The Space Association of Australia has cancelled its regular face-to-face public meetings until at least August 2020. However, the space news never stops and so we are conducting our fifth virtual monthly meeting, To participate, simply register via the button below and you will be sent details about how to join the meeting. You can watch either via a web browser or by downloading the Zoom Meeting app to your computer or mobile device before the meeting starts. Have some headphones or speakers ready to go and a microphone if you'd like to join in the conversation. You can also choose to have your video camera active or off. For security reasons, you will need to register in advance to join this meeting:   Date: Monday, 27 July 2020 Time: 19:30-21:30 AEST (UTC+10) Draft agenda: 7:30 - SAA business - 15 minutes 7:45 - small rockets, BIG FUTURE with Alex Linossier | Project Manager - Launch Campaigns, Southern Launch, Adelaide, South Australia + Q&A - 40 minutes Alex manages the launch campaigns of customers’ vehicles, from conceptual discussions right through to launch operations. He also manages other large projects at Southern Launch, and supports all engineering activities. Alex completed his Masters of Space Engineering at Technische Universität Berlin, Germany after completing his Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering at Monash University. 8:30 - Igor Rozenberg | Member - Space Asociation of Australia, Melbourne, Victoria - 30 minutes A Handshake on Orbit: Apollo Soyuz Test Project 45th anniversary + Q&A 9:00 - Julian Timmers | Member - Space Asociation of Australia, Perth, Western Australia - 20 minutes Join Julian recount his recent two-day "bucket list" tour to the Carnavon Space & Technology Museum in Western Australia + Q&A 9:30 - End   Q&A: If you have questions you would like to ask Alex, Igor or Julian before or during the meeting, you can do so here: https://app.sli.do/event/fn0zgt0k. Don't forget to register in advance to join this meeting:

The Space Association of Australia has cancelled its regular face-to-face public meetings until at least June 2020. However, the space news never stops and so we are conducting our fourth virtual monthly meeting. We did this for our March, April and May meetings and they were a huge success. To participate, simply register via the button below and you will be sent details about how to join the meeting. You can watch either via a web browser or by downloading the Zoom Meeting app to your computer or mobile device before the meeting starts. Have some headphones or speakers ready to go and a microphone if you'd like to join in the conversation. You can also choose to have your video camera active or off. For security reasons, you will need to register in advance to join this meeting.   Date: Monday, 22 June 2020 Time: 19:30-21:30 AEST (UTC+10) Draft agenda: 7:30 - SAA business - 15 minutes 7:45 - Dr Malcolm Davis - Senior Analyst in Defence Strategy and Capability at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), Canberra, Australia + Q&A - 60 minutes In February 2018, Dr Davis authored the ASPI Strategy report, Australia’s future in space, in which he championed the development of a sovereign space capability for Australia. Malcolm will outline the key propositions he put forward in that report, talk about what has been achieved during the intervening years and what he sees as the opportunities and challenges that still lie ahead. 8:45 - Dr Alice Gorman - Associate Professor in the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences at Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia - 20 minutes Dr Gorman is an internationally recognised leader in the emerging field of space archaeology. She is a faculty member of the International Space University's Southern Hemisphere Space Program in Adelaide and a member of the Advisory Council for the Space Industry Association of Australia. Alice has recently been appointed a Mentor to the UN Office of Outer Space Affairs Space4Women Network representing Australia and Oceania, a platform for promoting gender equality and gender empowerment in the space sector. 9:05 - Ms Vienna Tran - Medical Student in Space Medicine at the University of Adelaide, Australia - 15 minutes + 10 minutes Q&A Vienna is featured in this Australian Space Agency profile. Her Honours project, supervised by Associate Professor Gordon Cable and Professor Julie Hides, is lay-titled The Effects of Centrifugation on the Gluteal Muscles During 60-Day Bed Rest and involves analysing data from the Artificial Gravity Bed Rest study at the European Space Agency (AGBRESA). Vienna will discuss the study’s background, preliminary findings and implications for long-duration spaceflight. 9:30 - End Q&A: If you have questions you would like to ask Malcolm, Alice or Vienna before or during the meeting, you can do so here: https://app.sli.do/event/hgdhrw2c.

