Category Archives: Human Moon Missions

Tuesday / 28 Nov 2023

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As USA Moon Return Imminent, Historical Impact of First Apollo Images Considered

With NASA working toward Artemis 3 human Moon landing hopefully NLT 4 July 2026, images of the first woman and person of color on the Moon, as well as Astronomy from the Moon images set to be taken via robotic commercial missions, may have societal influence comparable to iconic Apollo 8 Earthrise, which University of Central Lancashire historian Robert Poole argues was even more impactful than the Apollo 11 Moon landing; In article on ‘Image of the Century’, Poole recounts tension within NASA over viewing targets (lunar landscape vs Earth) and desire of crew to commemorate event with Frank Borman signing off ‘Merry Christmas, and God bless all of you – all of you on the good Earth’

Credits: NASA, Robert Poole

Tuesday / 31 Oct 2023

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Blue Origin Advances Blue Moon Line of Lunar Landers for Commercial and Artemis Missions

Pathfinder Mission MK1-SN001 to demonstrate 16-m tall Blue Moon Mark 1 (MK1) technology including 100-m accurate lidar-based landing system, BE-7 engines, cryogenics, and lunar comms ahead of first commercial mission MK1-SN002 offering 3 tons of payload capacity to customers; Demo missions slated for 2024 & 2025 per successful Blue Origin bid for second US$3.4B HLS contract awarded 19 May; Blue Moon Mark 2 (MK2) to carry 4 astronauts to lunar surface near MSP during Artemis 5 NET Sep 2029

Pictured: Blue Origin Founder Jeff Bezos, NASA Director Bill Nelson; Credits: NASA, GSFC, Arizona State University, Blue Origin

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 27-30 Oct 2023

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NASA Monitoring SpaceX and Blue Origin Progress on Human Landing Systems for Artemis 3-5

HLS Program Manager Lisa Watson-Morgan tells Spaceflight Now NASA is concerned about SpaceX schedule, expects 15-17 launches of Starship Moon lander variant prior to return of humans to the lunar surface during Artemis 3 NET Dec 2025 & Artemis 4 NET Sep 2028; Starship 26 currently fully stacked with Super Heavy booster 9 at Starbase TX awaiting resolution of <135-day U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service consultation with FAA for orbital test launch clearance; Blue Moon Mark 2 HLS contracted for Artemis 5 being developed by Blue Moon, Lockheed, et al with cargo version demonstration model at Huntsville facility toured by NASA officials during recent Von Braun Symposium

Credits: Blue Origin, NASA, SpaceX

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 20-23 Oct 2023

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Asia Space Powers China, India, Japan and S Korea Lining Up to Conduct Human and Robotic Moon Landings

CNSA to launch Queqiao-2 communications relay to an elliptical lunar frozen orbit NET March 2024 in support of MSP & far side Chang’E missions and as precursor for Solar System-wide interplanetary constellation; Inaugural launch of 92-m tall Long March 10 rocket expected NET 2027 ahead of 2020s human landings; ISRO tasked with human Moon landings NLT 2040 as Chandrayaan-3 data being analyzed and LUPEX, a south pole lander / rover collaboration with JAXA, planned for NET 2025; JAXA SLIM on route to Moon carrying LEV-1/2 surface probes with Lunar Obit Injection slated for late Dec; KARI Danuri orbiter continuing 1-year nominal mission ending 16 Dec, striving for lunar lander / rover mission NLT 2030

Credits: JAXA, KARI, CNSA

Tuesday / 17 Oct 2023

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Space Leaders in Major Himalayan Neighbors, India and China, Call for Human Moon Landings

While Chandrayaan-3 Vikram lander remains in sleep mode, ISRO Chairman S. Somanath (T) emphasizing independent access to space, telling students ‘It is not only ISRO, everybody can do it in space’, citing 5 India companies including Skyroot (Hyderabad) and Agnikul (Chennai) while sharing his prediction of a woman landing on the Moon during Chandrayaan-10, a sentiment shared by India Prime Minister Modi; CNSA Taikonauts preparing for 2020s lunar landings, inaugural launch of new-generation crew spacecraft set for 2027 per first China Taikonaut Yang Liwei in remarks commemorating 20th observance of the Shenzhou 5

