China Celebrates 50 Years of Space Exploration Ahead of Vital Upcoming Hainan LM-5 Launches

Space Day of China, April 24, the 5th such annual observance, will commemorate China’s entry into space with launch of satellite Dongfanghong 1. While celebrations of national space achievement in Zhongguo (China) may be muted due to ongoing health concerns, Space Day marks half a century of exploration amid a pivotal time for the China Space Program. Solid fuel Kuaizhou rockets are to take a pair of Xingyun communications satellites to orbit this month – the first of a planned CASIC ‘Internet of Things’ constellation. Expace, developer of the commercial variant 1A is located in hard-struck Wuhan, and will dedicate the launch to victims. China’s newest, largest and most equatorial Spaceport 19° N, Wenchang SLC on the free trade zone Island of Hainan, will be home to the most exciting upcoming mission launches. It is from there that a Long March 5 human-rated variant (LM-5B) rocket is to lift space station core module Tianhe – an uncrewed test flight which is to be carried out in April, perhaps even coinciding with Space Day commemoration. NET July, LM5 is also to launch Huoxing-1 (Mars-1) mission from Wenchang – including orbiter, lander and rover, preparatory for future Mars sample return. No less important in terms of space progression, Chang’e 5 is to begin lunar sample return mission in late October, initiating phase three of the China Lunar Exploration Program. (Image Credits: CNSA, Xinhua, China Daily)

MONDAY

Apr 20 — National Association of Broadcasters, Broadcast / Las Vegas NV: NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine as a featured speaker for a NAB Show Main Stage; cancelled.

Kansas Ad Astra State: 2020 AAK Day, Hubble Deployment 30th Anniversary, Interstellar University Proposal

Ad Astra Kansas Day 2020 on April 24, proclaimed by Gov. Parkinson in 2010, will mark the 30th observation of Hubble Space Telescope deployment by Kansas native Astronaut Steve Hawley (pictured). The Kansas Great Seal containing 34 stars, rising Sun and motto Ad Astra per Aspera (To the Stars through Difficulties) well represents Midway USA persevering, upward-looking spirit. A 21st-22nd Century proposal is the planned announcement in Topeka on January 29, 2021 — 160 years to the day of Kansas statehood — of founding an Interstellar University in the Ad Astra State. The first IU course(s) may be possible starting on Ad Astra Kansas Day 2021, perhaps on vital topics of R&D, Observation, Communication and Transportation. Interstellar matters require long-range vision / planning as supported by groups including 100 Year Star Ship, Centauri Dreams, TVIW, Icarus Interstellar and Breakthrough Initiatives – the last of which hopes to develop microsat StarChips to travel at .2c reaching Alpha Centauri 4.27 LY away within 20 years. One of the oldest higher education institutions is University of Oxford in UK founded 1096. Looking forward to the next 100 to 1,000 years, IU in Ad Astra State could build upon in-state resources such as K-State, KU, WSU, Ad Astra Kansas Foundation, Cosmosphere housing >13K spaceflight artifacts, 7 Observatories, manufacturing / engineering capabilities and its history of aero- and astronautics with Mercury & Apollo. (Image Credits: AAKF, NASA, Breakthrough Initiatives, Cosmosphere)

Apr 20-22 — ESA

Continued from…

Jan 2019 – Sep 2020 — New Horizons, Kuiper Belt: Full data collected from 7 instruments during KBO Arrokoth flyby to be transmitted to Earth over this time period.

Nov 2019 – Nov 2020 — Hayabusa2, Earth Trajectory: JAXA Hayabusa2 with two samples collected from C-type asteroid 162173 Ryugu on trajectory for Earth return.

Mar 16 – Sep 16 — SpaceX, Boca Chica Beach TX: SpaceX to attempt Starship flight to 20-km altitude during this timeframe.

Apr 18-21 — American Physical Society, Online / Washington DC: American Physical Society (APS) April Virtual Meeting.

TUESDAY

Apr 21 — Secure World Foundation, Online / Washington DC: Space Cafe WebTalk; on 2020 SWF Global Counterspace Capabilities Report featuring Brian Weeden.

Apr 21-22 — Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute, Online: Lunar Volatiles and Solar System Science: Workshop Without Walls; discussion themes include Critical Questions for the Decade, Lunar Volatiles and Solar System Science, Missions and Measurements.

Apr 21 — Lyrid Meteor Shower Peak: Lyrids derived from Comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher with period 415 years, are medium-swift (49 km/sec), often bright with persistent trains and can offer 15-20 per hour.

Apr 21 — Moon: 2.87° SE of Mercury, 11:00.