Friday / 11 April 2014

Posted on April 10, 2014 by LED Editor

Moon First, Then Mars And Beyond

US Moon First

Scientists, Policy Makers, Astronauts Urge U.S. Gov To Support Return To Moon As Discussions Continue At NASA Global Exploration Roadmap Workshop 10-11 Apr; Don Brunell (TL) Points Out Moon Program Would Solidify USA Space Leadership, Facilitate Testing / Development Of Technologies For Living / Working / Transporting In Deep Space, Help Keep Pace With China; David Criswell (TC) Believes Moon Could Supply Clean Renewable Energy For Entire Planet; Harrison “Jack” Schmitt (B) Says Helium 3 Is Key To 2nd Generation Fusion Reactors

Image Credit: eoearth, D. Brunell, ISECG, NASA

Tuesday / 1 April 2014

Posted on March 31, 2014 by LED Editor

Astrobotic Technology Inc Successfully Tests Autolanding System

GLXP Team Tests New Landing Sensor At Mojave Air & Space Port In CA; Astrobotic Autolanding System (AAS) Utilizes 2 Cameras, Scanning Laser, Inertial Measurement Unit; Low-Power Lightweight System Relies On Hi-Res LRO Lunar Surface Imagery, Makes Decisions Without Human Input; Flawless Flight Test Utilized Masten Aerospace Xombie Rocket, Descended From 250m, Used AAS To Detect Hazards & Select Landing Site; Pictured Astrobotic CEO John Thornton

Image Credit: Astrobotic Technology Inc

Tuesday / 11 March 2014

Posted on March 10, 2014 by LED Editor

Moon-Based Space Elevator Key To Mining Profits

LiftPort Group Of Seattle, WA Urges LSEI (Lunar Space Elevator Infrastructure) Placement For Soft-Landing Equipment / Human Transport; Advisor Charles Radley(L) Notes Lunar Elevator Tech Could Place Lunar Mining Costs On Par With Terrestrial For Some Commodities; Jerome Pearson(R), President Of Star, Inc., States Lunar Elevator Can Be Made Of Existing Composites / Moon Testing Would Not Endanger Satellites In Earth Orbit / In Place By 2025

Image Credit: LiftPort, ISDC, VK.com

Friday / 21 February 2014

Posted on February 20, 2014 by LED Editor

Canada In Space, And On The Moon?

Canada on Moon

New Canada Space Policy Framework 7 February Details Government Commitments To Space Exploration, Commercialization, R&D, International Partnerships; Canada Invited To Provide Rover & Drill For NASA 2018 Lunar Resource Prospector Mission; Moon Exploration & Mining Offer Potential Of Billion Dollar Industry / Technology Development / Inspiration; New Promising Canada Enterprise Advancing Canada Space Interests

Image Credit: CSA, NASA

Tuesday / 21 January 2014

Posted on January 20, 2014 by LED Editor

Morpheus Advancing USA Lunar Lander Capabilities

Project Morpheus To Conduct Free Flight Test-6 Today At NASA KSC; Flight Test Last Week Performed Flawlessly Reaching 57m, Traversing 47m, Landing Within 28cm Of Target; New Autonomous Landing Hazard Avoidance Technology (ALHAT) Could Facilitate Lander Missions To More Challenging / Rewarding Sites Such As Moon South Pole; Current Lander Design Has Payload Capacity Of 500kg, Team Hopes To Scale Up To Accommodate Crew / Cargo

Image Credit: NASA

Friday / 20 December 2013

Posted on December 19, 2013 by LED Editor

Moon Mining May Be Game-Changer For Space Exploration

Moon Mining

Use Of Abundant Resources On Moon ‘Will Change Humanity’s Future’ Says Bob Richards Of Moon Express; Iron, Nickel, Titanium, Platinum For Fuel Cell & Clean Tech Development, Lithium For Batteries, Helium-3 Fuel For Future Nuclear Fusion Plants, Water For Life Support / Propellant; May Find Undiscovered Resources As Well; Depots On Moon & In Orbit Can Fuel Robotic & Human Missions, Lunar & Mars Habitats; Kg-Sized Samples Of Lunar Material May Be Valued At US$1B

Image Credit: Popular Mechanics, Shackleton Energy Co.

Wednesday / 11 December 2013

Posted on December 10, 2013 by LED Editor

Moon Express Unveils Innovative Lunar Lander

MX-1 Lander Lacks Legs & Typical ‘Bus’ Structure, Instead Using Fuel Tanks For Structural Integrity And Landing Stability; Craft Weighs 600kg When Fully Fueled (75% Of Mass = Fuel), Capable Of Delivering 60kg To Lunar Surface; Moon Express Co-Founder & CEO Bob Richards Says Engineering Prototype May Be Ready For Testing By May 2014; 2015 Mission Will Deliver International Lunar Observatory Precursor Instrument (ILO-X) To Moon, Compete For GLXP

Image Credit: Moon Express

Friday / 22 November 2013

Posted on November 21, 2013 by LED Editor

Launching Life To The Moon In 2015

Plants On Moon

Lunar Plant Growth Habitat Team Of NASA Ames Research Center Will Try To Grow Arabidopsis, Basil, Sunflowers, Turnips In Coffee-Can-Sized Aluminum Cylinders On Moon; NASA Expects To Build / Launch For Under US$2M By Buying Space On Commercial Launch Of GLXP Team; Chief Biologist Dr. Robert Bowman (Center) Points Out Need To Understand Plant Ability To Overcome Stress Of Space Radiation, Moon Partial Gravity, Small / Controlled Environment For Use In Human Solar System Buildout

Image Credit: NASA, Hemil Modi

Thursday / 21 November 2013

Posted on November 20, 2013 by LED Editor

CubeSat Mission Preparing For Future Lunar Missions

Vermont Technical College Has Launched Small Satellite Into Space To Test Navigation Components That Will Eventually Be Used To Send Satellites To Moon; ‘Lunar Lander CubeSat’ Was 1 Of 28 CubeSats Launched On ORS-3 Enabler Mission Via Minotaur-1 Rocket From NASA Wallops Island Virginia Flight Facility; CubeSat Will Remain In Space 3-5 Years; Pictured: Project Organizer / Vermont Tech Professor Carl Brandon

Image Credit: Vermont Tech

Weekend Edition / Fri-Mon 15-18 Nov 2013

Posted on November 15, 2013 by LED Editor

Moon Express Mission Advancing

Silicon Valley-Based GLXP Team Analyzing Data From Successful Tethered Hover Flight Test Of Its Guidance, Navigation & Control Software Aboard NASA Mighty Eagle Prototype Lander; Team Will Determine If It Is Ready To Proceed With Closed Loop Free Flight Test; Philanthropist Klee Irwin (L) Announces 6-Figure Investment In Moon Express; Pictured (R): ME Principal GNC Engineer Jim Kaidy