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
12 ISECG Member Agencies Including NASA, ESA, Roscosmos Release Update Of 2011 Global Explorations Roadmap; New Plan Confirms Intention To Include Both Moon & Asteroid Missions Instead Of Either / Or Approach; Human Moon Missions Seen As Preparatory To Mars Missions In 2030s; NASA Administrator Bolden Says Agency Willing To Contribute Expertise / Resources To Multinational Human Moon Missions
Image Credit: ISECG, NASA
Lunar Laser Communication Demonstration (LLCD) System Ready For Launch On LADEE Mission After Series Of Successful Ground Tests; ESA Observatory In Spain & 2 US Ground Terminals Will Relay Data To The Moon Orbiter At Unprecedented Rates (622 Mbps); Laser Wavelengths 10,000 Times Shorter Than Radio, Allowing For Reduction In Antenna Size – Lowering Mass, Volume, Power Requirements Of Future Space Missions; LADEE Launching 6 Sep 2013
Image Credit: NASA
International Lunar Development Corp. Proposed By Buzz Aldrin To Facilitate Unified International, Commercial & Academic Partnerships To Advance Moon Exploration & Settlement; China, India, Russia, Japan, Europe, USA, NewSpace Companies Such As Bigelow, Shackleton Energy, Golden Spike Urged To Implement Step-By-Step Space Plan; Humans Need To Become Multi-World Species For Long-Term Survival, Will & Should Settle On Moon Long Before Mars, Europa, Etc
Image Credit: Bigelow Aerospace, PISCES, Shackleton Energy Co., GSC
Rigorous Testing & Integration Of LLCD System On LADEE Spacecraft Complete; Technology Demonstration Will See Data Sent From Lunar Orbit To Earth At Up To 622 Mbps – 6 Times The Rate Of Advanced Radio Communication Systems; Hundreds Of Millions Of Short Infrared Pulses Sent Precisely Every Second To Any One Of 3 Ground Telescopes In New Mexico, California & Spain; LADEE To Launch In Aug 2013
Image Credit: NASA
ESA Plans For 3D Printing Of Lunar Base Gaining Attention In Space Media: Doug Messier, Bruce Cordell, Larry Kellogg, Keith Cowing, WIRED; ESA Working With Architects Foster + Partners To Develop Lunar Habitat Design With Cellular Structured Wall, Incorporating Pressurized Inflatable To Shelter Astronauts; Next-Generation 3-D Printer Will Be Able To Build Entire Structure In 1 Week
Image Credit: ESA, Foster + Partners
Ottawa Citizen Editorial Commends Recent ESA – NASA Partnership Agreement For Orion / MPCV Lunar Exploration Missions, Elaborates On Importance & Benefits Of Human Solar System Exploration: Technology Advances, Potential For Poverty Eradication, Innate Human Need To Explore; Canada, With Expertise In Mining & Robotics, Is Set To Be Important Contributor To USA / Europe Exploration Goals
Image Credit: CSA, NASA, NORCAT, Ottawa Citizen
Europe ATV Propulsion Hardware And Solar Arrays Will Make Up Large Part Of NASA Orion Service Module For EM-1 (NET 2017) 7-Day, Uncrewed Circumlunar Cruise & EM-2 (~2021); Agreement May Also Entail Participation Of ESA Astronaut In EM-2; Current Plan For EM-2 Is To Send 4 Crew Members To Orbit Moon For 3-4 Days; Academics, Engineers, Industry Arguing For More Ambitious Mission, Possibly To L2, 65,000km Beyond Lunar Far Side
Image Credit: NASA, ESA
Representatives From 20 European Union Member States Meeting In Naples, Italy (20-21 Nov) To Refine & Approve Budget For Next 3 Years Of ESA Activity; Proposed US$15.3B Budget Includes Financing An ESA Contribution To NASA Orion Spacecraft Program Destined For Human Lunar Missions Around 2020; ESA Also Seeking Funding Of Robotic Lander To Explore South Pole Of Moon
Image Credit: ESA, NASA
ESA To Decide By End Of 2012 If 2.8 Metric Ton Herschel Telescope Will Crash Into Lunar Surface In Search Of Permafrost; $1.4B Infrared Astronomy Mission Ends March 2013 Due To Depletion Of Cryogenic Superfluid Helium; Spacecraft Currently At L2; Earliest Arrival At Moon Would Be June 2013; Alternate Plan To Place In Solar Orbit, Away From Earth For 100s Of Years
Image Credit: ESA, NASA