SKYNET!!!! 9PM CT – 10:30PM CT
Saturday’s Topic: “Space and Astronomy in the Time of COVID-19” & “Astronaut Tips on Handling Isolation”
Net Control: Billye KF5PDS
Afterglow Movie 10:30PM: “A Scanner Darkly” (2006)
2-Meter Repeater W5FC: 146.880MHz, PL 110.9, –
Echolink: W5FC-R, node 37247.
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Saturday’s DARC SkyNet is at 9PM CT.
Discussion Topic of the Evening.
Space & Astronomy in the Time of COVID-19 / Astronaut Tips for Handling Isolation
Space and Astronomy in the time of COVID-19:
The Viral Telescope Project
https://skyandtelescope.org/wp-content/uploads/BepiColombo_10apr2020_GianlucaMasib.gif
NASA Response Framework
https://skyandtelescope.org/wp-content/uploads/nasa-1536×752.jpg
SOFIA Grounded
https://skyandtelescope.org/wp-content/uploads/ed15-0214-11.jpg
South African Radio Astronomy Observatory Steps Up!
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EUYqYwGVAAAFOVA?format=jpg&name=large
Astronaut Tips on Handling Isolation:
Scott Kelley at Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City
https://static01.nyt.com/images/2020/03/21/opinion/21kellyWeb/merlin_93580205_15285d56-cb56-4091-939b-780b9a0f11f4-superJumbo.jpg?quality=90&auto=webp
Things to do:
Go Outside
You Need a Hobby
Keep a Journal
Take Time to Connect
Listen to Experts
We Are All Connected
Space Exploration and Space History
Space Exploration News
Comet ATLAS
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/frL4DVKf2MmUf3sHV9THVc-650-80.png
Space-Related Birthdays
April 23, 1858 Max Planck
April 24, 1990 Hubble Space Telescope launched. Happy 30th birthday, Hubble! If you go to NASA.gov, there’s a link to find out what Hubble saw on YOUR birthday. I did it – it’s fun!
This Week in Space History
“The Great Debate” About the Size of the Universe
http://yearinspace.com/images/2020_Week_17_c.jpg
April 21, 1997
1997: Cremated remains of 24 people launched into orbit aboard Pegasus rocket in first space funeral.
April 22, 2010 X-37B launched
April 20, 1972 Apollo 16 lands on the moon
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/John_W._Young_on_the_Moon.jpg/260px-John_W._Young_on_the_Moon.jpg
Waz Up?
Miss Carolyn’s Constellation of the Month/Topic of the Week
The Star Procyon in Canis Minor
Space Launches For This Week
Space Coast Launches
Space Flight Now Launch Schedule
April
Long March 5B • Test Flight
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Wenchang, China
A Chinese Long March 5B rocket will launch on a test flight with an unpiloted prototype for China’s next-generation human-rated crew capsule designed for missions to the country’s planned space station and for human expeditions to the moon. This will be the first flight of the Long March 5B variant of China’s most powerful rocket family. The Long March 5B is designed to launch elements of China’s future space station in low Earth orbit. [Jan. 21]
AprilKuaizhou 1A • Xingyun 2-01 & 2-02
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Jiuquan, China
A Chinese Kuaizhou 1A rocket will launch the first two satellites for China’s planned Xingyun Internet of Things communications and data relay constellation. [April 13]
TBD
GSLV Mk.2 • GISAT 1
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota, India
India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk. 2 (GSLV Mk.2), designated GSLV-F10, will launch India’s first GEO Imaging Satellite, or GISAT 1. The GISAT 1 spacecraft will provide continuous remote sensing observations over the Indian subcontinent from geostationary orbit more than 22,000 miles (nearly 36,000 kilometers) above Earth. Delayed from Jan. 15, February and March 5. [March 13]
TBD
Electron • “Don’t Stop Me Now”
Launch window: TBD
Launch site: Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
A Rocket Lab Electron rocket will launch on its 12th flight on a rideshare mission. The rocket will carry three payloads into orbit for the National Reconnaissance Office, the U.S. government’s spy satellite agency, and the ANDESITE CubeSat for Boston University and NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative, which will study Earth’s magnetosphere and Space Weather. The M2 Pathfinder satellite, a collaboration between the Australian government and the University of New South Wales Canberra Space, will also be launched on a communications and technology demonstration mission. Rocket Lab has nicknamed the launch “Don’t Stop Me Now.” Delayed from March 29 due to coronavirus pandemic. [March 25]
TBD
Falcon 9 • SAOCOM 1B
Launch time: 2321 GMT (7:21 p.m. EDT)
Launch site: Cape Canaveral, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the SAOCOM 1B satellite for CONAE, Argentina’s space agency. SAOCOM 1B is the second of two SAOCOM 1-series Earth observation satellites designed to provide radar imagery to help emergency responders and monitor the environment, including the collection of soil moisture measurements. Delayed from 4th Quarter of 2019, January and February. This mission was originally scheduled to launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. Delayed from March 30 due to coronavirus pandemic. [March 25]
Recent Astronomical Discoveries
Exoplanet apparently disappears in latest Hubble observations
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/04/200420165722.htm
Visible satellite passages over the next couple of days.
All times are “local” (Dallas) time.