A special event celebrating the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11, proudly presented by the Melbourne Branch - Royal Aeronautical Society Australian Division in association with the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics, RMIT University and the Space Association of Australia Inc. DATE: Wednesday, 10 July 2019 TIME: 6.00-9.30 pm (AEST) VENUE: RMIT University, Swanston Academic Building, 445 Swanston Street, Melbourne COST: Free DETAILS & REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/2Ey36Gt The Australian film, "The Dish", highlighted the role played by the Parkes Radio Telescope in tracking and communicating with the Apollo 11 mission. However, the events depicted in this film represent only a single snapshot of the role played by Parkes in the exploration of the Solar System by NASA. From Mariner 2 in 1962 to Voyager 2 in 2019, the Parkes Radio Telescope has been contracted by NASA on many occasions to support interplanetary spacecraft. The highlight of the NASA support was its critical role in the Apollo lunar landing missions. In July 1969, the Parkes telescope brought TV pictures of the historic Apollo 11 moonwalk to 600 million viewers world-wide (1/6th of mankind at the time). This talk will describe the Parkes Telescope’s role in the Apollo 11 mission, and the impact it has had on tracking spacecraft in deep space, generally. SPEAKER BIO: John Sarkissian OAM, is an Operations Scientist at the CSIRO Parkes Radio Observatory. His main responsibilities are the science operations at the radio telescope, and the support of remote astronomers with their observations. In addition, he is involved in pulsar research - an exciting field of radio astronomy. DETAILS & REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/2Ey36Gt

This is the free monthly meeting of the Space Association of Australia - all welcome! DATE: Monday, 24 June 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. By car: Car parking is best in Coventry Street west of Clarendon Street. By tram: Route 12 travels along Collins Street, passes Southern Cross Station then heads south along Spencer and Clarendon Streets towards St Kilda. 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. This meeting will include Part 10 of our monthly feature series leading up to the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11: Footsteps to the Moon: Countdown to Apollo 11  | Lunar Orbit Rendezvous. This series provides monthly progress reports on the lead up to and execution of the Apollo 11 Moon landing that took place in July 1969. Each month we will summarise the key activities and missions flown in that month 50 years ago between September 1968 and July 1969. This will culminate at our July 2019 meeting, commemorating the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11. The meeting will also feature a special presentation on the Australian Universities Rocket Competition with James Kirby and the winning RMIT HIVE Engineering Team.

This is the free monthly meeting of the Space Association of Australia - all welcome! DATE: Monday, 27 May 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. By car: Car parking is best in Coventry Street west of Clarendon Street. By tram: Route 12 travels along Collins Street, passes Southern Cross Station then heads south along Spencer and Clarendon Streets towards St Kilda. 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.   Notice of Annual General Meeting 2019 The 2019 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of members of the Space Association of Australia Inc. (Registration No: A0000295B) will be held in the Coventry Room, Golden Gate Hotel, 238 Clarendon Street, South Melbourne, Victoria on Monday, 27 May 2019 from 7.00 pm (AEST).     The May Public Meeting will immediately follow the AGM.   This meeting will include Part 9 of our monthly feature series leading up to the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11: Footsteps to the Moon: Countdown to Apollo 11. This series provides monthly progress reports on the lead up to and execution of the Apollo 11 Moon landing that took place in July 1969. Each month we will summarise the key activities and missions flown in that month 50 years ago between September 1968 and July 1969. This will culminate at our July 2019 meeting, commemorating the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11.

This is the free monthly meeting of the Space Association of Australia - all welcome! DATE: Monday, 22 April 2019 TIME: 7:00 - 10:00 pm VENUE: Golden Gate Hotel, 238 Clarendon Street, South Melbourne HOW TO FIND US: Take a tram from Collins Street or Southern Cross Station down Spencer Street towards South Melbourne. We'll be in the Coventry Room on Level 1. 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=i6guxQigf7o and then made available on-demand via the Space Association's YouTube channel - SAA.TV. This meeting will include Part 8 of our monthly feature series leading up to the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11: Footsteps to the Moon: Countdown to Apollo 11. This series provides monthly progress reports on the lead up to and execution of the Apollo 11 Moon landing that took place in July 1969. Each month we will summarise the key activities and missions flown in that month 50 years ago between September 1968 and July 1969. This will culminate at our July 2019 meeting, commemorating the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11.

