Tuesday / 25 March 2014

Apollo Moon Camera Sells For Nearly US$1M

ApolloCameraAuction0314

Purchase Of Camera Used By Jim Irwin On Apollo 15 Demonstrates Demand For Moon Mission Artifacts, May Add Incentive To Investors Of Commercial Human & Sample Return Moon Missions; Japanese Businessman Terukazu Fujisawa Secured The Hasselblad Electronic Data Camera For US$910,400 After Close Bidding War At Auction In Vienna; Camera Opened For Sale At US$110,000, Was Expected To Sell For About US$250,000

Image Credit: westlicht-auction.com, alanbeangallery.com, flickr

Thursday / 13 March 2014

Apollo Marketing Success: Lessons For Modern Human Space Endeavors

MarketingTheMoon

New Book By David Meerman Scott (L) & Richard Jurek (R) Examines How NASA Successfully Marketed Apollo Program; Authors Then Evaluate Applicable Lessons For 21st Century Space Exploration: NASA Needs Unified Theme / Powerful Story To Focus Highly Fractured Global Audience, Work With Contractors Such As SpaceX On Human Mission Marketing, Allow Contractors To Take PR Lead; Challenge For Commercial Space Entrepreneurs Is Identifying Demand, Not Marketing Strategy

Image Credit: marketingthemoon.com

Wednesday / 26 February 2014

Lunar Laser Reflector Deterioration Explained

ApacheAPOLLO

Apache Point Observatory Lunar Laser-Ranging Operation (APOLLO) Research Team Led By Thomas Murphy Of UCSD Working To Identify Why Scientists Receiving Only 1 Tenth Of Expected Data From Apollo & Lunokhod Reflectors; Each Laser Shot Sends 100 Quadrillion Photons Toward Moon, Currently Researchers Detect ~1 Return Photon Per Shot; Original Hypothesis Was Dust Layer On Reflectors; Research Shows Cause Of Problem Is Distortion Of Optics Due To Solar Heat; Additional Laser Reflectors Would Be Valuable Payloads On Future Moon Landers

Image Credit: NASA, UCSD, Apache Point Observatory

Weekend Edition / Fri-Mon 6-9 Dec 2013

Nelson Mandela A Role Model For Peaceful Moon Collaboration

MandelaPeaceCrater

Iconic Leader, Strong Supporter Of Human Equality & Freedom / Science & Technology Advancement In Africa, Saw Education As Most Powerful Tool To Change World; Apollo 11 Moonwalker Buzz Aldrin Calls Mandela “True Inspiration & Role Model For Peace & International Collaboration; Humanity More Likely To Succeed In Peacefully Developing Moon If World Leaders Follow His Example; Pictured: Nelson Mandela Peace Crater At Lacus Somniorum

Image Credit: lunasociety.org

Weekend Edition / Fri-Mon 8-11 Nov 2013

LADEE / Chang’e-3 Conjunction: Opportunity For International Cooperation

MissionConjunction1113

Dec Moon Landing Of China Chang’e-3 Could Provide NASA LADEE Orbital Mission Unique Opportunity To Collect Data On Ejected Dust From Descent Engines; Valuable For Planning Future Missions, Heritage Site Preservation, Lunar Base Development; Current USA Policy Impeding NASA From Arranging Such Collaboration With China; Apollo Moonwalkers Advocate For NASA To Begin Cooperation With China On Human Moon Return

Image Credit: NASA, CLEP, CNSA

Friday / 8 November 2013

Universities Partner With NASA,
Open Science Centers

SSERVI, Universities

University Of Cincinnati To Open Neil Armstrong Space Science Institute To Promote Space-Based Research & Engineering In Partnership With Ames Research Center; University Of Central Florida Daniel Britt (L) Awarded US$6M Grant To Establish Center For Lunar & Asteroid Surface Science; Will Aid NASA In Planning Exploration Missions To The Moon, Asteroids, Mars Moons; Chosen As 1 of 9 Organizations Under SSERVI Program

Image Credit: UCF, UC, SSERVI, NASA

Friday / 25 October 2013

China Chief Lunar Scientist Ouyang
Notes Moon Military Uses

LED 25 Oct

In Speech At Shenzhen City People’s Culture Hall On 13 October 2013, Prof Ziyuan Ouyang, Senior / Chief Lunar Scientist At NAOC / Chinese Academy Of Sciences, Noted: “To Carry Out Lunar Exploration Project Has Four Major Reasons: The Moon Has A Major Military Strategic Position, Will Become A Contemporary Space Warfare Military Platform …”, And Many Other Vital Resources And Assets; Statement Likely To Need Resolution With American Apollo Spirit “In Peace For All”

Image Credit: CUG, AIA, NASA, randomwire.com

Friday / 11 October 2013

Moonworker Alan Bean
2-Day Lecture In England

Alan Bean Lecture

Alan Bean – Apollo 12 Lunar Module Pilot, 4th Man To Walk On The Moon (31.5 Hours On Moon, 8 Hours Of EVAs), 1 Of 8 Remaining Moonwalkers, Skylab 3 Commander, Space Artist – Giving Public Lecture About His Experiences In Space / On Moon Oct 11 & 12 In West Yorkshire, England; British Interplanetary Society Member Ken Willoughby Organizes ‘Space Lectures’ To Inspire, Educate UK Children, Public

Image Credit: Space Lectures, NASA, Collectspace

Weekend Edition / Fri-Mon 13-16 Sep 2013

Simulating Moonwalks Underwater

esaMoonDive0913

ESA Astronaut Jean-François Clervoy & Astronaut Instructor Hervé Stevenin Reenact Apollo 11 Moonwalk In 2 Underwater Simulations In The Mediterranean Sea Off Marseille, France; Comex-Designed Gandolfi Spacewalk Training Suits Used – Based On Russia Orlan Suit; Test Was 1st Step Toward Developing Europe Expertise In Planetary Surface Spacewalk Simulations, Further Simulations Will Be Co-Financed By EU As Part Of Moonwalk Project  

Image Credit: ESA, Comex

Friday / 19 July 2013

Commemorating Space Exploration Day

SpaceExplorationDay0713

Frontiers Of Flight Museum In Dallas TX Hosting 5th Annual Moon Day Event On Sat 20 July, Celebrating 1st Lunar Landing While Exciting Youth About Current Space Activities & Inspiring Them To Shape Future Of Space Exploration; Utah NSS Chapter Organizing Petition To Establish 20 July – Space Exploration Day – As Legal Non-Paid USA Holiday, Requesting Presidential Executive Order With Accompanying Vision For Human Return To Moon / Future In Space

Image Credit: NASA, Frontiers of Flight Museum, NSS