"The First, Best Space Calendar in the Business"
Vol 29, No 15
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1% NASA Budget Restoration Gives USA Sustainable, Progressive Future

On April 15, US President Obama will deliver in Florida his remarks on the uncertain future of America's space program. Many dedicated people in the space community and industry -- most notably those who stand to lose their jobs -- are passionately advocating the President restore the national imperative to Solar System exploration and returning to the Moon ASAP. Realizing a bold and competitive USA 21st Century space vision requires returning NASA's budget to its baseline 1% of the Federal budget. There is no clear reason why this modest boost can't be done, given it represents a progressive multi-world future for the only civilization to land humans on another world. In light of America's unparalleled 20th Century Moon program accomplishment, several events nationwide will commemorate the 40th year observance of the successful completion of the Apollo 13 mission on April 11-17, 1970. A much larger international celebration will be taking place as well -- Yuri's Night Worldwide Space Party on and around April 12 will offer 151 spirited events in 54 countries on 7 continents to celebrate Yuri Gagarin's historic first human spaceflight, which was followed exactly 20 years later by the first Space Shuttle Columbia flight commanded by Apollo Moonwalker John Young. (Credit: NASA, Virgin Galactic, SpaceX, UPI / Chuck Kennedy)

First India-Made Cryogenic Engine to Make Debut on Launch of GSLV D3 / GSAT 4

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is preparing to launch the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-D3) (TR) from Sriharikota spaceport, India NET April 15. The launch will mark the 1st time India uses a locally-made upper-stage cryogenic engine (TL) to launch the GSAT-4 experimental satellite into orbit. The engine measures 2.8m in diameter and uses liquefied hydrogen and oxygen. The 2.2 ton GSAT-4 (BR) communication satellite payload contains several smaller payloads including a Ka-band transponder system used for multi-media broadcast as well as a Gagan demonstrator for India’s satellite navigation program. ISRO Chief K. Radhakrishnan (BL) says "the development of cryogenic technology in the country has given the coveted status of total self reliance in launch vehicle technology." India now joins USA, Russia, China and Japan to own cryogenic technology. ISRO is currently building a GSLV-Mk3 rocket for launch as early as 2011-12 which will be able to launch satellites weighing up to 4 tons. (Credit: ISRO, 8ak.in, iisd.ca)
THIS WEEK
APRIL
MAY
JUNE
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: Jupiter (E) / Evening Planets: Mercury (WNW), Venus (WNW), Mars (SW), Saturn (SE).
 

