Wednesday / 23 September 2015

Astronaut Thomas Reiter: Returning Humans To The Moon In The Next Decade

9232015Sustainable Moon Exploration 2020-2030 Critical For Further Expansion Of Human Solar System Competence; Astronaut & ESA Director Of Human Spaceflight & Operations, Thomas Reiter States “The International Vision For Lunar Exploration Calls For New Era Of Coordinated Human And Robotic Missions”; ISECG Global Exploration Roadmap Providing Strategic Coordination To Enhance Global Space Enterprise Using Lunar Surface For Research & Economic Development With International Collaboration

Credit: NASA, ESA, ISECG

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 11-14 September 2015

Chang’e-4 Radio Astronomy From Moon Far Side Creating Opportunity With ILOA

9112015Observation Of Low Frequency Cosmic Rays Among Primary Astronomy Objectives Of CE-4 Mission To Moon Far Side NET 2020, According To Chinese Academy Of Sciences Zou Yongliao During LDSE Beijing Conference; Prof Wei, National Astronomical Observatory China & Steve Durst, International Lunar Observatory Association Speaking At Galaxy Forum China 2015 Affirm CE-3 Lunar Ultraviolet Telescope Continues Gathering Images & Data As Only Active Lunar Surface Mission; Further Cooperation Expected With ILOA ILO-X (NET 2016),  ILO-1 (NET 2017) & CE-4

Credit: Copyright ILOA, Michael Carroll, NAOC/CAS, CNSA, NASA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Tue / 4-8 September 2015

Lunar & Deep Space Leaders Meet In Beijing Sep 7-10

9052015Chinese Academy Of Sciences (CAS) Lunar And Deep-Space Exploration (LDSE) Continues Global Cooperation For Advancing Moon / Mars Missions & Will Discuss Policy & Program Status Updates At 2015 Conference; 2nd Bi-Annual Event Will Feature 100 Submissions, 165 International Participants, 73 Special Reports & 19 Invited Speeches Including Plenary Lectures By Prof. Ouyang Ziyuan Of CLEP (TL) Discussing Chang’e-3 Mission / Preliminary Results & Dr. Chris Sallaberger (TR) Of Canadensys Aerospace Discussing ILO-1 Moon South Pole Mission Developments & Astronomy From The Moon

Credit: LDSE, CAS, CLEP, IIAC, ILOA

Tuesday / 25 August 2015

International Lunar Decade Initiative For Sustained Moon Operations

8252015Letter To President Obama By Vid Beldavs, Founding Member Of International Lunar Decade Working Group, Requests U.S. Support For International Lunar Decade (ILD) Advocacy & UN-Sanction Activity / To Address Moon Mining & Property Rights /  To Involve G20 Countries In International Collaboration; Operations In Space To Establish Permanent Infrastructure Vital For Long-Term Economic Growth Which Will Promote Commercial Business; Partnerships Will Reduce Cost To Each Organization, Key To Permanent & Sustainable Development


Credit:  NASA, Vid Beldavs, ILD

Tuesday / 18 August 2015

CNSA & ESA May Cooperate For 2018 Chang`e-4 Lunar Far Side Mission

8182015A Preliminary Suggestion For International Cooperation Of Chang’e-4 Lunar Lander / Rover / Orbiter To Moon Far Side Presented By Chinese National Space Agency (CNSA); Relay Satellite (T-L) In Lunar Transfer Orbit NET 2018 To Assist With Lander – Earth Communication; Primary Goal To Gather Data For Subsequent Lunar Exploration, Including Ultimate Objective Of Chinese Lunar Exploration Program To Pave Way For Human Missions; International Cooperation Proposed By CNSA To ESA On Mission, Equipment & Other Areas Of Research

Credit: NASA, CNSA, CLEP, ESA

Friday / 14 August 2015

LEAG Extends Abstract Due Date To 14 Aug, Team Preparing For 2015 Annual Meeting

LEAG 2015Lunar Exploration Analysis Group Annual Meeting 20-22 Oct In Columbia MD; Chaired By (L-R) Clive Neil, Supported By Sam Lawrence (ASU), Jeff Plescia (JHU/APL), Steve Mackwell (LPI) & Representatives For LRO, ESA, ARTEMIS, Commercial Space, Next-Gen Lunar Scientists & Engineers; Recent Findings / Recommendations Include Resource Prospecting At Lunar Poles & Interior, Advancing Lunar CubeSats, Maintaining Moon Missions / Pace Of Discovery To Support International Partnerships, Technologies, Future Crewed Missions To Moon & Mars

Credit: NASA, LEAG, C. Neil, JPL/Caltech, ASU, LPI

Friday / 24 July 2015

16 GLXP Teams Have <6 Months To Confirm Launch, Extend Competition

GLXP July 2015

 One Firm Launch Provider Contract, Designating Launch Window / Date, Required By 31 Dec 2015 To Continue US$20M Moon Challenge; Rideshare Contract Between Astrobotic & Hakuto Confirmed For TBD SpaceX Launch Mid-2016, Team Indus Looking Toward ISRO For Subsidized Launch, Synergy Moon Counting On Interorbital Neptune Rocket, SpaceMETA Has MoU With Alcantor Cyclone Space, Barcelona Moon Working With China Great Wall Industry, Penn State Lunar Lion Launch Reservation Fee Given To Spaceflight Inc / Sherpa Craft

Credit: GLXP, SpaceX, GLXP Teams

Tuesday / 21 July 2015

Chang’e-4 Lunar Mission To Launch In 2018?

7212015 Chinese National Space Agency (CNSA) Announces Plan For Chang’e-4 Lunar Lander / Rover / Orbiter To Moon Far Side Late 2018; Launch From Xichang Satellite Launch Center (XSLC) Via Long March 3B Rocket; First Soft-Landing & Surface Examination Of Far Side; Discussions With European Space Agency (ESA) For Potential Cooperation Ongoing; Crewed Lunar Landing Is Ultimate Objective Of Chinese Lunar Exploration Program (CLEP)

Credit: NASA, CNSA, ESA, CLEP

Thursday / 16 July 2015

ESA Envisions Lunar Village

7162015New Director General Of European Space Agency (ESA) Johann-Dietrich Woerner (TL) Proposes “Moon Village On The Far Side Of The Moon”; Collaborative Efforts Would Incorporate World Participation; Far Side Of Moon Long Supported By Dr. Jack Burns (TR) Of University Of Colorado Boulder; Motivation For Village Includes Telescopes For Deep Space Observation, Stepping Stone For Mars Missions / Training, 3D Printing Trials & Multi-Nation Astronaut Settlement / Expanded International Involvement

Credit: NASA, ESA, Foster + Partners

Thursday / 2 July 2015

China & Argentina Developing Space Communications Network

722015China Satellite Launch And Tracking Control (CLTC) 35-Meter Diameter Antenna Being Hosted In Neuquén Province, Argentina, Due To Its Diametric Opposition From China; Designed To Track CNSA China Lunar Exploration Program & Future Missions To Mars; Cooperation Likely To Support Deep Space Missions, Chang’e 3-5 Lunar Lander / Rover & Future China Space Stations; Bilateral Agreements Made By Presidents Christina Fernández de Kirchner & Xi Jinping

Credit: Xinhua, CNSA