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Vol 29, No 4
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Astronaut Commemoration Week Inspires Space Education, Exploration

On January 27, as President Obama delivers the State of the Union Address, Americans can take the week to appreciate the 17 astronauts who perished to advance human space exploration and education. 43 years ago to the day, the Apollo 1 spacecraft fire killed Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee (CR) as they conducted pre-flight tests for an Earth-orbiting mission at Cape Canaveral FL. 19 years later, on Jan 28 1986, the Shuttle Challenger exploded shortly off the launch pad, claiming the lives of Francis ‘Dick’ Scobee, Michael Smith, 1st ‘Teacher in Space’ Christa McAuliffe, Ellison Onizuka, Judith Resnick, Ronald McNair and Gregory Jarvis (TL). One positive initiative that came out of that tragedy is the Challenger Center for Space Science Education, which was established by families of the Challenger astronauts. February 1 marks 7 years since the Columbia shuttle re-entry accident killed David Brown, Rick Husband, Laurel Clark, Kalpana Chawla, Michael Anderson, William McCool and IIan Ramon (BR). Commemorative education events this week include the 'New Mission Teacher Workshop' on Jan 28 at the Challenger Center of Maine and the International Lunar Observatory Association's 'Galaxy Forum Kona: Galaxy Education in the 21st Century’ at the Ellison Onizuka Space Center (BL) in Kona HI on Jan 30. (Credit: NASA, The Challenger Center, usa.gov, scrapetv.net, hawaiiweb.com)

Thailand Hosts 16th Asia Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum

Space Agency leaders and representatives from 27 countries will gather in Bangkok, Thailand on January 26-29 for the 16th Asia Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF). APRSAF is a premier event for the Asia-Pacific region originally initiated to enhance the development of the member country's space programs and to allow for an exchange of views toward future cooperation in space activities. This year's event, with the official theme 'Space Applications towards Human Safety and Security,' is co-sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan and the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency of Thailand (GISTDA). Days 1 and 2 of the Forum will be comprised of 4 concurrent working groups on Earth Observation, Space Environment Utilization, Communication Satellite Applications, and Space Education and Awareness. The plenary sessions on Day 3 and 4 will include keynote addresses by GISTDA Chairman Somchet Thinaphong (R) and MEXT Chairman Tetsuhiko Ikegami (L), followed by presentations by space agency leaders from Thailand, Japan, Vietnam, India, Indonesia, Australia and USA. (Credit: APRSAF, GISTDA, MEXT, ning.com, fas.org)
THIS WEEK
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
MARCH
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 (SE), Saturn (S) / Evening Planets: Mars (ENE), Jupiter (WSW).
 

MONDAY
Jan 25 — 1% for NASA Ensures USA Multi World Civilization, Nationwide / Washington DC: America's future in space exploration contingent upon Obama Administration dynamic leadership; http://www.spaceagepub.com/calendar/SCarchive/SC-20090831.html.
Jan 25 — International Space Station, LEO: Flight engineers use Canadarm2 robotic arm to relocate Pressurized Mating Adapter-3 to make room for installation of Tranquility node set to be delivered by space shuttle Endeavour STS-130 crew; http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html.
Jan 25 — NASA Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS), Lunar Orbit: LRO scientists continue studying detailed imagery of Tycho Crater, which is believed to have been formed recently as evidence of ejecta material still visible around crater; http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/moon-tycho-crater-100119.html.
Jan 25 — Mars Odyssey Orbiter/ Phoenix Mars Lander, Red Planet: NASA Scientists hope solar panels on Mars Phoenix Lander generates enough electricity to establish positive energy balance to communicate with available Mars relay orbiters in an attempt to reestablish contact with Earth; http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu/news.php.
Jan 25 — International Astronautical Federation, Beijing, China / Online: Open registration for Global Lunar Congress 2010; http://www.gluc2010.org/.
Jan 25-26 — The Royal Society, London, United Kingdom: 'The Detection of Extra-Terrestrial Life and the Consequences for Science and Society;' http://royalsociety.org/event.asp?id=8602&month=1,2010.
Jan 25-27 — The National Academies, Irvine CA: 'Astro2010 Meeting: The Decadal Survey on Astronomy and Astrophysics 2010;' http://www8.nationalacademies.org/cp/meetingview.aspx?MeetingID=3607.
Jan 25-27 — AlbaNova University Center, Stockholm, Sweden: 'Cosmic Ray Backgrounds in Dark Matter Searches;' http://agenda.albanova.se/conferenceDisplay.py?confId=1699.
Jan 25-29 — ESA, Frascati, Italy: '3rd SeaSAR Workshop: Advances in SAR Oceanography from ENVISAT, ERS and ESA Third Party Missions;' http://earth.esa.int/workshops/seasar2010/.