Demo-2 Crew Dragon Launch Take 2! American astronauts will once again launch on an American rocket from American soil to the International Space Station as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley will fly on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft, lifting off on a Falcon 9 rocket at 05:22 am AEST (UTC+10) on Sunday, 31 May from Launch Complex 39A in Florida. The Demo-2 mission is set for an extended stay at the space station although the specific duration of the mission is yet to be determined. The idea of the Demo-2 Zoom Party is for participants to come in and out and talk about what they are watching: NASA TV, SpaceX live stream, Spaceflightnow etc. If someone finds something unique and good quality, they can share their desktop. If the quality is good we can stay with it, if not we can all watch our own streams and be chatting about the progress. To participate, simply register via the link below and you will be sent details about how to join the party. You can watch either via a web browser or by downloading the Zoom Meeting app to your computer or mobile device before the meeting starts. Have some headphones or speakers ready to go and a microphone if you'd like to join in the conversation. You can also choose to have your video camera active or off.   Date: Sunday, 31 May 2020 Time: 01:00-07:00 AEST (UTC+10) Countdown timeline below Join anytime, stay as long as you like and talk space with us as we watch history in the making. For security reasons, you will need to register in advance to join this meeting. Simply follow this REGISTRATION link, then enter your name and email address. After registering, you will receive confirmation and information about joining the party. ============================================================================ SpaceX Demo-2 Countdown Timeline Hour/Min/Sec Events -04:00:00 Crew suit up ~ 1:20 am AEST  -03:00:00 Crew transport to Pad 39A ~ 2:20 am AEST -00:45:00 SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for propellant load - 4:37 am AEST -00:42:00 Crew access arm retracts -00:37:00 Dragon launch escape system is armed -00:35:00 RP-1 (rocket grade kerosene) loading begins -00:35:00 1st stage LOX (liquid oxygen) loading begins -00:16:00 2nd stage LOX loading begins -00:07:00 Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch -00:05:00 Dragon transitions to internal power -00:01:00 Command flight computer to begin final prelaunch checks -00:01:00 Propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins -00:00:45 SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for launch -00:00:03 Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start -00:00:00 Falcon 9 liftoff - 5:22 am AEST +00:00:58 Max Q (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket) +00:02:30 1st stage main engine cutoff (MECO) +00:02:34 1st and 2nd stages separate +00:02:36 2nd stage engine starts +00:07:12 1st stage entry burn +00:08:43 2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-1) +00:08:45 1st stage entry burn +00:09:09 1st stage landing +00:12:02 Crew Dragon separates from 2nd stage +00:12:48 Dragon nosecone open sequence begins

American astronauts will once again launch on an American rocket from American soil to the International Space Station as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley will fly on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft, lifting off on a Falcon 9 rocket at 6:33 am AEST on Thursday, 28 May from Launch Complex 39A in Florida. The Demo-2 mission is set for an extended stay at the space station although the specific duration of the mission is yet to be determined. The idea of the Demo-2 Zoom Party is for participants to come in and out and talk about what they are watching: NASA TV, SpaceX live stream, Spaceflightnow etc. If someone finds something unique and good quality, they can share their desktop. If the quality is good we can stay with it, if not we can all watch our own streams and be chatting about the progress. To participate, simply register via the link below and you will be sent details about how to join the party. You can watch either via a web browser or by downloading the Zoom Meeting app to your computer or mobile device before the meeting starts. Have some headphones or speakers ready to go and a microphone if you'd like to join in the conversation. You can also choose to have your video camera active or off.   Date: Thursday, 28 May 2020 Time: 02:00-08:00 AEST (UTC+10) Countdown timeline below Join anytime, stay as long as you like and talk space with us as we watch history being made. For security reasons, you will need to register in advance to join this meeting. Simply follow this REGISTRATION link, then enter your name and email address. After registering, you will receive confirmation and information about joining the meeting. ============================================================================ SpaceX Demo-2 Countdown Timeline Hour/Min/Sec Events -04:00:00 Crew suit up ~ 02:30 am AEST  -03:00:00 Crew transport to Pad 39A ~ 03:30 am AEST -00:45:00 SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for propellant load - 05:48 am AEST -00:42:00 Crew access arm retracts -00:37:00 Dragon launch escape system is armed -00:35:00 RP-1 (rocket grade kerosene) loading begins -00:35:00 1st stage LOX (liquid oxygen) loading begins -00:16:00 2nd stage LOX loading begins -00:07:00 Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch -00:05:00 Dragon transitions to internal power -00:01:00 Command flight computer to begin final prelaunch checks -00:01:00 Propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins -00:00:45 SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for launch -00:00:03 Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start -00:00:00 Falcon 9 liftoff - 6:33 am AEST +00:00:58 Max Q (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket) +00:02:30 1st stage main engine cutoff (MECO) +00:02:34 1st and 2nd stages separate +00:02:36 2nd stage engine starts +00:07:12 1st stage entry burn +00:08:43 2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-1) +00:08:45 1st stage entry burn +00:09:09 1st stage landing +00:12:02 Crew Dragon separates from 2nd stage +00:12:48 Dragon nosecone open sequence begins

