Next Meeting, Saturday, September 7, 2019 – 2PM – Barbara Bush Library – Featured Speaker: Carl Carruthers, Jr. – Chief Scientist, Nanoracks LLC

Join us at Barbara Bush Library Saturday, September 7, 2019 – 2PM. (Note that our meeting times have change.)

Our featured speaker is Carl Carruthers, Jr., Chief Scientist at NanoRacks LLC.

Dr. Carruthers is the Chief Scientist for the commercial space services provider NanoRacks. In this multifaceted role, he works directly with client researchers to assist in designing their microgravity projects, and acts as a liaison between principal investigators and NanoRacks technical staff over the course of their projects. Dr. Carruthers also provides inputs on NanoRacks science hardware design and meeting the future needs of microgravity researchers.
Dr. Carruthers received his B.S. in Chemistry at Florida Atlantic University and M.S. in Biochemistry and BioPhysics at Texas A&M University. As a researcher in the lab of Dr. John Baxter at The Houston Methodist Research Institute, he studied the structure and function of nuclear receptors and their co-regulators. During this time he also completed his Ph.D. in Biochemistry under Dr. Jan-Ake Gustafsson at The University of Houston’s Center for Nuclear Receptors and Cell Signaling. Dr. Carruthers has been the PI of multiple microgravity experiments on reduced gravity aircraft, the Space Shuttle, and the International Space Station.
When not chasing rockets, Dr. Carruthers can be found flying, backpacking, mountain climbing, or discovering other ways to escape gravity.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-carruthers-jr/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/payloadwrangler

Website:  http://NorthHoustonSpace.org
MeetUp: https://www.meetup.com/Future-North-Houston-National-Space-Society-Chapter/
FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/NssNorthHoustonSpaceSociety/

Summary of August 3, 2019 Meeting

August 3, 2019 was one of our most well-attended meetings yet. Nathan gave an overview of the NSS and a recap of some of the space events since the last meeting. Then our featured speaker Anima Sabale journey of exploring her dream of becoming an astronaut. (Read a summary of Anima’s presentation here.) We closed the meeting with a drawing for Lego Apollo Lunar lander.

Now is an amazing time to be involved in space. Launches that used to happen months apart are now happening multiple times a week. There were 10 launches since the last meeting.

•July 10, 2019 – Soyuz 2-1v – Kosmos 2535-2538 – 4 Russian Military Satellites
•July 10, 2019 – Arianespace Vega rocket – UAE Surveillance Satellite (failed) •July 13, 2019 – Proton – Spektr-RG – X-ray telescope
•July 20, 2019 –  Soyuz – ISS 59S – 3 astronauts to the ISS
(Andrew “Drew” Morgan (NASA), Luca Parmitano (ESA), Alexander Skvortsov (Roscosmos))
•July 22, 2019 – GSLV Mk.3 – Chandrayaan 2 – India’s second mission to the moon.
•July 25, 2019 – Hyperbola 1 • Multi-payload – i-Space, a commercial space company in China – launches several small payloads including CAS-7B amateur radio satellite
•July 25, 2019 – Falcon 9 – SpaceX CRS 18 – supplies to the ISS
•July 25, 2019 – Long March 2C – Yaogan 30-05 – surveillance satellites for the Chinese military •July 30, 2019 – Soyuz – Meridian – communications satellite for the Russian Ministry of Defense.
•July 31, 2019 – Soyuz – Progress 73P – Supplies to the ISS
(See SpaceFlight Now’s launch log for details about these and other launches: https://spaceflightnow.com/launch-log/ )

The Planetary Society Announces LightSail 2 is a Success (
http://www.planetary.org/blogs/jason-davis/lightsail-2-successful-flight-by-light.html )