Jan 25 — Cassini OTM-235, Saturn Orbit: Spacecraft conducts Orbital Trim Maneuver #235 today; http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/.
Jan 25 — Moon: 8.9° N of Aldebaran; 18:00.
Continued from . . .
Jan 22 — The Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems, Mauna Kea HI: PISCES to host teams from NASA, Canadian and German space agencies for field tests on the lower slopes of Mauna Kea, Hawai`i Island; through Feb 11; http://www.adlerplanetarium.org/special/index.shtml.
TUESDAY
Jan 26-29 — Asia Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum, Bangkok, Thailand: '16th APRSAF- Space Applications: Contributions Towards Human Safety and Security;' http://www.aprsaf.org/.
WEDNESDAY
Jan 27 — 2010 State of the Union Address, Nationwide USA: USA President Barack Obama to deliver his 1st State of the Union speech at the floor of the US House of Representatives in the United State's Capitol.
Jan 27 — 43rd Apollo 1 Observation, Nationwide USA: Spacecraft fire took place 27 January 1967 killing Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee; Apollo Command Module crew was conducting a preflight test for the Earth-orbiting mission at Cape Canaveral.
Jan 27 — NASA Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral FL: News conference to discuss status of upcoming launch of Endeavour STS-130; http://twitter.com/nasa.
Jan 27 — The SETI Institute, Mountain View CA: 'ESAS and the Augustine Commission: The Way Forward on US Manned Spaceflight,' Daniel Rasky; http://www.seti.org/csc/lectures.
Jan 27-29 — University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder CO: 'Lunar Dust, Plasma and Atmosphere: The Next Steps;' http://lpa2010.colorado.edu/.
Jan 27 — Cassini Distant Flyby, Saturn Orbit: Spacecraft conducts distant flyby of Telesto, Methone, Pan, Prometheus, Aegon and Dione; http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/saturntourdates/saturntourdates2010/.
THURSDAY
Jan 28 — 24th Challenger 51-L Observation, Nationwide USA: Shuttle accident took place 28 January 1986 killing seven crew members including Commander Francis R. "Dick" Scobee, its pilot, Michael J. Smith, and its crew, Christa McAuliffe (the 1st 'Teacher in Space'), Mission Specialists Ellison S. Onizuka, Judith A. Resnick and Ronald E. McNair, along with Payload Specialist Gregory B. Jarvis.
Jan 28 — Challenger Learning Center of Maine, Bangor ME: 'New Mission Teacher Workshop;' http://www.clcofme.org/calendar/details/61-new-teacher-workshop.
Jan 28 — The National Academies, Washington DC: 'Capitalizing on Science, Technology, and Innovation: An Assessment of the Small Business Innovation Research Program - Phase 2;'
http://www8.nationalacademies.org/cp/meetingview.aspx?MeetingID=4133.
Jan 28 — ESA, Frascati, Italy: '1st Networking / Partnering Day 2010,' to stimulate exchanges with universities, research institutes and industry and to widen the access of ESA to new technologies / laboratory capabilities; http://www.congrex.nl/10c07/.
Jan 28 — Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston TX: 'Multi-instrument Analysis of the Stardust Cometary Samples,' Ryan Ogliore; http://www.lpi.usra.edu/lpi/seminars/.
