Category Archives: Human Moon Missions

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 30 Mar – 2 Apr 2018

Posted on by

Major Spacefaring Powers Discuss Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway, Collaboration With China

The 2nd Symposium ‘Return To The Moon: A Partnership Of Government, Academia & Industry’ Hosted By USRA, GWU And SPI, Enhances Plans For International / Commercial Cooperation To Land Humans On Moon, Build Permanent Presence In Cislunar Space; 12th Man On Moon (L) Harrison Schmitt Says China Is Geopolitical Imperative; Robert Lightfoot Of NASA States USA Looking To Engage Academia & Industry In International Effort To Explore Space, Vital To Utilize Moon As Step Toward Mars; Space Policy White Paper By D. Holland & J. Burns Includes Analysis Of USA Mixed Comments On Becoming ‘Leading’ Space Power And ‘True International Collaboration’, As Well As Unfocused Exploration Priorities / Goals

Credits: Boeing Co., NASA

Friday / 30 Mar 2018

Posted on by

Updates To Outer Space Treaty Could Define Space Regulations

During COPUOS 57th Legal Subcommittee Session 9-20 April At Vienna International Center, Countries To Discuss General Principle Consensus On Space Resource Policy Which May Be Necessary To Enable Moon And Mars Settlements, Potentially Prevent Conflict Of Interest In Space; Vidvuds Beldavs Proposes International Regime Could Govern Moon Resource Extraction Focused On Safety, Sustainability, Equitable Sharing By All Countries; Common Heritage Of Mankind Concept Inclusion To Prevent Exploitation, Encourage Preservation For Future Generations 

Credits: NASA, Space, UN, Vidvuds Beldavs

Wednesday / 28 Mar 2018

Posted on by

USRA And Space Policy Institute Hold “Return To The Moon” Symposium In DC Today

Universities Space Research Association & George Washington University SPI Host Annual Joint Symposium On 28 March, Focusing On “Partnership Of Government, Academia, And Industry” For Human Moon Exploration; Key Participants Include (L-R) NASA Acting Director Robert Lightfoot, ESA Director Jan Wörner (Via Video), SPI Director Henry Hertzfeld, Astronaut Jack Schmitt, Former NASA Chief Scientist Ellen Stofan; From Industry Will Be Christie Iacomini Of Blue Origin & Dan Hendrickson Of Astrobotic; Exploring Strategies To Align USA Space Initiatives With Those Of Other Nations; ~150 People Expected At Evening Reception

Credits: USRA, SPI, NASA, ESA, Blue Origin, Astrobotic

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 23-26 Mar 2018

Posted on by

ULA Proposes Self-Sustaining Econosphere / CisLunar 1000 Initiative

United Launch Alliance Plans To Collaborate With Commercial Companies To Create Community Of ~1,000 People In Earth-Moon Vicinity; Self-Sufficient Economy Would Be Based On In Situ Resource Utilization From ~17,000 Near Earth Asteroids, Lunar Resources; ULA CEO Tory Bruno Says Creating Propellant In Space Will Increase Deep Space Travel; Roadmap Could Align With International Lunar Gateway, Involve Current Collaborator Bigelow Aerospace For 20-Person Cislunar Habitat & Depot; Jeff Bezos Of Blue Origin Working On Blue Moon Lunar Lander; SpaceX CEO Elon Musk Continues Plans For Rockets To Support Interplanetary / Lunar Transport Services

Credits: NASA, Boeing, Bigelow Aerospace, ULA, SpaceX, Blue Origin, Business Insider

Wednesday / 21 Mar 2018

Posted on by

Apollo 11 Columbia Spacecraft Moves On In ‘Destination Moon’ Tour Across USA Toward Its 50th Anniversary

Columbia Command Module That Took Apollo 11 Astronauts To Moon & Back In 1969 Is Now Making Its Way From Space Center Houston To St Louis Science Center – On Special Tour From National Air & Space Museum In DC, Celebrating 50th Anniversary Of One Of The Greatest Achievements Of Human History; Traveling Exhibit Includes Aldrin’s Spacesuit Helmet & Gloves And Lunar Sample Return Container; After St Louis 14 Apr – 3 Sep, Columbia Goes To Pittsburgh Until Feb 2019 And To Seattle Museum Of Flight Through Sep 2019

Credits: Smithsonian Institution, Space Center Houston, Saint Louis Science Center

