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Episode 103 -Observing the Solar System with the JWST

By Gurbir Dated: October 21, 2022 Leave a Comment

The James Webb Space Telescope has already wowed astronomers and the general public with some incredibly spectacular deep space images. But did you know, NASA has set aside a substantial number of hours for JWST to observe the objects in the solar system? What’s more that programme kicks in this autumn so some images of planets and their moons along with asteroids and comets will be published before the end of this year.

Dr Connr Nixon

A team of astronomers including planetary scientist Dr Connor Nixon will make use of the Guaranteed Time Observations (GTO) to observe the objects in the solar system from Mars and beyond. JWST cannot look towards the Sun so excludes the Earth, Venus or Mercury. The program is led by Dr. Heidi B. Hammel.

In this interview recorded in July during COSPAR2022 in Athens, Connor Nixon talks about the GTO and his role in it looking at Titan.

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Episode 102 – Martian Geology with Prof Sanjeev Gupta

By Gurbir Dated: October 14, 2022 Leave a Comment

In 1972, Harrison Schmitt became the first (and so far only), scientist to walk on the surface of the Moon. As a practising geologist, he brought a scientific perspective to understanding lunar geology. Since then many scientists have brought their scientific insights to understanding the surfaces of comets, asteroids, the planets in the solar system and their moons.

Professor Sanjeev Gupta

Professor Sanjeev Gupta is amongst the geologist helping to understand the martian surface today. Not from field trips to the martian surface but from data returned by martian landers, rovers and orbiters. In this interview recorded in July during COSPAR2022 in Athens, he describes his journey from revealing how the United Kingdom became an island to making sense of martian geology.

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Episode 101 UNOOSA – Peaceful Uses of Outer Space

By Gurbir Dated: October 7, 2022 Leave a Comment

Niklas Hedman
Acting Director UNOOSA

Niklas Hedman, the Acting Director of the United Nations Office for the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNOOSA) talks about UNOOSA’s ongoing role in facilitating and promoting the peaceful uses of space in Low Earth orbit and beyond.

In this interview recorded in July during COSPAR2022 in Athens, he speaks about the challenges and opportunities of space in the context of

  • Increasing commercial activities
  • Mega satellite constellations
  • Small Satellites
  • Legally and non-legally binding instruments Planetary Protection

He highlights a few of the many resources available online from UNOOSA’s website including the Space Objects Register, Online Index and Sustainable Development Goals. Video and audio links below


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Quick Update from IAC2022 Paris

By Gurbir Dated: September 20, 2022 Leave a Comment

Some of the highlights include

Bill Nelson – NASA
Expects Boing’s Starliner to start taking NASA astronauts to the ISS next year
Regarding relations with Russia’s space program. Nelson recalled Tom Stafford shaking hands with Alexi Leonov during the Apollo-Soyuz program in 1975. Stafford adopted two boys at Leonov’s request. They have now completed college in the USA. When Leonov passed away in 2019, Stafford went to Moscow to read his eulogy.
He is open to meeting with Roscosmos Director General when circumstances allow.
Commended ESA’s decision to select a para astronaut.
USA committed to ISS until 2030.
Developing a “magic potion” is underway at NASA. To mix with lunar regolith and build in situ lunar structures.

Josef Aschbacher – ESA Director General of ESA

ESA has been involved in over 540 international collaborative programs during its lifetime.
Received over 2300 applications for the next round of astronaut selection
On February 16 2022 a meeting was held in Toulouse with European Ministers responsible for Space and the European Commission, and a European Space Agency (ESA) Ministerial Council.
Europe should stick together to develop a common space infrastructure
Space is key to maintaining the standard of living.
That three ESA astronauts will go to the Moon has already been agreed.
ESA will support the ISS until 2030 and then support a commercial replacement.

Walther Pelzer – DLR
Most of Germany’s space budget will go towards collaborative ESA projects
The message to Putin in Moscow is that the EU will stick together (the only time that Putin got a mention) This unity is Germany’s top priority.
For the first time, the USA is relying on mission-critical parts that do not originate in the USA (referring to the European Service Module – part of the Artemis program).

S Somanath – ISRO
Plans for ISRO to handover the building of spacecraft and launching of rockets to industry
Human Spaceflight program, Gaganyaan, crew module testing coming along but slow.
Looking to a future where the government will an “anchor” customer.
Pawan Goenka, chairman of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe) is present at IAC222. IN-SPACe making progress in helping the Indian private sector to make use of ISRO facilities and services.
When asked if India’s human spaceflight program will fly foreign astronauts, he replied “we need to ensure it is safe for Indian astronauts first”. Whether foreign astronauts will fly has yet to be decided and announced.
When asked what the colour of the flag that land on the Moon should be Somanath said “White because it includes all the colours”.


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