Credits: SPC, CNSA, IISc

Tuesday / 10 Oct 2023

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ISRO Working Towards Lunar and Human Spaceflight Goals as Chandrayaan-3 Data Undergoing Analysis

As hope for Vikram lander / Pragyan rover reactivation diminishes, India is moving forward with ambitious space plans as outlined by Chandrayaan-3 Project Director P Veeramuthuvel (T) and Satish Dhawan Space Centre Deputy Director T S Raghuram at International Space Week events in Rajahmundry and Chennai; Space tourism and human Moon landings are on the horizon, with Veeramuthuvel stating ‘ISRO wants to send humans there [Moon]’, while both officials promoted space tourism, with Gaganyaan Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 (TV-D1) slated for 25 Oct (IST)

Credits: ISRO, Roscosmos

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 6-9 Oct 2023

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China 2020s Human Moon Landing Solidifying as Robotic Exploration Series Continues

CSA, DSEL, CASC, CMSA and CNSA advancing crewed lunar mission set to occur before 2030 utilizing redesigned 10.6-m diameter Long March 9 with 50-ton lunar transfer capability or Long March 10  (also called 5DY / 5G / 921) with 27-ton lunar transfer, which may launch by 2027; Lander with powered descent stage to carry 2 Taikonauts and 200-kg rover to lunar surface; CNSA also seeking international payloads for Chang’E-8 launching NET 2028 (letters of intent due 31 Dec) while Queqiao-2 and Tiandu-1/2 relay satellites expected to launch NET March 2024 followed by Chang’E-6 far side sample return NET May 2024, and Chang’E-7 MSP mission NET 2026

Credits: CNSA, CASC, Xinhua

Tuesday / 26 Sep 2023

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NASA Team Suggests Framework for Consideration of Space Exploration Ethics in Artemis Era

Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy (OTPS) report Artemis, Ethics and Society: Synthesis from a Workshop complies perspectives from 55 participants who gathered at NASA HQ to develop framework for moral evaluation of space exploration within the context of Artemis program and Artemis Accords, which proclaims ‘benefit for all humankind’, echoing Outer Space Treaty, National Aeronautics and Space Act, Moon Agreement; ~140 ethical / social issues deliberated under categories including definitions, decision-making, cultural values, sharing, environment, policy, and colonialism; OTPS to utilize proceedings to conduct internal study on key policy implications and open conversation to international partners

Pictured: Zachary Pirtle, Katherine McBrayer, Alyse Beauchemin of OTPS; Credits: NASA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 22-25 Sep 2023

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India and World Eagerly Await Chandrayaan-3 Reactivation, ISRO Leader Aiming at Human Moon Landing

Controllers at ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command center in Bengaluru working to reestablish communication with Vikram Lander (with ~ 90-kg fuel remaining) and Pragyan Rover at now-illuminated Shiv Shakti Point (69.373°S, 32.319°E) on Moon following failed attempts; ISRO Chairman Sreedhara Somanath tells local media mission has given India ‘great confidence’ to pursue even more ambitious goals such as lunar sample return and merging Gaganyaan human spaceflight program with Chandrayaan lunar series, stating ‘an Indian will definitely land on the Moon’; Director of Space Applications Center Nilesh Desai anticipates 23 Sep awakening

Credits: ISRO, ISRS

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 8-11 Sep 2023

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USA Artemis Moonships SLS and Starship Development Advancing Ahead of Human Moon Missions

Preparations for Artemis 2 (SLS rocket / Orion crew capsule) ongoing at KSC Launch Complex 39B – Mobile Launcher-1 being augmented with structural reinforcements while Emergency Crew Escape System and 41,730-kg Crew Access Arm being installed for first crewed lunar flyby in over 50 years NET Nov 2025; NASA considering future shift of SLS ownership and operation to private contractor in response to unsustainable costs per US GAO; SpaceX to make 63 corrective actions prior to FAA launch clearance for Starship, now fully stacked at Starbase TX, including changes to launch pad, propellant leak remediation, and Autonomous Flight Safety System testing

Credits: SpaceX, NASA