The Space Association of Australia has cancelled its regular face-to-face public meetings until at least June. However, the space news never stops so we are conducting our third virtual monthly meeting. We did this for our March and April meetings and they were loads of fun. To participate, simply register via the link below and you will be sent details about how to join the meeting on Monday night. You can watch either via a web browser or download the Zoom Meeting app to your computer or mobile device before the meeting starts. Have some headphones or speakers ready to go and a microphone if you'd like to ask questions. You can also choose to have your video camera active or off.   Date: Monday, 25 May 2020 Time: 19:30-21:30 AEST (UTC+10) Draft agenda: 7:30 - SAA business - 15 minutes 7:45 - Andrea Boyd Australian ISS Flight Operations Engineer at European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany + Q&A - 60 minutes Andrea will discuss her work, preparations for the Demo-2 crew arrival at the ISS, working through the coronavirus pandemic and more! 8:45 - SpaceX Demo-2 Preview - 15 minutes Demo-2 is scheduled to launch on Thursday, 28 May 2020 at 6:33 am (AEST), and will be the first crewed spaceflight to the International Space Station launched from United States soil since the final Space Shuttle mission in 2011. 9:00 - NASA's Human Landing System Review + discussion - 30 minutes NASA has selected three U.S. companies to design and develop human landing systems (HLS) for the agency’s Artemis program. We'll take a look at these proposals and discuss their respective merits and shortcomings.  9:30 - End   For security reasons, you will need to register in advance to join this meeting. Simply follow this Registration link, then enter your name and email address. After registering, you will receive confirmation and information about joining the meeting. See you on Monday!

As previously announced, the Space Association of Australia has reluctantly cancelled our regular public meetings until at least June. However, the space news never stops so we are conducting our second virtual meeting! We did this for our March meeting and it was loads of fun. To watch, simply register on the link below and you will then be sent a link to join the meeting on Monday night, have some headphones or speakers ready to go and a microphone if you'd like to ask questions. You can watch via a web browser or download some software (Zoom). You'll be able to make comments and ask questions. If anyone misbehaves, you'll be kicked out. We suggest for those that are joining using your smartphones that you download the free Zoom app before the meeting. Those that are joining on their computer can just use their web browser. You can also choose to have your video camera active or off. Draft agenda: 19:30 - Welcome and introductions 19:45 - SAA news and activities 20:00 - Feature: Australia In Space  Adam Seedsman, Head of Strategy and Policy at the Australian Space Agency Adam Gilmour, CEO & Founder of Gilmour Space Andrew Uscinski, CEO & Co-founder of Valiant Space Herve Astier, CEO of Neumann Space Peter Williams, Sales Director at Southern Launch Each panelist will give a short overview of their operations and plans and then we will open up for a Q&A. 21:00 - NASA's Plan for Sustained Lunar Exploration and Development 21:30 - End Date: Monday, 27 April 2020 Time: 19:30-21:30 AEST You will need to register in advance to join this meeting. Simply follow this Registration link then enter your name and email address. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. See you on Monday!

The Space Association of Australia and the Sun Theatre proudly present: Cancelled Apollo 13 & Australia: 50th Anniversary Event The Prime Minister has advised that Cinemas along with other public venues will close from midday Monday, March 23. We are conscious of our role in the community and agree with the directive. As a result, the Sun Theatre and The Space Association of Australia we have reluctantly cancelled our event on the 18th. IMPORTANT NOTE: If you have pre-booked any tickets online, they will be automatically refunded. If you have a ticket bought at the counter, please call or email the Sun (9362 0999 info@suntheatre.com.au) to arrange a refund. We can all still celebrate Apollo 13 (as well as Apollos 11 & 17) by following the mission as it happened 50 years ago! Check out this amazing real time site! https://apolloinrealtime.org/ We apologise for this and hope we can create something wonderful where we can all get together soon.

This is the free online celebration of the 50th anniversary of Apollo 13, presented by the Space Association of Australia - all welcome! You'll learn about the events that led to the inflight emergency, Australia's important role in the safe return of Apollo 13, hear from one of Australia's leading space historians and three 'trackers' who were actively involved! Guest presenters: Colin MacKellar (honeysucklecreek.net), John Saxon & Mike Dinn (Honeysuckle Creek Tracking Station), Bruce Window (Parkes Radio Telescope) Explosion origins and events up to launch day Early historical context of man and moon, Australian space tracking and communications Honeysuckle, Apollo, MSFN, Preparations for Apollo 13 Australian mission support and role during the Apollo 13 rescue Coping with Lunar Module and Saturn third stage together Apollo 13 Re-entry, ground track & LM “final Los”. Q&A Zoom meeting: https://zoom.us/join Meeting id: 890 694 323 Password: SAA

