Space Association News (SPAN)

Zine
Title:	Space Association News (SPAN)
Publisher:	Space Association of Australia
Editor(s):	Andrew Rennie and occasional others
Type:	newsletter
Date(s):	1981?-1990s?
Frequency:	bimonthly in the early 1990s
Medium:	print
Size:	A4
Fandom:	space program
Language:	English
External Links:
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Space Association News (SPAN) was a newszine/magazine published by the Space Association of Australia in Melbourne, Australia.

It began publication in the 1980s, some time after the founding of the Association in 1981.

Its primary editor for many years was Andrew Rennie.

Although the Association continues operation (2025), it appears that SPAN has long ceased publication.

Sample Issues

Issue 64

Cover of SpAN 64

SpAN 64 was published in August 1991 and contained 28 pages. The editor was Andrew Rennie. Unless indicated otherwise, all work was written/compiled by Rennie. Contents included:

• "The Space Show" on 3SCB 88.3 MHz FM" - launch of the "Space Show"
• "Radioastron and Australia"
• "China Next Century" - its national space plans/aspirations.
• "Long March 2E" (Dechen Wang and Zuoyl Huang of LM-2E) - technical specifications of the Long March 2E rocket
• "Long March 2E Test" (Dechen Wang and Zuoyl Huang of LM-2E) - report on the successful launch of the Long March 2E rocket on 16 July 1990.
• "Arianespace and the Long March" - interview with Charles Bigot, Chairman of Arianespace.
• "China Plane for ISY" - Planned Chinese activities for International Space Year of 1992.
• "China-Brazil ERS" - planned Chinese-Brazilian Earth Resources Satellite.
• "Japan to Explore Moon and Venus"
• "Spacelab Japan"
• "Giotto Trajectory" - report on the rendezvous of European Space Agency's Giotto spacecraft with Comets Halley and Grigg-Skjellerup.
• "ESA Science Study" - proposal for four projects for the ESA leading up the year 2000.
• "Book Review: The Soviet Cosmonaut Team by Gordon Hooper" (Mark Hillyer).
• "Weight and Mass" (C. Tapley Timms) - essay theorising on mass, weight, and gravity free environments.
• "Spacelines" - news from the world of spaceflight.

Issue 66

Cover of SpAN 66

SPAN 66 was published in December 1991 and contained 32 pages. The editors were Andrew Rennie and Geoff Allshorn. Contents included:

• "Melbourne's Own Space Station" (David Standen) - announcing the launch of "The Space Show" on Southern FM radio station.
• "Astrophilately" (Charles Bromser) - exploration of space stamps, space covers and rocket mail.
• "Neutron Planet" (Helena Roberts) - first exoplanet believed discovered, orbiting neutron star.
• "AUSROC and ASERA" (Andrew Rennie) - Report on the Australian Space Engineering and Research Association, and AUSROC project by Mark Blair.
• "Celebrating 25 Years of the Fial Frontier" (Geoff Allshorn) - Commemorating Star Trek and its links with real-life space.
• "Stop Press: Star Trek Creator Dies" (Geoff Allshorn) - Obituary for Gene Roddenberry, who died 24 October 1991.
• Various Space Shuttle News reports (Andrew Rennie)
• "Last Gasp(Ra) for Galileo Mission?" (Andrew Rennie). Galileo spacecraft due to rendezvous with Gaspra asteroid on way to Jupiter
• "Japanese Orbiting Radio Telescope" (Andrew Rennie) - a history of the history of radio telescopes (including proposed orbiting telescopes)
• "Is Anyone Out there: The Search for ET Intelligence" (Geoff Allshorn) - a report on SETI and the SETI Declaration.
• "UARS Working Well" (Andrew Rennie) - a report on the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite.
• "Spacelines" (Andrew Rennie) - News from the world of spaceflight.