Category Archives: Artemis Program

Friday / 26 Mar 2021

Posted on by

Lunar Vertical Solar Array Technology Moving Towards Realization With 5 Contractors On Project

Game Changing Development, A NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate Initiative, Is Providing 5 Space Technology Companies (Astrobotic, ATK Space Systems, Honeybee Robotics, Lockheed Martin, Space Systems Loral) With 1-Year Base Contracts Worth Up To $700K/ea For Design Of Autonomously Deployable, Relocatable 9.75m Vertical Photovoltaic Panels; 2 Companies Are To Be Selected For Prototype Construction / Testing Contracts Valued Up To $7.5M/ea And Eventual Deployment Near Moon South Pole, Creating Artificial “Points Of Eternal Light”, Ensuring “Continuous Power For Artemis Lunar Habitats And Operations” Per Chuck Taylor, Project Lead At Langley

Credits: NASA, MIT / Allegra Boverman

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 19-22 Mar 2021

Posted on by

Moon, Mars, And Worlds Beyond Considered At 52nd Lunar And Planetary Science Conference (LPSC)

Linking Generations Of Lunar Explorers From Apollo To Artemis, Apollo Next Generation Sample Analysis Program Presents At LPSC On Work To Revisit Scientifically Relevant Regolith And Core Samples Collected Up To 50 Years Ago; Mars 2020 Project Scientist Ken Farley Reports “No Major Technical Issues” On Perseverance Rover (Imaged Above On Sol 28 [19 Mar Earth Date] 14:02:14) As Team Plans Route To Astrobiological Area Of Interest Within Ancient River Delta; Alan Stern Of Southwest Research Institute Offers Fermi Paradox Explanation – Abundant Life Could Be Sheltered Within Interior Water Ocean Worlds

Credits: LPSC, NASA, SwRI

Tuesday / 16 Mar 2021

Posted on by

NASA Solidifies Lunar Technology Development Relationship With Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (JHUAPL)

Task Order Adds US$30M To Existing Contract Of Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium Led By JHUAPL, Which Will Continue To Bring Moon Exploration R&D Thought Leaders Representing 300+ Industry, Academia And Government Organizations Together, Addressing Considerable Engineering Challenges Present On Lunar Surface – Power Supply, Survivability, Dust Mitigation, In-Situ Resource Utilization, Excavation / Construction – With Semi-Annual Meetings, Workshops And Monthly Focus Groups Which Will Guide NASA Lunar Technology Goals And Implementation Plans; “Extensive Systems Engineering Experience In Space Missions” Of JHUAPL To Support Establishment Of “Sustainable Lunar Surface Capabilities” Per Nikki Werkheiser Of STMD

Credits: NASA, JHUAPL

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 12-15 Mar 2021

Posted on by

Two Major International Coalitions Of Earth Powers Forming To Advance Permanent Moon Activity

China And Russia To Collaborate On “Long-Term Autonomous” International Lunar Research Station “Open To All Interested Countries And International Partners” Per MoU; Timeframe And Location (Surface / Orbit) Not Designated; Artemis Accords Signatories Australia, Brazil*, Canada, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, UAE, UK, USA And Ukraine Advancing Gateway-Based Lunar Return Strategy With Human Landing System(s) To Be Selected Soon From SpaceX, Dynetics and Blue Origin Teams; Plan Hinges On SLS, Set For Final Hot Fire Test At Stennis Space Center 18 March And Transfer, If Test Successful, To KSC For Integration & Possible 2021 Launch

Credits: NASA, CNSA, Roscosmos
* Has signaled intent to sign

Tuesday / 9 Mar 2021

Posted on by

Women Leaders At NASA Express Confidence In Artemis Mission, Voice Strategic Views

“So Much Scientific Discovery To Come From Returning To The Moon” Says (T-B) Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, First Female Launch Director (Exploration Ground Systems Program At KSC), Who Will Oversee The Launch Of The First Women To The Moon; MSFC Director Jody Singer Reiterates Importance Of SLS, Insisting It Is “Only Vehicle That Exists That Can Carry The Orion”, Cites 45-State / 1,100-Vendor Participation; Lori Garver, Deputy Administrator Of NASA Under Obama Administration, Questions Artemis Implementation With Pointed Critique Of “US$2 Billion For Every [SLS] Launch” Vs “Fraction” Of Cost For SpaceX Falcon Heavy