This is the free monthly meeting of the Space Association of Australia - all welcome! DATE: Monday, 25 March 2019 TIME: 7:00 - 10:00 pm NEW VENUE: Golden Gate Hotel, 238 Clarendon Street, South Melbourne HOW TO FIND US: Take a tram from Southern Cross Station down Spencer Street  towards South Melbourne. We'll be in the Coventry Room on Level 1. 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://bit.ly/2OefMWO and then made available on-demand via the Space Association's YouTube channel - SAA.TV. This meeting will include Part 7 of our monthly feature series leading up to the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11: Footsteps to the Moon: Countdown to Apollo 11. This series provides monthly progress reports on the lead up to and execution of the Apollo 11 Moon landing that took place in July 1969. Each month we will summarise the key activities and missions flown in that month 50 years ago between September 1968 and July 1969. This will culminate at our July 2019 meeting, commemorating the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11.

This is the free monthly meeting of the Space Association of Australia - all welcome! DATE: Monday, 25 February 2019 TIME: 7:00 - 10:00 pm VENUE: Imperial Hotel, 2-8 Bourke Street (Cnr Bourke Street & Spring Street), Melbourne HOW TO FIND US: We'll be in the Treasury Room on Level 1 - use the elevator next to the bar or take the stairs up one level.  MEALS AVAILABLE: Place your meal order in the Treasury Room and have it delivered to your table. The meeting will be streamed live here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04paku2YxM4 and then made available on-demand via the Space Association's YouTube channel - SAA.TV.  This meeting will include Part 6 of our monthly feature series leading up to the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11: Footsteps to the Moon: Countdown to Apollo 11. This series provides monthly progress reports on the lead up to and execution of the Apollo 11 Moon landing that took place in July 1969. Each month we will summarise the key activities and missions flown in that month 50 years ago between September 1968 and July 1969. This will culminate at our July 2019 meeting, commemorating the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11.

This is the free monthly meeting of the Space Association of Australia - all welcome! DATE: Monday, 28 January 2019 TIME: 7:00 - 10:00 pm VENUE: Imperial Hotel, 2-8 Bourke Street (Cnr Bourke Street & Spring Street), Melbourne HOW TO FIND US: We'll be in the Treasury Room on Level 1 - use the elevator next to the bar or take the stairs up one level.  The meeting will be streamed live here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qv4aIq09nJs and then made available on-demand via the Space Association's YouTube channel - SAA.TV. This meeting will include Part 5 of our monthly feature series leading up to the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11: Footsteps to the Moon: Countdown to Apollo 11. This series provides monthly progress reports on the lead up to and execution of the Apollo 11 Moon landing that took place in July 1969. Each month we will summarise the key activities and missions flown in that month 50 years ago between September 1968 and July 1969. This will culminate at our July 2019 meeting, commemorating the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11.

Join us on 17 December for the final meeting of the Space Association of Australia for 2018, our sixth annual Space Trivia Night - all welcome! DATE: Monday, 17 December 2018 TIME: 6:30 - 10:00 pm VENUE: Imperial Hotel, 2-8 Bourke Street, Melbourne 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. We'll be in the Parliament Room on the first floor of the Imperial Hotel, corner of Bourke and Spring Streets, Melbourne.  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 at 6.30 pm so that we can form teams and seat accordingly (we do plan 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 at about 8.00 pm. To plan your meal for the night, the menu can be found here: https://bit.ly/2FR6X4M. Also, look out for a special presentation - Apollo 8: First to the Moon. This will be Part 4 of our monthly series leading up to the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 - "Footsteps to the Moon: Countdown to Apollo 11". 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!