The Planetary Society’s ligthsail was launched on a Falcon Heavy as part of the STP-2 Mission.
“The STP-2 multi-manifest (rideshare) launch will demonstrate the capabilities of the SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch vehicle and provide critical data supporting certification for future National Security Space Launch (NSSL) missions. In addition, SMC will use this mission as a pathfinder for the development of mission assurance policies and procedures related to the reuse of launch vehicle boosters. The STP-2 payloads are assembled from a host of mission partners including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), DoD research laboratories, and university research projects. STP-2 provides a unique space access opportunity for DoD and inter-agency science and technology missions that directly enhance the space capabilities of the U.S. and its allies and partners.”
https://www.spacex.com/stp-2

SpaceX performs a free-flying hopper test of StarHopper. This is a key test of the SpaceX Starship which will be able to carry more than 100 people into space at a time. There will be more tests later this year with orbital test flights as early as next year.

The StarShip will revolutionize space travel. It may be hard to truly understand how transformational this will be. But there is something in our past that can help.

Imagine being in the age when airplanes looked like this:

Image result for barnstormers

Only carried a single person, didn’t fly so far, maybe wasn’t too safe. Imagine now that I try to convince you that you will be able to get on a plane in Houston, pay only $1,000 and be in Tokyo in less than 14 hours. Imagine how you might dismiss this idea.

But then I show you this:

Image result for 747

You will be like “of course the air transportation system will develop into what we have today.”. Well, the starship, 100% reusable, most power rocket built, and cheapest to launch rocket ever will change space transportation (and earth transportation) in a similar way.

SpaceX will be flying a group around the moon in 2023.


https://dearmoon.earth/

She talked about her experience with HERA (Human Exploration and Research Analog).
HERA is a unique three-story habitat designed to serve as an analog for isolation, confinement, and remote conditions in exploration scenarios. Learn more at https://www.nasa.gov/analogs/hera/
You can also volunteer for a mission: https://herastudy.jsc.nasa.gov/

Anima had also participated in Project Possum (https://projectpossum.org/ )

Project PoSSUM operates several programs including:

Anima also participated in a simulation at the Mars Desert Research Station operated by the MarsSociety
http://mdrs.marssociety.org/

The audience was amazed by her experiences.

Connect with Anima on social media to learn more as she continues her journey.

Website: https://animapatilsabale.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/animasabale/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/animpatilsabale/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnimaOnTwit
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astroanima/?hl=en

Thank you Anima for speaking to our group.

And we had a drawing for a Lego Apollo Lunar Lander.

Summary August 3, 2019 Monthly Meeting – Anima Sabale

August 3, 2019 was one of our most well-attended meetings yet. Nathan gave an overview of the NSS and a recap of some of the space events since the last meeting (read more here).
Then our featured speaker Anima Sabale shared her journey of exploring her dream of becoming an astronaut.
We closed the meeting with a drawing for Lego Apollo Lunar lander.

She talked about her experience with HERA (Human Exploration and Research Analog).
HERA is a unique three-story habitat designed to serve as an analog for isolation, confinement, and remote conditions in exploration scenarios. Learn more at https://www.nasa.gov/analogs/hera/
You can also volunteer for a mission: https://herastudy.jsc.nasa.gov/

Anima had also participated in Project Possum (https://projectpossum.org/ )

Project PoSSUM operates several programs including:

Anima also participated in a simulation at the Mars Desert Research Station operated by the MarsSociety
http://mdrs.marssociety.org/

The audience was amazed by her experiences.

Connect with Anima on social media to learn more as she continues her journey.

Website: https://animapatilsabale.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/animasabale/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/animpatilsabale/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnimaOnTwit
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astroanima/?hl=en

Thank you Anima for speaking to our group.

And we had a drawing for a Lego Apollo Lunar Lander.

Upcoming Launches and Big Events and Space Events Around Houston (August 2019)

(Launch information is from https://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/)

LAUNCH: August 5, 2019 – Proton • Blagovest No. 14L- A Russian government Proton rocket and Breeze M upper stage will launch the Blagovest No. 14L communications satellite to cover Russian territory and provide high-speed Internet, television and radio broadcast, and voice and video conferencing services for Russian domestic and military users.