As previously announced, the Space Association of Australia has reluctantly cancelled its regular public meeting that was scheduled for Monday night, for public health reasons. However, the space news never stops so we are launching our very first virtual meeting! This will a bit of an experiment but should be loads of fun. To watch, simply click on the following link on Monday night, have some headphones or speakers ready to go and a microphone if you'd like to ask questions. You can watch via a web browser or download some software (Zoom). You'll be able to make comments and ask questions. If anyone misbehaves, you'll be kicked out. We suggest for those that are joining using your smartphones that you download the free Zoom app before the meeting. Those that are joining on their computer can just use their web browser. You can also choose to have your video camera active or off. In order to simulate the true SAA meeting don’t forget to have a chicken parmigiana for dinner! We'll have a short round up of SAA activities, local and global space news and some gorgeous videos, and maybe a few surprises! Date: Monday, 23 March 2020 Time: 19:30-21:30 AEDT Link: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/778776855?pwd=SHNEdy9jeE9HV1B4UllaR1cvV0I1dz09

This is the free monthly meeting of the Space Association of Australia - all welcome! DATE: Monday, 24 February 2020 TIME: 7:00 - 10:00 pm VENUE: Golden Gate Hotel, 238 Clarendon Street, South Melbourne HOW TO FIND US:  The Golden Gate Hotel is on the north-western corner of the intersection of Clarendon and Coventry Streets. Take the stairs or lift up to level 1 - we'll be in the Coventry Room. GETTING THERE: By car: Car parking is best in Coventry Street west of Clarendon Street. By tram: Route 12 (via Collins Street) | Stop 127 (York Street, then walk south) or Stop 128 (Dorcas Street, then walk north). MEALS AVAILABLE: Place your meal order in the Coventry Room and have it delivered to your table.  The meeting will be streamed live here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HfB4PY10V0 and then made available on-demand via the Space Association's YouTube channel - SAA.TV.   We'll be taking an in-depth look at NASA's Commercial Crew Program as it approaches its first crewed launch.  Also, an update on Russian space news with our in-house expert, Igor Rozenberg. The update will cover Russian launch vehicles, including Superheavy; new crewed spacecraft OREL; the Russian Moon program; ExoMars 2020 and the proposed space tug with a nuclear reactor.

This is the free monthly meeting of the Space Association of Australia - all welcome! DATE: Monday, 27 January 2020 TIME: 7:00 - 10:00 pm VENUE: Golden Gate Hotel, 238 Clarendon Street, South Melbourne HOW TO FIND US:  The Golden Gate Hotel is on the north-western corner of the intersection of Clarendon and Coventry Streets. Take the stairs or lift up to level 1 - we'll be in the Coventry Room. GETTING THERE: By car: Car parking is best in Coventry Street west of Clarendon Street. By tram: Route 12 (via Collins Street) | Stop 127 (York Street, then walk south) or Stop 128 (Dorcas Street, then walk north). MEALS AVAILABLE: Place your meal order in the Coventry Room and have it delivered to your table.  The meeting will be streamed live here and then made available on-demand via the Space Association's YouTube channel - SAA.TV.   Join us for our first meeting of 2020! We'll be taking an in-depth look at the latest space industry news and what to expect in the coming year during our space news feature.  Also, an inside report from Expedition Boomerang with SAA member Dr Shane Usher, who participated in a two-week mission at the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) analogue facility in Utah, owned and operated by the Mars Society.

Join us on 16 December for the final meeting of the Space Association of Australia for 2019, our 7th annual Space Trivia Night - all welcome!  DATE: Monday, 16 December 2019 TIME: 7:00 - 10:00 pm VENUE: Golden Gate Hotel, 238 Clarendon Street, South Melbourne HOW TO FIND US:  The Golden Gate Hotel is on the north-western corner of the intersection of Clarendon and Coventry Streets. Take the stairs or lift up to level 1 - we'll be in the Coventry Room. GETTING THERE: By car: Car parking is best in Coventry Street west of Clarendon Street. By tram: Route 12 (via Collins Street), Stop 127 (York Street, then walk south) or Stop 128 (Dorcas Street, then walk north). MEALS AVAILABLE: Place your meal order in the Coventry Room and have it delivered to your table.  Our Space Trivia Night is open to all members, non-members, friends and family. These nights are loads of fun and have become a social highlight of the SAA calendar. For planning purposes, please register your attendance and how many will be in your party by clicking on the "Get Tickets" button to the right or bottom of the page. There is no charge to register, this just allows us to know how many to plan for. To help the night flow, please arrive from 6.45 pm so that we can form teams and seat accordingly (we do like to mix the groups up, so please be open to the possibility of sitting with people you may or may not know). We would also like you to place your meal orders prior to getting started so that meals can be delivered to your table. To plan your meal for the night, the menu can be found here. Note: "The Classics" menu items are only $15 on Monday nights - good value! So, dust off your space knowledge, get lots of sleep, eat healthily, get out and exercise and most of all, be ready for a fun night, we look forward to seeing you there!