MONDAY
Apr 12 — International Space Station, LEO: E-23 crew members conducting joint science and maintenance operations with STS-131 crew; Flight engineers Mastracchio and Anderson prepare for Spacewalk 3 to install new light on camera assembly on Destiny Laboratory and plate adapter assembly on Dextre robot; http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html.
Apr 12 — NASA Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), Lunar Orbit: LRO Camera team at Arizona State University and NASA JPL continue to capture anthropogenic targets on the Moon, compiling a list of all Soviet and American robotic space hardware identified and listing precise estimates of latitude and longitude coordinates; http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/index.php.
Apr 12 — Mars, Red Planet: Recent imagery from MRO HiRISE Camera capture the current avalanche season at Mars' North Pole region; http://www.tucsonweekly.com/TheRange/archives/2010/04/07/avalanches-on-mars.
Apr 12 — Yuri's Night and Space Generation, Worldwide: 'Yuri's Night 2010;' world space party celebrates 1st piloted flight to space, 1st human in space (1961) and 1st NASA Space Shuttle launch (1981); http://yurisnight.net/yn2010/.
Apr 12 — Students for Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS), Boulder CO: '10th Yuri's Night World Space Party;' http://www.colorado.edu/studentgroups/CUSEDS/Events/YNBoulder/2010/yuris_night_boulder_2010.html.
Apr 12-14 — The National Academies, Boulder CO: 'Planetary Science Decadal Survey: Satellites Panel;' http://www8.nationalacademies.org/cp/projectview.aspx?key=49115.
Apr 12-15 — Terrapin, Johannesburg, South Africa: 'SatCom 2010;' http://www.terrapinn.com/2010/satcomza/.
Apr 12-15 — American Institute Of Aeronautics And Astronautics, Orlando FL: '51st AIAA / ASME / ASCE / AHS / ASC / Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference / '18th AIAA / ASME / AHS Adaptive Structures Conference / '12th AIAA Non-Deterministic Approaches Conference / 11th AIAA Gossamer Systems Forum / 6th AIAA Multidisciplinary Design Optimization Specialist Conference;' http://www.aiaa.org/content.cfm?pageid=230&lumeetingid=2336.
Apr 12-15 — The Space Foundation, Colorado Springs CO: '26th National Space Symposium;' http://www.spacefoundation.org/events/index.php.
Apr 12-16 — Royal Astronomical Society, Glasgow, UK: 'RAS NAM2010: Royal Astronomical Society National Astronomy Meeting;' http://www.astro.gla.ac.uk/nam2010/.
Apr 12-16 — European Association of Antennas and Propagation, Barcelona, Spain: 'EuCAP' 2010: The 4th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation;' http://www.eucap2010.org/?pid=114.
Apr 12-16 — Arnold Sommerfeld Center for Theoretical Science, European Science Foundation, et al, Munich, Germany: 'Workshop: Fundaments of Gravity;' http://www.universe-cluster.de/fog.
Apr 12 — Asteroid 2008 FH: Near-Earth Flyby (0.040 AU).
Continued from . . .
Jan 30 — Museum of Science and Industry, Confucius Institute / University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom: 'Exhibition: From Gunpowder to Space Rockets - The China Space Program,' includes models of ancient rockets, recent satellites, rockets, space ships and a lunar rover; through Aug 7; http://www.mosi.org.uk/whats-on/china-space-exhibition.
Apr 8 — Imiloa Astronomy Center, Hilo HI: '3D Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe;' through Apr 13; http://www.imiloahawaii.org/39/hitch-hikers-guide.
Apr 11 — Apollo 13 40th Commemoration: On April 11, 1970, Astronauts James Lovell, John Swigert and Fred Haise embarked on the 3rd Apollo mission, 2 days later en route to the Moon, a faulty electrical system forced mission to be aborted; crew used lunar module as a lifeboat during return trip and splashed down safely on Earth Apr 17 making the mission a 'successful failure;' through Apr 17; http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/history/apollo/apollo-13/apollo-13.html.
Apr 11 — The Moon Society, Milwaukee WI: 'Apollo 13 40th Commemoration;' through Apr 17; http://www.moonsociety.org/.
TUESDAY
Apr 13 — West Hawaii Astronomy Club, Kamuela HI: 'WHAC April Meeting to be held at Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope;' http://www2.keck.hawaii.edu/whac/calendar.html.
Apr 13-14 — Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge MA: 'Future Professional Communication in Astronomy;' http://conf.adsabs.harvard.edu/indico/conferenceDisplay.py?confId=0.
Apr 13-16 — ESA, European Southern Observatory, Garching, Germany: 'JWST and the ELTs: and Ideal Combination / 24th European Frequency and Time Forum;' http://www.eso.org/sci/meetings/jwstelt2010/index.html; http://www.eftf2010.org/.
Apr 13-17 — International Institute of Space Law, Sydney, Australia: 'Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition,' Asia Pacific Regional Rounds; http://www.spacemoot.org/currentfinal.htm.
