Wednesday / 11 May 2016

Europe Focuses On Lunar Exploration And Moon Village

4th European Lunar Symposium 18-19 May At The Dutch Royal Academy Of Arts And Sciences, Amsterdam (TR), The Netherlands Is Co-Organized By NASA SSERVI; Inaugural Lecture On LRO ‘Seven Years Exploring The Moon’; A “Moon Village” Workshop Occurs At Nearby ESTEC (BL) 19-20 May To Expand, Enhance And Refine This Primary Initiative Of ESA Director General Jan Woerner Who Is Determined To Help Establish A Permanent International Outpost At Moon As Next Major Step For Global Space Endeavor Beyond ISS

Credit: SSERVI, NASA, ESA, ESTEC

Friday / 18 March 2016

Moon Worker Buzz Aldrin Points To Moon Missions, International Cooperation As Strategy Towards Mars

Buzz Moon Mars

Buzz Aldrin Says In Order To Reach Mars By 2040, Key Would Be For USA, Starting In 2018, To Support International & NewSpace Lunar Exploration, Specialize In Humans & Landers, Build Upon Known Technologies, Develop Reusable Spacecraft & ‘Cycling Ships’, Increase Knowledge / Experience Of Human Life Support Systems; While Human Space Exploration Missions Can Be Dangerous & Costly, Aldrin Says “Robots Aren’t Good Enough”

Credit: H2M, NASA, Buzz Aldrin

Friday / 19 February 2016

Rocket Lab Secures Another Multi-Launch Contract After Moon Express

Rocket Lab ME

Rocket Lab To Launch 2 Moon Express Missions In 2017, With A 3rd To Be Scheduled, And Possibility To Purchase 4th & 5th; Spire Satellite Company With Offices In Singapore, UK, USA, Recently Contracted 12 Launches With Rocket Lab To Begin 2016-17; Rocket Lab Also Won US$6.9M Contract With NASA; Electron Small Launch Vehicle Under Development, Planning 1st Test Launch Mid-2016 & Constructing 2 Launch Sites In New Zealand, Mahia Peninsula Site To Be Operational Q1 2016

Pictured: (TL) Peter Platzer of Spire; (BL) Bob Richards of Moon Express; (BR) Peter Beck of Rocket Lab.

Credit: Rocket Lab, NASA, Moon Express, Expert File / Peter Beck

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 11-14 December 2015

International Moon Missions Being Discussed By UN With Lunar Mission One & By ESA At Dec 15-16 Moon Symposium

UN LM1 ESA

David Iron, Founder Of Lunar Mission One (LM1), With Advice From UNOOSA Director Simonetta Di Pippo And Her Predecessor Mazlan Othman (A LM1 International Advisory Board Member) Brings LM1 To Attention Of UN, Pointing Out Practical & Inspiring Reasons For International & Commercial Moon South Pole Mission ~2024; Upcoming ESA Symposium Focusing On Coordinated Human & Robotic Moon Missions 2020-2030 Features Similar Message: Significance Of The Moon As A Starting Point For Sustained, International Space Missions For The Betterment Of Humankind

Credit: Lunar Mission One, UNOOSA, ESA, V. Martin/ITU

Tuesday / 8 December 2015

India Chandrayaan-1 Moon Weather Data Being Studied By Swedish Institute Of Space Physics (IRF)

1282015Lack Of Atmosphere & Global Magnetic Fields On Moon Reflect Some Solar Wind Back Into Space From Surface According To IRF Researcher Charles Lue; Measurements Taken By Chandrayaan-1 Sub-keV Atom Reflecting Analyzer (SARA) / Solar WInd Monitor (SWIM) Revealing Up To 10% Of Solar Wind Reflects Back Into Space; Lue States “This Knowledge Is Of Great Importance To The Lunar Space Environment” And Is Mapping Areas Where Solar Wind Is Most Prominent; Findings Could Be Utilized To Estimate How Much Water Is On Lunar Surface

Credit: Charles Lue, NASA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 4-7 December 2015

Sustainable Revitalization Strategies For Lunar Exploration To Be Discussed At “Moon 2020-2030”