LAUNCH: August 5, 2019 – 4:52 PM Central – SpaceX Falcon 9 launch – Amos-17 – A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Amos 17 communications satellite. Built by Boeing and owned by Spacecom Ltd. of Israel, Amos 17 will provide high-throughput broadband connectivity and other communications services over Africa, the Middle East and Europe.  (SpaceX Reddit Group: https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/cjaawx/amos17_launch_campaign_thread/   will be live streamed on SpaceX’s website: https://www.spacex.com/webcast)

LAUNCH: August 6, 2019 – Ariane 5 • Intelsat 39 & EDRS-C – Arianespace will use an Ariane 5 ECA rocket, designated VA249, to launch the Intelsat 39 and EDRS-C communications satellites. Built by SSL, the Intelsat 39 satellite will replace Intelsat 902 and provide broadband networking and video distribution services in Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, plus broadband connectivity for mobile users in the Indian Ocean region. The EDRS-C satellite, built by OHB System AG, will be the second node in the European Data Relay System, a network developed by the European Space Agency and Airbus Defense and Space providing high-speed laser communications links between low-orbiting satellites and ground stations. EDRS-C also carries a hosted steerable Ka-band communications payload named Hylas 3 for Avanti Communications.

LAUNCH: August 8, 2019 – Atlas 5 • AEHF 5 – A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket will launch the fifth Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellite. Built by Lockheed Martin, this U.S. military spacecraft will provide highly-secure communications. The rocket will fly in the 551 vehicle configuration with a five-meter fairing, five solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage.

EVENT: August 9, 2019 (Friday) – 7:00 PM – Space Center Houston – Free Event – “The Future of Spaceflight” Panel discussion featuring NASA Orion Program manager Mark Kirasich, Lockheed Martin VP & Orion program manager Mike Hawes and NASA Gateway Program deputy manager Lara Kearney (https://spacecenter.org/event/thought-leader-series/

EVENT: August 9, 2019 – 7:30 PM Johnson Space Center Astronomical Society presents “Apollo 11 at 50” (Auditorium of the USRA bldg. (3600 Bay Area Blvd. at Middlebrook Dr.) (http://jscas.net)

EVENT: August 10, 2019 – 8PM – Discovery Green – The Houston Astronomical Society will host a star party in the heart of Space City. Volunteers from HAS will be on-hand with telescopes to show off the moon, other planets in the solar system, various deep-sky objects, and maybe even the International Space Station and the Hubble Space Telescope. (https://www.discoverygreen.com/1619289)

TEST: August 12, 2019 – Boca Chica, TX – StarHopper 200 meter hop.  (keep an eye on SpaceX reddit group: https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/cjzhw0/starhopper_200m_hop_is_net_august_12/)

EVENT: August 13, 2019 – 7PM-9PM – Houston Museum of Natural Science – Space City Weather, What Makes Houston Forecasting Unique by Eric Berger & Matt Lanza (http://store.hmns.org/DateSelection.aspx?item=4419)  Eric Berger is also a space reporter and has some wonderful articles published at https://arstechnica.com/author/ericberger/)

EVENT: August 13-14, 2019 – NASA Cost and Schedule Symposium (registration is Closed, but looks like an interesting professional event around cost/schedule estimation and planning that happens annually that might be good to attend next year).  More information on their website.  https://www.nasa.gov/offices/ocfo/cost_symposium

EVENT: August 16, 2019 – 6PM-9PM – Kaboom Books 3116 Houston Ave) Space Poetry and Wine (http://shenge.us/)

LAUNCH: August – Rockot • Geo-IK 2 – A Russian government Rockot vehicle with a Breeze KM upper stage will launch a GEO-IK 2 spacecraft. The satellite is designed to survey Earth to measure variations in the gravitational field and study other geodetic features of the planet.

LAUNCH: August – Long March 3B • Apstar 6D – A Chinese Long March 3B rocket will launch with the Apstar 6D communications spacecraft for APT Mobile Satcom Ltd., a communications satellite operator based in Hong Kong. Built by the China Academy of Space Technology, Apstar 6D will provide broadband Internet services across the Asia-Pacific region for aviation, maritime and land-based users.

