Credit: IYA, AAS, AIAA, NASA, ISRO, aerospaceguide.net, ifa.hawaii.edu)

NewSpace To Advance Human Access To LEO, Moon Development In New Decade

As 2010 ushers in a new decade, several NewSpace companies are poised to make significant contributions to advance space access options for the general population. Many of these companies will also play an important role in the emerging Obama-Biden USA space policy. 2010 will see the first test flights of both the Virgin Galactic SpaceShip 2 (TL), expected to begin commercial suborbital flights in 2011, and the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket (TR), which will likely be the only American transport vehicle to the ISS for the first part of this new decade. Excalibur Almaz (CL) is currently working to provide commercial orbital spaceflight services for global customers as early as 2013. Already with 2 prototype expandable space habitats in orbit, Bigelow Aerospace is accelerating its push to launch a habitable orbiter (BL) early in the decade. The reach of the NewSpace movement will not be limited to Earth orbit, as 21 teams from all over the world continue to pursue the US$30M Google Lunar X Prize. One or more of these teams may soon be providing commercial transport of cargo to the surface of the Moon to support the expansion of humanity to Earth's closest celestial neighbor. (Credit: SpaceX, Virgin Galactic, Google Lunar X Prize, Bigelow, Excalibur Almaz)