President's Report
What an exciting year it has been! When we look back at the past 50 years of space flight, one can only imagine what the next 50 years might hold. Will I be taking my retirement holiday in space? What will my grand children experience as a result of new space technologies and capabilities? These last 2 months have been action packed with a high profile conference, awards, networking, World Space Week and of course - the celebration of 50 Years in Space! The Australian Space Science Conference was a resounding success. We had the largest number of participants ever for an ASSC, a high calibre of speakers, poster sessions, networking drinks, AIAA Student Paper Competition, Decadal Plan workshop and most importantly, the creation of some very positive momentum and ideas for the future. What is particularly gratifying is that the ASSC was run by volunteers. Special thanks to Iver Cairns, Wayne Short, Roxy Jacobs, Natalie Gardner, Eloise Matheson, Sophia Casanova, Paul Leopardi and Jason Held for making it a wonderful experience! We also recognised some of our active volunteers and supporters at the NSSA Annual Dinner. Combined with the ASSC Conference, this was an opportunity to highlight the breadth and abilities of NSSA members. We congratulate:
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 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
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts120/071023launch/
The shuttle Discovery, carrying seven astronauts and a critical connecting module for the international space station, roared to life and rocketed into orbit on October 23rd, kicking off a high-stakes five-spacewalk mission considered by many the most complex orbital construction work ever attempted.
Looking on a few miles away was "Star Wars" creator George Lucas. A light saber used in the first "Star Wars" movie is on board Discovery to mark the film's 30th anniversary.
Discovery's docking and the usual welcome aboard ceremony will have an unusual flavor this time around as Expedition 16 commander Peggy Whitson, the station's first female commander, welcomes Pam Melroy, the second woman to serve as a shuttle commander, probably the final woman to command a shuttle before the program is retired in 2010.
The day after docking, the astronauts will use the station's robot arm to pull the 31,500-pound Harmony module from Discovery's cargo bay as part of the first of the mission's five spacewalks. Harmony is a pressurized compartment that will provide docking ports for the upcoming European and Japanese laboratory that will launch over the next few months. The crew will attach the Italian-made Harmony compartment to the space station in addition to reconfiguring the ISS's girder and solar wings. Harmony is designed to allow for the compatibility of international components, symbolic in its own way of the cooperation and teamwork that the International Space Station embodies.
The second major objective of the flight is the disconnection and relocation of a huge set of solar arrays known as P6. Designed as the sixth and final segment of the port, or left, side of the station's main power truss, P6 was mounted at the center of the station in December 2000 to provide power to the U.S. segment during the initial stages of assembly. "This is pretty nearly the design-limiting case for the robotic arm of the space station, so it's out at its full extension, trying to get that truss out there," Melroy said. "We'll have the help of the spacewalkers on the third spacewalk to do that. So, all these activities will actually span three days, three full days, two spacewalks with robotics in the middle."
NASA plans at least eleven additional flights to the ISS for its scheduled completion by 2010 when the space shuttle will be retired.
http://www.spacegeneration.org/
Mechatronics student Andrea Boyd from the University of Adelaide is giving a free lecture about the Space Generation Advisory Council.
The Space Generation Advisory Council in support of the United Nations Programme on Space Application (SGAC) is a nongovernmental organisation which aims to represent students and young space professionals to the United Nations, States, and space agencies.
Each year SGAC organises an international, intercultural and interdisciplinary youth space conference - the Space Generation Congress. These events usually bring together 150 passionate young space professionals to work on issues of grassroots space education and outreach, space policy and law, space engineering and architecture and many others.
Space Generation really is the biggest global youth space network!
Free public lecture at the Victorian Space Science Education Centre (VSSEC)
Strathmore Secondary College 400 Pascoe Vale Rd
Strathmore 3041
Monday 10th December @ 6:00pm - limit 85 people
Free entry, to reserve a seat please contact bookings@vssec.vic.edu.au
Australian Space Science Conference
http://www.nssa.com.au/ocs/index.php?cf=8
The 7th Australia Space Science Conference (ASSC) was held in Sydney over September 24-27 , 2007.