WEDNESDAY
Apr 14 — ESA Space Research and Technology Center, Noordwijk, The Netherlands: 'ESA Lunar Lander Information Day;' http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM83CIK97G_index_0.html.
Apr 14 — Intech Science Center and Planetarium, Winchester, United Kingdom: 'Do We need a New Theory of Gravity?,' Stuart Clark; http://www.intech-uk.com/folders/planetarium/space_lectures.cfm.
Apr 14-16 — The National Academies, Boulder CO: 'Planetary Science Decadal Survey: Mars Panel;' http://www8.nationalacademies.org/cp/meetingview.aspx?MeetingID=3824&MeetingNo=4.
Apr 14-16 — Canadian Space Agency, Quebec, Canada: 'Suborbital Platforms and Nanosatellites Workshop;' http://spaceref.ca/calendar/a-workshop-on-suborbital-platforms-and-nanosatellites.html.
Apr 14 — Moon: New Moon; 02:30.
Apr 14 — Asteroid 2010 FD7: Near-Earth Flyby (0.082 AU).
THURSDAY
Apr 15 — Launch GSLV-D3 / GSAT-4, Sriharikota, India: ISRO Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) set to launch GSAT 4 experimental communications satellite; Launch will be the 1st GSLV to use an India-made 3rd stage cryogenic engine; http://www.spaceflightnow.com/tracking/index.html.
Apr 15 — The White House Administration, Cape Canaveral FL: President Barack Obama to host White House Conference on future direction of America's Space Program; http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/space/os-obama-nasa-space-summit,0,2635621.story.
Apr 15 — Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Washington DC: 'John Glenn Lecture: 40th Anniversary of Apollo 13;' http://www.nasm.si.edu/events/eventDetail.cfm?eventID=1898.
Apr 15 — NASA, Oregon Space Grant, Washington DC: 'Life and Work on the Moon' Art and Design Contest Deadline;' http://artcontest.larc.nasa.gov/.
Apr 15 — Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston TX: 'Bedrock to Soil: Where Rock Meets Life in the Weathering Engine on Earth,' Susan Brantley; http://www.lpi.usra.edu/lpi/seminars/#1436.
Apr 15 — NASA Advisory Council, Washington DC: Meeting: 'NAC Task Force on Planetary Defense;' http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.rss.html?pid=33733.
Apr 15-16 — NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena CA: Mapping the Infrared Sky with WISE;' http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/events/lectures_archive.cfm?year=2010&month=4.
Apr 15-18 — Government of Greenland, Nuuk, Greenland: 'Arctic Science Summit Week (ASSW 2010);' http://www.assw2010.org/.
Apr 15 — Moon: 1.5° N of Mercury; 13:00.
FRIDAY
Apr 16 — NASA, Online: Letter of Intent Deadline for 4th Annual NASA Systems Engineering Paper Competition; http://education.ksc.nasa.gov/esmdspacegrant/SystemsEngineering.htm.
Apr 16-17 — North Central Region of the Astronomical League (NCRAL), Bloomington-Normal IL: '2010 Meeting of NCRAL;' http://www.ncral2010.org/Home.aspx.
Apr 16-17 — Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center, Hutchinson KS: 'Apollo 13 Commemoration Event: Honoring the Mission;' http://www.cosmo.org/newsroom/ne_nw_article.cfm?id=86.
Apr 16 — Asteroid (Near Earth Flyby): 2008 CB6 (0.031 AU); 2001 QE71 (0.094 AU).
Apr 16 — Moon: 4.0° NNW of Venus, 01:00; 1.2° WSW of Pleiades, 18:00.
SATURDAY
Apr 17 — The Moon Society, Online: Winners announced for Moon Society Essay Contest, 'Space Exploration is Worth the Risk,' prize presentation at ISDC Chicago on May 27-31; http://www.moonsociety.org/reports/A13_contest_announce.html.
Apr 17 — Sally Ride Science, Los Angeles CA: 'Sally Ride Science Festival;' http://www.sallyridescience.com/festivals/10csu0417.
Apr 17 — Zero Gravity Corporation, Cape Canaveral FL: Commercial weightless flight onboard G Force One; http://www.gozerog.com/.
Apr 17-18 — European Interferometry Institute, Porquerolles Island, France: 'High Spatial Resolution in Astronomy: The VLTI Training School;' http://www.european-interferometry.eu/training/2010.
Apr 17-18 — Rockland Astronomy Club, Suffern NY: '19th Annual Northeast Astronomy Forum & Telescope Show;' http://www.rocklandastronomy.com/neaf.htm.
Apr 17 — Mars: 1.1° NNE of center of Beehive Cluster; 09:00.
SUNDAY
Apr 18 — NASA, Washington DC / Online: '1st Earth-Day Tweet-up With NASA,' at 13:00 EDT; http://www.nasa.gov/connect/tweetup.html.
Apr 18 — Cassini OTM-243, Saturn Orbit: Spacecraft conducts Orbital Trim Maneuver #243 today; http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/.
Apr 18 — Moon: 8.3° N of Aldebaran; 15:00.
Apr 18 — Asteroid 2010 EC43: Near-Earth Flyby (0.043 AU).
 
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Space Calendar Published Weekly, Mondays. ISSN 0741-1731. All Rights Reserved. Copyright © April 12, 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. Editor Assistant / Asia Becerra. 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.