Credits: NASA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 12-15 Feb 2021

Posted on by

NASA Office Of Inspector General Outlines Artemis Financials, Biden / Harris Administration Backs Program

US$85.7B Artemis Price 2012-2025 Represents < 30% Of Adjusted Apollo Budget, With $35.2B Already Allocated; Remaining $50.5B To Meet 2024 Goal Largely Needed For Human Landing Systems ($21.3B), Space Launch System ($10.9B) and Orion Spacecraft ($6.4B), NASA 2021 Fiscal Year Budget Stands At $23.3B Total; White House, 11 Senators Voice Support, Giving Boost To Multi-partisan Nature Of Program, Critical For Moving Appropriations Through Government; Vice President Typically Leads Administration On Space, Kamala Harris Yet To Opine

Credits: NASA, White House, OIG

Friday / 5 Feb 2021

Posted on by

Artemis Human Moon Landing Program Endorsed By White House, Legislators, NASA Acting Administrator

Political Consensus For NASA-led Return To Moon Emerging As White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki (C) Assures Press That Biden / Harris Administration Is Committed To Partnering With “Industry And International Partners To Send… Another Man And A Woman To The Moon” And That Congressional Support For Artemis Is “Broad And Bicameral”; Comments Come As 11 Senators Sign Letter Urging Executive Backing For Human Landing Systems – Key To Boots On Lunar Ground; NASA Leader Steve Jurczyk (R) Indicates Artemis 1 To Launch Q4; CLPS On Track To Support Human Missions

Credits: NASA, White House, Wikipedia

Tuesday / 2 Feb 2021

Posted on by

Human Landing System Awards Now Expected 30 April Amid Leadership Transition

3 USA Companies Competing To Build Human Landers To Carry Artemis Team To Moon Surface Have 10-Month Base Period Extended NLT 30 April, 1 Year After NASA Announcement Of Fixed Price Contracts To Blue Origin (With Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Draper), Dynetics (With Sierra Nevada Corporation, Paragon) And SpaceX Via Next Space Technologies For Exploration Partnerships Totaling US$967M; Funding Needed To Build 2 Winning Designs Projected $3.2B, Current Funding Appropriations Remain Around $850M; Space Advocates Urge Biden / Harris Administration To Prioritize First Woman On Moon / Lunar Exploration

Credits: NASA, Blue Origin, SpaceX, Dynetics

Friday / 29 Jan 2021

Posted on by

Selection Underway For Artemis Moon Base Site: Within 6° Of South Pole, Access To Sunlight, Water, Flat Area / Elevation

Moon South Pole Human Landing And 3 CLPS 2022-23 Mission Site Locations Being Narrowed Down – Which Will Significantly Impact Lunar Base Plans; Using Data From LRO, International Missions & VR Simulations, Experts Search For Optimal Site Perhaps Near ‘Peak Of Eternal Light’ Illuminating Areas For >200 Earth Days, On Crater Ridge To Allow Travel Into PSRs (Reaching -248° Celsius) For Ancient Ice Deposits Or Near Micro Cold Traps, Flat Surface To Establish Base Camp ~1km Away, Achieve Science Goals Including Quiet Platform For Radio Observation; Of Strong Interest Are Malapert, Shackleton, De Gerlache, Leibnitz

Credits: LPI, NASA, ILOA Hawai’i

Tuesday / 26 Jan 2021

Posted on by

Blue Origin Nears Crewed Capability With Suborbital New Shepard, Advancing Orbital / Lunar Craft

Washington-Based Blue Origin Progresses “Opening Space To All” Goal With New Shepard Suborbital Spacecraft, “Getting Really Close To Flying Humans” On 11-Minute Suborbital Tourism Flights, Declares Director Of Astronaut And Orbital Sales Ariane Cornell After Mission NS-14 Lofting Mannequin Skywalker Test Dummy 105,938 Meters Via BE-3 Liquid Oxygen / Hydrogen Engines, Also Intended For Use On Lunar Lander Blue Moon, Should It Be Selected By NASA For Artemis Program; BE-4 Liquefied Natural Gas Engines Are To Power 7-m Diameter New Glenn Launch System With Flight Expected This Year, Both Being Manufactured In Huntsville Facility

Credits: Blue Origin, Youtube