This conference was jointly sponsored and organised by the National Committee for Space Science (NCSS) and the National Space Society of Australia (NSSA). The ASSC is intended to be the primary annual meeting for Australian research relating to space science.
The NCSS held a one-day workshop during the conference with the aim of developing Australia's first Decadal Plan for Space Science. The final decadal plan is due to be published in 2008.
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) also co-located its student regional conference at the same venue with attendees from throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
With over 120 delegates in attendance from diverse fields - space scientists, engineers, educators, industry and government; this significant conference event was both well attended and well received. Photographs from the conference are available at http://www.nssa.com.au/7assc/photos
Son of NASA Astronaut to be the Next Orbital Space Tourist
http://www.spaceadventures.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=news.viewnews&newsid=554
Space Adventures, Ltd., the world's leading space experiences company, announced on September 28 that famed game developer Richard Garriott, son of former NASA astronaut Owen Garriott, has begun preparations for a "commercially active" mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
"I am dedicating my spaceflight to science," said Mr. Garriott. "It is my goal to devote a significant amount of my time aboard the space station to science, engineering and educational projects." He continued, "We need to be adventurous in mind and stimulate our intellects to answer today's most daunting scientific questions and to invent tomorrow's technological marvels."
Interested parties, including commercial and non-profit entities and space enthusiasts, can get involved in Mr. Garriott's spaceflight via his web site (www.richardinspace.com). Mr. Garriott will be updating the site continuously via photos, blog entries and individuals can submit questions and suggestions for his mission activities. "I want to involve as many people as possible in my mission," said Mr. Garriott.
International symposium for personal spaceflight 2007
http://spacegrant.nmsu.edu/isps
The New Mexico State University and X PRIZE Foundation opened the Third International Symposium for Personal Spaceflight (ISPS-2007), on October 24. The Symposium was held in Las Cruces at the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum. The purpose of ISPS is to bring together the community involved in all aspects of commercial space travel for two days to help the industry expand and grow. This was summed up by this year's theme, "Progress and Next Steps".
The Symposium brings companies developing vehicles carrying passengers to space together with the developers and operators of commercial spaceports and other related businesses from across the globe to help continue the growth of the commercial spaceflight business. ISPS had astronauts in attendance to lend their voices to help inform the dialog as more humans prepare to experience spaceflight.
Pic: Exhibitors
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/
This month's NSSA Member Profile: Anthony Wicht
I'm a director of NSSA, and a member of the Sydney Chapter. I've been a director about a year now. Along with Anny and Roxy I hope I help to steer NSSA in the sort of direction that will appeal to younger members. I'm also an informal point of contact with BLUEsat (a satellite project at UNSW).
I was worried you might ask this question. I am a lawyer. Enough said about that. Well, actually, let me put two things in my defence. One, I studied engineering along with law at uni, and two, I took Space Law as one of my major electives. I still help out on BLUEsat from time to time, but working lawyer hours means I don't get out there as much as I would like!
Two words really - Tim McEgan. Tim was good enough to volunteer on the Steering Committee of BLUEsat, and after I left Uni Tim encouraged me to nominate for the NSSA board of directors. It's interesting to think back though - in my early years at uni I saw the NSSA promotional material here and there but was always worried that I didn't know enough about space to join!
I love working with people who are really passionate about space. The things our NSSA members don't collectively know about space must be minute! Of course, it's great to meet all sorts of "famous" space people at NSSA events, but if space is going to become a way of life for all people then we need to move the space focus from these isolated emissaries of the space movement to ordinary people. To get a chance to see this movement starting with all the NSSA members around me - well, that's pretty special.
I want to see NSSA become the focal point for space organisations within Australia. This means having a voice in political decisions, a guiding influence on commercial development and a key role in forging public awareness of space issues in Australia. People should feel like belonging to NSSA is powerful and purposeful.
I really think there is a great benefit to getting a whole lot of passionate people together to build on each others' ideas. NSSA should be the focus that brings the Australian space industry together into a critical mass, encouraging and inspiring each other and leading by example to grow space awareness in Australia.
The trouble is that to do this we have to conquer the great Australian trend to apathy! No easy task - but if we persevere I think we can do it.
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