LAUNCH: August 21 – Soyuz – ISS 60S – Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch the Soyuz MS-14 spacecraft to the International Space Station on a test flight without a crew on-board. The rocket will fly in the Soyuz-2.1a configuration, and will demonstrate the compatibility of the Soyuz spacecraft with the newer Soyuz-2 rocket variant before approving the launcher for future crewed missions.

EVENT: August 22, 2019 – 11AM-1PM – Ballroom at Bayou Place (500 Texas St.) – Downtown Rotary Club of Houston will host Johnson Space Center (JSC) Director Mark S. Geyer, astronaut Randolph “Komrade” Bresnik, and Apollo Astronaut, and fellow Downtown Rotary Club of Houston member, Walter Cunningham will also be honored. (https://bit.ly/2GIPfhS)

LAUNCH: August 22 – Delta 4 • GPS 3 SV02 – A United Launch Alliance Delta 4 rocket will launch the U.S. Air Force’s second third-generation navigation satellite for the Global Positioning System. The satellite is built by Lockheed Martin. The Air Force previously planned to launch the third GPS 3-series satellite on this mission. The rocket will fly in the Medium+ (4,2) configuration with two solid rocket boosters.

EVENT: August 24 – Boca Chica, TX – Elon Musk Presents an update on the Starship Project (keep an eye on the SpaceX Reddit group for update: https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/  (https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/08/elon-musk-will-update-the-status-of-starship-development-on-august-24/)

APPLICATION OPENS: August 28, 2019 – NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars – Applications Open for Spring-Summer 2020 – (https://nas.okstate.edu/ncas/)

EVENT: August 31, 2019 – 4:30PM – Space Center Houston – Family Campout – https://www.facebook.com/events/1213869752100113/

EVENT: September 1, 2019 – 7PM – Cafe Express (3800 SW Freeway, Houston, TX) – Fantasy/Sci Fi Book Club – Tau Zero (Poul Anderson) – https://www.meetup.com/houston-fantasy-scifi-bookclub/events/263231622/

EVENT: September 6, 2019 – 6:30 PM – Houston Astronomical Society Monthly Meeting (https://www.astronomyhouston.org/events)

LANDING: September 7, 2019 – Chandrayaan 2 Lands on the moon

EVENT: September 7, 2019 – 3PM – Barbara Bush Library – NSS North Houston Space Society monthly meeting (http://NorthHoustonSpace.org)

EVENTs: October 4-10, 2019 – World Space Week (http://WorldSpaceWeek.org)

DEADLINE: November 12, 2019 – Deadline for Brooke Owens Fellowship (http://www.brookeowensfellowship.org)

EVENT: November 15-16 – Bullock Texas State History Museum, Austin, TX – New Worlds Conference – (http://earthlightfoundation.org/newworlds/)

EVENT: December 9-12, 2019 – First International Orbital Debris Conference – Sugar Land Marriott Town Square (https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/orbitaldebris2019/)

EVENT: January 19-24, 2020 – Hotel Galvez, 2024 Seawall Boulevard, Galveston, TX – Origins of Life – Challenging the Perceptions of the Requirements for Life on Earth and Other Worlds – Applications for this meeting must be submitted by December 22, 2019. – (https://www.grc.org/origins-of-life-conference/2020/)

EVENT: February 11-13, 2020 – Houston, TX – The Impact of Lunar Dust on Human Exploration (https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lunardust2020/)

EVENT: February 18-21, 2020 – 3rd International Planetary Caves Conference – Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas (https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/3rdcaves2020/)

EVENT: March 16-20, 2020 (The Woodlands, TX) – 51st Lunar and Planetary Science Conference – https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2020/

EVENT: May 28-31, 2020 – Hilton Dallas-Frisco Hotel & Convention Center – International Space Development Conference (ISDC) 2020 – https://isdc2020.nss.org/