This is the free monthly meeting of the Space Association of Australia - all welcome! DATE: Monday, 26 November 2018 TIME: 6:30 - 9:00 pm VENUE: Building 80, Level 02, Room 02, Swanston Academic Building at RMIT University, 445 Swanston Street, Melbourne The meeting will be streamed live here and then made available on-demand via the Space Association's YouTube channel - SAA.TV. Soyuz MS-10 In-Flight Abort Training for the Moon This is Part 3 of our monthly series leading up to the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11: "Footsteps to the Moon: Countdown to Apollo 11". This is the third in a special feature series that will provide monthly progress reports on the lead up and execution of the Apollo 11 moon landing that took place in July 1969. Each month we will summarise the key activities and missions flown in that month 50 years ago between September 1968 and July 1969. This will all culminate at our July 2019 meeting, commemorating the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11. November is all about training for the Moon.  Come along or watch the livestream to find out what was happening in 1968!

This is the free monthly meeting of the Space Association of Australia - all welcome! DATE: Monday, 22 October 2018 TIME: 6:30 - 9:00 pm VENUE: Building 80, Level 04, Room 06, Swanston Academic Building at RMIT University, 445 Swanston Street, Melbourne The meeting will be streamed live here and then made available on-demand via the Space Association's YouTube channel - SAA.TV. Why would Australia need Astronauts? The recent formation of the Australian Space Agency (ASA), has fostered public reporting and discussion of an Australian astronaut program. The ASA's stated roles mostly relate to policy, strategy, coordination and the development of the Australian space industry, but also includes "...inspiring the Australian community and the next generation of space entrepreneurs." This suggests a role for an Australian astronaut program to inspire and enhance national pride, STEM education and the pursuit of space-related careers. Space Association of Australia member James O'Connor, will deliver his recent presentation on this topic given at the 2018 Australian Space Research Conference held in September on the Gold Coast. James has a background in geophysics and secondary science education and is currently studying for a Master of Science in the Centre for Astrophysics at the University of Southern Queensland. 50th Anniversary of Apollo 7 This is Part 2 of our monthly series leading up to the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11: "Footsteps to the Moon: Countdown to Apollo 11". This is the second in a special feature series that will provide monthly progress reports on the lead up and execution of the Apollo 11 moon landing that took place in July 1969. Each month we will summarise the key activities and missions flown in that month 50 years ago between September 1968 and July 1969. This will all culminate at our July 2019 meeting, commemorating the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11. October is all about Apollo 7.  Come along or watch the livestream to find out how the mission goes!

This is the free monthly meeting of the Space Association of Australia - all welcome! VENUE: Megaflex Theatre (08|04|13), Building 8, Level 04, Room 13, RMIT University, 360 Swanston Street, Melbourne TIME: 6:30 - 9:00 pm The meeting will be streamed live here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KER5GuyDiIU and then made available on-demand via the Space Association's YouTube channel - SAA.TV. The first in a special feature series that will provide monthly progress reports on the lead up and execution of the Apollo 11 moon landing that took place in July 1969. This series will set the clock back to September 1968 and present Apollo program milestones, reports on mission design, technical developments, crew training and selection, construction and testing, management and administration and key decisions in the months leading up to the mission, in 'real time' (+50 years). Each month we will summarise the key activities and missions flown in that month 50 years ago between September 1968 and July 1969. This will all culminate at our July 2019 meeting, commemorating the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11. The series will kick off at our September 24 public meeting with an extended version, that will summarize the Apollo program milestones, from the ill-fated Apollo 1 fire in 1967 and bring you 'up to date' to September 1968.