1252015Moon 2020-2030 Symposium On Human & Robotic Exploration Being Held At ESTEC Noordwijk, The Netherlands 15-16 Dec Will Examine & Build Upon Approaches And Innovations For Lunar Missions; Symposium “Will Be A Key Step In Advancing The International Approach For Lunar Exploration Together With Key Players From Agencies, Academia, And Industry”; Objectives Invite Contributions In Multiple Areas Including: Operational Human Roles, Opportunities Of Lunar Exploration For Society, Planned Missions & Capabilities; Opening Plenary Session By ESA Head Of Propulsion And Aerothermodynamics Division Giorgio Saccoccia To Discuss Exploration Technology Roadmaps In Support Of Moon Initiatives & Technology Prioritization

Credit: ESA, Foster + Partners

Wednesday / 25 November 2015

Korea First Lunar Mission To Begin Flight Development Phase Jan 2016

11252015Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) Lunar Exploration Program With Expected 2-Year Budget Of 197.8 Billion Won (US$172.5M) To Begin Call For Instrument Proposals In Jan 2016; Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO) To Launch In 2018; Lander & Rover Expected 2020; Goal Is To Develop & Verify Lunar Technologies, Establish Korea Deep Space Network & Cooperate With International Partners In Lunar Exploration; Lander Mission Likely To Use Indigenous KSLV-2 Launch Vehicle; ISRO & KARI To Collaborate In India Deep Space Missions & Utilize Lunar Surface Data Collected By Chandrayaan-1; KARI Lunar Exploration Program Also Planning To Participate With NASA SSERVI To Gain Expertise In Solar System Science

Pictured: Dr. Seung-jo Kim, KARI President

Credit: Korea Aerospace Research Institute

Wednesday / 18 November 2015

Astrobotic Signs MoU With Germany DLR For Lunar Payload Commercial Partnership

11182015DLR MoU To Explore Concepts For Possible Payload On Astrobotic Lunar Lander; Dr. Gerd Gruppe (L) Of German Space Agency DLR Executive Board States “Astrobotic Is A Representative Of The New Space Economy”; DLR Research & Development Work In Aeronautics, Space, Energy, Transport Will Be Supported By Astrobotic Delivery Service; “This Collaboration With DLR Underscores The Strong Interest Of Government Space Agencies Across The Globe In Growing Commercial Partnership To Fly To The Moon” States Astrobotic CEO John Thornton (R)

Credit: Astrobotic, DLR

Wednesday / 4 November 2015

ESA ‘Lunarville’ Proposal Attracts Global Attention, Offers International Participation

11042015Human Lunar Missions With International Collaboration Priority Of (L-R) Johann-Dietrich Woerner, ESA Director Stating Desire To “Not Just Land On The Moon, But To Have A Permanent International Moon Station On The Far Side”; Far Side Site Valuable For Radio Astronomy; FAA Associate Administrator George Nield Impressed With ESA Comments / Moon Village Concept As It “Would Enable Countries To Participate” With Private Industries Playing An “Important Role”; Executive Mike Gold Reaffirms Bigelow Aerospace Position Of Supporting Long-Term Aspirations Of A Lunar Base; China Also Considering Crewed Lunar Missions; Energia Space Corp Head Vladimir Solntsev States Russia Desire To Put Humans On Moon By 2029

Credit: NASA, ESA, Foster + Partners, FAA, RSC

Thursday / 29 October 2015

Russia Focused On Luna-2015 Simulation & Proclaims Humans To Moon 2029

10292015RSC Energia Head Vladimir Solntsev (TL) Reveals Human “Lunar Landing Is Planned For 2029”; Spacecraft For Mission Currently Being Built In Moscow With Inaugural Flight Aiming For 2021, ISS Space Dock 2023, Un-Crewed Moon Mission 2025, Astronauts To Moon 2029; Luna-2015 Female-Only Crew Simulations Commence, Gathering Data With “Over 30 Experiments” As Stated By Crew Member Daria Komissarova (LC); Experiment Taking Place At Moscow Institute Of Medical-Biological Problems; Potential Collaboration Efforts Also Underway With ESA For Moon Settlement & Joint Lunar Station Prospectively With China

Credit: ESA, IMBP, RSC Energia