Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 29 May – 1 June 2015

International Lunar Decade Initiative
Gaining Momentum

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Initiative Of NSS, ILEWG, & FOTONIKA-LV Garnering Increased Attention After Being Featured At Several Conferences Including ISDC2015; ILD 2017-2029 Seeks To Foster International Collaboration Leading To Industrial Development Of Moon & Cislunar Space Enabling Self-Sustaining Space Economy; Next Step Is To Achieve Support Of COPUOS & UN General Assembly – 58th COPUOS Session 10-19 June In Vienna; Architects Of Initiative Seeking Aggregate 10-Year Investment Of US$150B From Main Spacefaring Powers

Image Credit: NASA, FOTONIKA-LV, cislunarnext.org

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 1-4 May 2015

International Space Powers Advancing Plans For Lunar Exploration

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Russia Invites China To Collaborate On Scientific Space Station In Lunar Orbit, Both Countries Have Stated Plans To Continue Robotic Exploration Of Moon Over Next Decade, Conduct Human Surface Missions By 2030; New ESA Leader Johann-Dietrich Wörner (L) Sees International Permanent Moon Station – Likely At Far Side – As Next Step After ISS; Japan Plan For ~2018 Lunar Lander Garnering Significant Attention From International Space Community

Pictured (R): Roscosmos Leader Igor Komarov, China Vice Premier Wang Yang

Image Credit: Russianspaceweb.com, RIA Novosti

Thursday / 23 April 2015

Japan Moon Plans Stimulated By Ambitions & Successes Of Asian Neighbors

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JAXA Moon Program Proposal – Which Includes Announcement Of Plan To Send Robotic Lander Mission To Moon In 2018 – Cites Increased Competition For Resources On Moon, Risk Of Power Imbalance As Russia, China, India Advance Lunar Surface Development Plans; Proposal Includes Initial Phase Of Robotic Missions, Possibility Of Human Lunar Visits – Facilitated By International Cooperation – In Post-2025 2nd Phase

Image Credit: JAXA, CNSA, ISRO

Friday / 17 April 2015

5th International Lunar Surface Applications Workshop Last Day

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Final Day Of LSA5 In Cocoa Beach FL Will Feature Russell Cox (L) Of Flexure Engineering On ‘The Lunar Initiatives’, David Dunlop (R) Of NSS On ‘International Lunar Decade’, & Presentations On The Business Of Being An Astropreneur; Other Lunar Leaders Include Bob Richards (Moon Express), Dan Hendrickson (Astrobotic), Jim Keravala (Shackleton Energy); Conference Advancing Collaborations, Ideas For Robotic Science / Resource Prospecting & Human Exploration / Settlement Missions; 5th LunarCubes Workshop To Be Held Oct 6-9 In San Jose CA; LSA5 Speech By Astronaut Cady Coleman & Panel Discussion Available

Image Credit: Flexure Engineering, NSS, Bigelow, Isaac Brekken/The New York Times/Redux/Eyevine

Tuesday / 14 April 2015

International Lunar Decade Initiative Seeking UN Support

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Initiative Of ILEWG, NSS & University Of Latvia Seeks To Build Foundations For Permanent Human Presence Beyond LEO Through Detailed Framework Of International & Public-Private Partnerships, Legal / Property Rights Resolutions; ILD Working Group Seeking UN General Assembly Sanctioning As Global Activity, 1st Step Is COPUOS Approval, Possibly In 10-19 June 58th COPUOS Session; ILD To Be Discussed / Advanced At Upcoming Conferences In Florida USA, Frascati Italy, Toronto Canada

Image Credit: NASA, ILEWG, UN

Wednesday / 1 April 2015

Russia USA Moon Mission Collaboration
In The Works?

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Space Agency Leaders Of NASA & Roscosmos Confirm Intention To Work Together On Exploration Of Moon & Mars; Roscosmos Chief Igor Komarov Acknowledges More Tasks Can Be Solved & Expenses Saved By Acting Together, Says Deep Space Exploration & Protection Of Earth From Space Threats Must Be Solved By ‘Entire Humanity’; The 2 Countries Will Collaborate On ISS Until 2024, Will Not Build Another Station In NEO, Discussing Potential Cooperation On New Space Station In Lunar Orbit

Image Credit: gaetanomarano.it, Roscosmos, NASA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 27-30 March 2015

Golden Spike Company Progressing Towards Commercial Human Lunar Missions

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GSC Optimisitic 2015 Will See Advancement Of Business Plan / Lunar Mission Development; Board Of Directors Newly Reconfigured – With New Members (L-R) NASA Astronaut Terence Henricks & Dylan Taylor Of Space Angels Network – To Reflect Increased Focus On Fundraising For Human Moon Missions; Gerald Griffin, Doug Griffith, Alan Stern, Taber MacCallum Continue In Director Positions; Additional Meetings With Potential Asian Customers Likely In 2015; Company Working To Implement Human Space Transportation Systems To The Moon At Commercially Successful Price Points

Image Credit: GSC, LinkedIn, NASA, Paragon

Friday / 27 February 2015

Russia Asserts Plans To Land Humans On
Moon By 2030

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 Roscosmos Announces That It Expects To Begin Landing Humans On Moon By 2030, Continued Missions May Set Up Lunar Base Infrastructures; Plans To Launch Luna-26 Polar Orbiter 2018, Luna-27 Lander To Moon South Pole 2019, Luna-28 Sample Return Mission To Moon South Pole 2020, Luna-29 Lander 2021; Russia Independent Space Station May Serve As Transport Point For Moon Missions

Image Credit: Roscosmos, IKI, NASA

Thursday / 26 February 2015

Southeast Asia Leaders / ILOA Meet To Advance Moon Mission Collaboration

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Space / Astronomy Representatives From Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam & Philippines Meeting With Directors Of International Lunar Observatory Association Today In Singapore To Discuss Potential Collaboration In ILOA Moon Missions; The ILOA Southeast Asia Executive Meeting Will Also Include ILOA Board Of Directors Meeting With Participation Of International Space Leaders, Entrepreneurs, Astronomers, Astronauts; ILO-1 Mission To Land Multifunctional Observation / Communication Payload In Malapert Mountain Region Of Moon South Pole ~2017

Image Credit: ILOA, ASEAN.svg

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 6-9 February 2015

China, Argentina Collaborating On Lunar Tracking Station

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Argentina President Cristina Kirchner & China President Xi Jinping Sign Agreement Handing Control Of Tracking Station To China Authorities; Station Is Located In Neuquen, Argentina On 200 Hectare Parcel; China Leasing The Station For 50 Years, Station & Staff Ruled By Chinese Law; Space Antenna Expected To Begin Operations This Month, Will Be Used To Monitor & Receive Data For China Lunar Exploration Missions

Image Credit: CNSA, ferfal.blogspot.com