AstroLight Festival is back for 2018! The Space Association of Australia is delighted to participate in this years' event. Scienceworks comes alive after-hours for an all-ages festival featuring astronomers, scientists, stargazers and artists to present a night starring astronomy and light. Enjoy a special evening talks and performances for all ages, Planetarium and Lightning Room shows, plus an array of hands-on optics activities and stargazing (weather permitting). This year we're rocketing into space with exciting speakers talking about human spaceflight, the Australian Space Agency, and where Australia is headed in this accelerating industry. International Space Station Flight Controller Andrea Boyd and former astronaut trainer Dr Gail Iles will discuss the future of human spaceflight and what it’s like to hang out in zero gravity. Later in the evening, Andrea will be joined by Dr Naomi Mathers to talk all things space industry including the burgeoning Australian Space Agency, satellite technologies, and other applications of space science. Stay up to do with the Astrolight Blog or join the Facebook event.   Main stage schedule 6.30pm–7pm: AstroLight official opening and show 7.15pm–7.45pm: Andrea Boyd and Dr Gail Iles on human spaceflight 8pm–8.30pm: Speakers to be announced 8.45pm–9.45pm: Andrea Boyd and Naomi Mathers on the space industry Energy Lab stage schedule, further speakers, stalls, and activities to be announced!   Food and drink Bar, café and food trucks serve up intergalactic treats all night.   Getting here Free parking is available at Scienceworks after 5pm. We encourage using public transport. Scienceworks is just a 10 minute walk from Spotswood train station. More information here. Please note tickets must be purchased from ScienceWorks to attend. Prices $12-$25

This is the free monthly meeting of the Space Association of Australia - all welcome! NEW VENUE: Interactive Theatre (80|02|02), Building 80, Level 02, Room 02, Swanston Academic Building at RMIT University, 445 Swanston Street, Melbourne TIME: 6:30 - 9:00 pm The meeting will be streamed live here and then made available on-demand via the Space Association's YouTube channel - SAA.TV.   Spaceport Dreaming: From Woomera to the Future Space Association of Australia member Igor Rozenberg, presents a history of Australian spaceports, both actual and proposed, which spans the period from Woomera in the 1940s to the establishment of an Australian Space Agency in 2018 and beyond. 

This is the free monthly meeting of the Space Association of Australia - all welcome! NEW VENUE: Megaflex Room (08.04.13), Building 8, Level 4, Room 13, RMIT University, 360 Swanston Street, Melbourne TIME: 6:30 - 9:00 pm The meeting will be streamed live here and then made available on-demand via the Space Association's YouTube channel - SAA.TV.   RMIT University participated in the 2018 RASC-AL (Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concepts Academic Linkage) Forum. The annual competition for universities is managed by the National Institute of Aerospace on behalf of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.  Rhabdomancer: Prospecting for Water Reserves at the Lunar South Pole with James Kirby                                   Water is crucial to opening the frontiers of space to human exploration and development. Observations from the the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) and Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) have suggested the presence of water ice deposits on the lunar south pole. The next step is to validate these observations and to determine volume and dispersion characteristics of lunar water ice through sample return. Rhabdomancer is an unmanned multipurpose evolutionary system architecture designed primarily for the extraction and delivery of pristine geological soil samples from points of interest at the southern lunar pole to the Lunar Orbital Platform - Gateway, formerly known as the Deep Space Gateway (DSG).   RMIT HIVE Rocket Team: The Australian Youth Aerospace Association's Australian Universities Rocket Competition The Australian Universities Rocket Competition (AURC) is Australia’s first national university rocketry competition hosted by the Australian Youth Aerospace Association. Commencing in 2018, the AURC is designed with the aim to provide graduate engineers and scientists with the skills required for the growing aerospace industry in Australia. It also aims to provide a practical competition for Australian students passionate about rocketry. The AURC was inspired by a number of rocket competitions around the world, with the intention to integrate the best parts of these and to design the greatest tertiary rocket competition. Furthermore, the AURC aims to encourage student teams to be as multidisciplinary as possible to reflect complex, real life space projects that require a mix of engineers and scientists from different backgrounds. This event continues the AYAA’s legacy of promoting education, awareness and involvement in the aerospace industry to young Australians.

This is the free monthly meeting of the Space Association of Australia - all welcome! NEW VENUE: Cinema Theatre (80.02.02), Building 80, Level 2, Room 2, Swanston Academic Building at RMIT University, 445 Swanston Street, Melbourne NEW TIME: 6:30 - 9:00 pm The meeting will be streamed live here and then made available on-demand via the Space Association's YouTube channel - SAA.TV.