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 9-12 Mar 2018

Posted on by

China Signs MoU With Russia For Lunar Collaboration, Also In Talks With Japan

CNSA, Roscosmos Plan To Create Lunar Project Data Center, Collaborate On Russia Luna-Resurs 1 Launching 2022, China 2023 Mission To Moon South Pole; MoU Signing By Roscosmos Director Igor Komarov, CNSA Deputy Head Wu Yanhua In Tokyo 3 March For Cooperation In 6 Science, Tech, Exploration Areas; VP Of JAXA Mamoru Endo Meets To Discuss Japan-China Collaborations; CNSA Also Working On New-Gen Reusable Spacecraft With Ability To Carry 4-6 Astronauts To Chinese Space Station, Near Earth Asteroids, Mars; Eventual 20,000-Kg Version For Lunar Landings; Astronaut Wang Yaping Prepares To Work On China Space Station, Hopes To Land On Moon

Credits: Planetary Society, CNSA, Women Voice, CAST, CASC, CMSA

Friday / 9 Mar 2018

Posted on by

Mapping Moon South Pole Aitken-Basin Mineralogy For Future Landing Sites

Oldest, Largest, Well-Preserved South Pole-Aitken Basin, Nearly 1/4 Of Moon Diameter At 2,500 km, Is Area Of Most Recent Study Led By Brown University Prof. Carle Pieters & Daniel Moriarty Of GSFC; Using Data From USA Imaging Spectrometer ‘Moon Mineralogy Mapper’ Aboard ISRO Chandrayaan-1, Compositions Of Deposits From Volcanic Activity And Exposed Mantle Material Detected; Chemical / Mineral Analysis, Age Calculations And Especially Sample Return Missions Can Help Determine History Of Early Evolution Of Moon & Solar System, Be Compared To Previous Apollo / Other Sample Returns, Define Vital Zones For Exploration

Credits: NASA, ISRO, Brown University, Goddard Space Flight Center

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 2-5 Mar 2018

Posted on by

First 2018 ILOA Galaxy Forum In Yogyakarta, Indonesia 3 March

ILOA Galaxy Forum At Gadjah Mada University, Hosted By Geological Engineering Department / Dr. Hendra Amijaya; Major SEA Collaborations & Participation From ~300 Attendees To Advance Global Galaxy / 21st Century Education, Science; 9 Presentations Include Chatief Kunjaya Of Ma Chung University, Arry Buchori Of Skyworld Indonesia On Astronomy Education, Steve Durst Of ILOA On Astronomy From The Moon And International Human Moon Missions, Jonathan Hung Of SSTA, Boonrucksar Soonthornthum Of NARIT; Malaysia UKM Participation By Sabirin Abdullah, Bandung Inst. Of Technology Expert Hakim Malasan, Gadjah Mada University Representative Nugroho Imam

Credits: ILOA, GF, GSTC, SSTA, Skyworld, NARIT, Gadjah Mada Univ., UKM, et al

Wednesday / 28 Feb 2018

Posted on by

ISRO Developing Technologies For Building Igloos On Moon For Future Human Habitat

Indian Space Research Organization Starts Science Program On Building Lunar Habitat With Robots & 3D Printers Using Lunar Soil; Project Led By I Venugopal Has Manufactured 60 Tonnes Of Lunar Soil Simulant At US$15,000 – Properties Match Apollo Samples 99.6%; Currently 5 Proposed Habitat Designs, Similar To Those At India Antarctic Outpost; ISRO Satellite Centre Director Mylswamy Annadurai (Right) Says Many Countries Are Considering Building Permanent Structures On Moon India Wants To Contribute

Credits: TOI, ISRO, Behnaz Farahi / NASA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 23-26 Feb 2018

Posted on by

International Deep Space Gateway Further Support, Funding, Call For Research Ideas, Workshops

Proposed DSG / Lunar Orbital Platform To Establish Permanent Human Presence In Cislunar Space And Enable Moon Village, Missions To Many Worlds Beyond – Could See US$2.7B In NASA Funding From FY19 Allocations Through 2023 When SLS EM-2 Crew Plan To Arrive; Cislunar DSG Would Develop Essential Commercial & International Partners, Technology Advances In Power, Propulsion & Life Support, And Build Toward Multi World Civilization; Latest DSG Workshop Being Held 27 Feb – 1 Mar In Denver CO; ESA, Roscosmos, JAXA, CSA Express DSG Common Interest; China, India, S Korea, SEA, UAE, Other Nations Could Be Important Collaborators

Credits: Boeing, NASA