Jan 28 — National Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center, Chantilly VA: 'Flying Solo in Space: The Manned Maneuvering Unit,' Valerie Neal; http://www.nasm.si.edu/events/eventDetail.cfm?eventID=1751.
Jan 28-Feb 6 — Betchart Expeditions Inc, Planetary Society, San Juan, Puerto Rico: 'Arecibo & the Lesser Antilles;' http://www.betchartexpeditions.com/cen-sa_arecibo.htm.
Jan 28 — Cassini Titan Flyby, Saturn Orbit: Spacecraft conducts close flyby of Saturn moon Titan (altitude 7490 km);  http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/saturntourdates/saturntourdates2010/.
Jan 28 — Mars: Closest Approach To Earth (0.664 AU).
Jan 28 — Moon: 6.9° SSW of Pollux; 16:00.
FRIDAY
Jan 29 — Astronomy and Space Exploration Society, Toronto, Ontario, Canada: 'ASX 7th Annual Expanding Canada's Frontiers Symposium;' http://asx2010symposium.eventbrite.com/.
Jan 29 — International Institute of Space Law, Online: 'Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition,' registration deadline for Europe and North America; http://www.spacemoot.org/currentfinal.htm.
Jan 29 — The National Academies, Teleconference: 'Planetary Science Decadal Survey: Satellites Panel;' http://www8.nationalacademies.org/cp/meetingview.aspx?MeetingID=4138.
Jan 29 — Moon: 2.8° SSW of Beehive Cluster, 16:00; 6.2° SSW of Mars, 17:00; Full Moon - Hoku I Kaelo, 20:18; At Perigee (Distance 55.91 Earth-radii), 23:00.
SATURDAY
Jan 30 — International Lunar Observatory Association, Space Age Publishing Company, Keahole Airport HI: 'Galaxy Forum Kona: Galaxy Education in the 21st Century;' http://www.iloa.org/galaxyforum.html, http://www.spaceagepub.com/galaxyforum.html
Jan 30 — Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, Tucson AZ: 'Arizona Meteorite Exhibition,' a free educational exhibition of the largest collection of Arizona meteorites ever gathered in one place; http://uanews.org/node/29528.
Jan 30 — NASA, Boulder CO: 'Teacher Workshop: Cool Astronomy with NASA's WISE Mission;' http://www.uccs.edu/~coga/documents/pdfs/NASA_WISE_30Jan2010.pdf.
Jan 30 — US Space and Rocket Center, Huntsville AL: 'US Space and Rocket Center Gala 2010,' special presentations by Hugh Downs and Edward Stone; http://www.spacecamp.com/gala/.

Jan 30 — Asteroid: Near-Earth Flyby (0.095 AU).
SUNDAY
Jan 31 — Adler Planetarium, Chicago IL: Deadline for Adler / ComEd 'Shoot for the Moon Essay Contest;' http://www.adlerplanetarium.org/special/index.shtml.

Jan 31 — Cassini OTM-236, Saturn Orbit: Spacecraft conducts Orbital Trim Maneuver #236 today; http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/.
Jan 31 — Moon: 3.8° SSW of Regulus; 04:00.
 
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Space Calendar Published Weekly, Mondays. ISSN 0741-1731. All Rights Reserved. Copyright © January 25, 2010. 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. Assistant Editor / Joseph Sulla. Marketing Editor / Michelle Gonella. Special Contributors: Hawaii Aloha. Australia / Kirby Ikin. Canada / Robert Richards. China, Asia / Chen Kan Arth. Europe-Russia / Theo Pirard. India, South Asia / Radhakrishna Rao, USA, Bill Carswell. www.spaceagepub.com, news@spaceagepub.com.