President's Report
Sometimes I wonder if we have already invented warp speed - we seem to be delivering on a huge number of initiatives - not bad considering the NSSA is run by volunteers! We completed two submissions recently, one for a Senate Inquiry addressing the state of play within the Australian space community. The second was for the National Committee for Space Science's decadal plan. Both submissions are available from our website. The NSSA believes that it is imperative we have a voice and it is pleasing to see that a number of NSSA members put in individual submissions. There are a large number of conferences occurring, check out our website for links. Conferences are being held by the NSSA, Mars Society and the Geotechnical Institute of Australia. Remember that NSSA members get discounted entry in the Australia Space Development Conference. I recently attended the International Space Development Conference in Washington DC and observed the NSS Board of Director's meetings. It is pleasing to see that the NSSA leads in terms of its delivery, integration and cooperation by the directors (most likely because we are all friends!) A short note - this is an election year for the NSSA, so if you are looking for leadership experience, procuring new business skills or want to enhance your resume - consider running for a Board position. The NSSA is also welcoming back long time member, Michelle Butters to Australia after working overseas in England. Nice to have you home! Ad Astra! Anny Joseph
In this months issue:
If there is a topic that you'd like to read about in the next issue of eSFN or your chapter would like to be featured just let us know. Email your Readers Requests or Members Profiles to: esfn@nssa.com.au
If you would like to have your profile featured please answer the 5 profile questions and email them to us at esfn@nssa.com.au
Climate Change / Environment
· Climate change budget has little in terms of analysing the data and science behind climate change including assessments to the extent climate change will impact Australia. Limited opportunities through the Energy Innovation Fund for minor research to be undertaken. · $2.2 billion is being expended in 'Caring for our Country' which looks at environmental issues - farming, resource management, community capacity, coastal environments and other sensitive regional issues. These programs have not been developed further and there is the opportunity for space related business opportunities. · Murray Darling and water sharing is a huge winner in terms of budget allocations, could be opportunities for space-related technologies to assist in monitoring programs (more than $12 billion). · $130 million towards assisting farmers tackle climate change Innovation · Enterprise Connect Innovation Centres, connecting businesses and new ideas/new technology in a $251 million fund. · $270 million towards broadband extension Education · $535 million increase towards higher research (PhDs, fellowships etc) · HECS assistance for maths and science based studies ($625 million) Defence · An increase of 3% in funding towards the Australian Defence Force. This is a 'general' increase with most of the funding going towards current overseas deployments. Government has also announced the axing of 30% of ministerial and opposition staff (which could impact the set up of a new Space clearing house).
http://www.totouchthestars.com/
The first anthology CD of songs celebrating human space exploration, produced in partnership with the Mars Society and the National Space Society. Educators are invited to a legal, free digital download of the "To Touch the Stars" singer/songwriter anthology CD of songs celebrating space exploration. Songs from this album have been played on Mars, licensed by NASA, and have even moved Buzz Aldrin to tears on national television. Buzz Aldrin said "I am thrilled by this new collection of original songs celebrating the beginnings of our great endeavor to reach for the stars". Included in this collection is Pioneers of Mars, awarded first place in the Mars Society's Rouget de Lisle soungwriting competition.
Tracks of particular interest to educators are: * "Fire in the Sky" & "Surprise" - upbeat musical history of the Space Race * "If We Had No Moon" - lots of planetary science & humor rolled into one song Educators may e-mail "eli@prometheus-music.com" from their work address for a free download URL.
There are many interesting conventions taking place this year.
The NSSA is holding the 10th Australian Space Development Conference in Adeliade 21st-23rd July. http://www.asdc.nssa.com.auThe NSSA is holding the 8th Australian Space Science Conference at the ANU in Canberra from September 29 - October 2nd. http://www.assc.nssa.com.au
The Geological Society of Australia and The Australian Institute of Geosciences and holding the Australian Earth Sciences Conference in Perth 20th - 24th July http://www.iceaustralia.com/aesc2008/
The Mars Society is holding the 8th Australian Mars Exploration Conference in Adeliade 4-6th July http://www.marssociety.org.au/amec2008/AMEC2008.php
NASA Awards Contract for Constellation Spacesuit for the Moon
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/constellation/main/spacesuit.html
NASA has awarded a contract to Oceaneering International Inc. of Houston, for the design, development and production of a new spacesuit system. The spacesuit will protect astronauts during Constellation Program voyages to the International Space Station and, by 2020, the surface of the moon. "The award of the spacesuit contract completes the spaceflight hardware requirements for the Constellation Program's first human flight in 2015," said Jeff Hanley, Constellation program manager at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. "I am excited about the new partnership between NASA and Oceaneering," said Glenn Lutz, project manager for the spacesuit system at Johnson. "Now it is time for our spacesuit team to begin the journey together that ultimately will put new sets of boot prints on the moon." Suits and support systems will be needed for as many as four astronauts on moon voyages and as many as six space station travelers. For short trips to the moon, the suit design will support a week's worth of moon walks. The system also must be designed to support a significant number of moon walks during potential six-month lunar outpost expeditions. In addition, the spacesuit and support systems will provide contingency spacewalk capability and protection against the launch and landing environment, such as spacecraft cabin leaks.
Three Super-Earths Found Orbiting One Star
http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/080616-super-earths.html
A trio of planets called super-Earths has been spotted orbiting a sun-like star Super-Earths are more massive than Earth but less massive than Uranus and Neptune. The team located the trio with the HARPS instrument on the European Southern Observatory's 3.6-meter telescope at La Silla, Chile. They inferred the existence of the planets by noting the worlds' gravitational affects on the parent star's orbit. This method is called the radial velocity, or wobble, technique. The trio's host star, HD 40307, is slightly less massive than the sun, and is located 42 light-years away, toward the southern Doradus and Pictor constellations. The smallest of the trio weighs in at 4.2 Earth masses and orbits HD 40307 every 4.3 Earth days, while the largest, with a mass 9.4 times that of Earth, has a 20.4-day orbit. The middleweight is 6.7 Earth masses and has a 9.6-day trek around the star. Spotting true Earth-sized planets is challenging with current technology, but the presence of super-Earths suggests finding a world like ours is just a matter of time, researchers say.
If you are on Facebook you can join the NSSA group:http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2960810088
If not then you can join facebook and then join the NSSA group: http://www.facebook.com/
How to start an NSSA Chapter
Have you got a group of friends that enjoy discussing space? Would you like to do it regularly and get recognised for your efforts? Well here is your chance! Start a new NSSA Chapter today, it's this easy:
1. Identify which of your friends enjoy chatting about space issues
2. Suggest that a group of you get together one time to talk about space eg. at a cafe
3. If it goes well then suggest you do it regularly eg. once a month
4. Once you have 5 people who are NSSA members let NSSA know and request recognition as a chapter.
5. Ask NSSA for the contact details of other members in your area.
6. Find a regular venue to meet eg. Uni tutorial room or a community centre
7. Appoint a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer (although these do not need to be three separate people).
8. Each chapter receives a share of the membership fees paid by their members who join or renew each year.
9. Arrange a guest speaker eg. A local university lecturer
10. Organise a public outreach event eg. Have a stand at a public event such as National Science Week
11. NSSA can tell you when people of note will be in your area and help you invite them to your meeting as a speaker eg. Andy Thomas is occasionally in Adelaide.
12. Inform the Board of your activities if you are doing something exciting.
13. Have the chance to stand for election to the Board as your Chapters representative.
Tips on how you can be more involved with the NSSA