Weekend Edition / Fri-Mon 8-11 Nov 2013

LADEE / Chang’e-3 Conjunction: Opportunity For International Cooperation

MissionConjunction1113

Dec Moon Landing Of China Chang’e-3 Could Provide NASA LADEE Orbital Mission Unique Opportunity To Collect Data On Ejected Dust From Descent Engines; Valuable For Planning Future Missions, Heritage Site Preservation, Lunar Base Development; Current USA Policy Impeding NASA From Arranging Such Collaboration With China; Apollo Moonwalkers Advocate For NASA To Begin Cooperation With China On Human Moon Return

Image Credit: NASA, CLEP, CNSA

Tuesday / 5 November 2013

Huge China Moon Lander A Precursor To Human Module

chinaLander1113

Chang’e-3 Lander Is 42% Mass & Scale Of Apollo Lunar Descent Module (1200kg Unfueled), Apollo Veterans Aldrin (L) & Cernan Say Size & Design Indicate Craft / Mission Is Precursor To Human Descent Stage; Moonwalkers Encourage NASA / USA To Seek Cooperation With China On Human Moon Return, Form International Lunar Outpost Authority, South Pole Base For ISRU / Prepare For Mars Habitation

Image Credit: China Space News, NASA

Wednesday / 30 October 2013

ESA Innovating Advanced Robots To Support Future Lunar Exploration

ESAMoonBots1013

European Space Agency Releases Video Depicting Various Lunar Rovers / Robots It Is Designing / Developing; Moon Rover With Multifunctional Wheels (Prototype Already Developed); Concept Teleoperator Robot, Forklift, Bulldozer To Assist Astronauts In Construction Of Moonbase; ESA Positioning Itself As Key Contributor To Future International Human / Robotic Moon Missions

Image Credit: ESA

Weekend Edition / Fri-Mon 25-28 Oct 2013

Golden Spike Company Moon Mission Science Concepts Advancing

GSCrover1013

Golden Spike Company Discussing Advanced Mission Concepts Including Landing Sites Of Interest (South Pole Moon) & Sample Return Missions After Integrating Input Gathered At Recent Workshop With International Lunar Scientists; Robotic-Human Missions Would Involve A Nation Sending Own Rover & GSC Astronauts Retrieving / Returning Rover Samples; GSC Will Host Another Forum In March 2014

Image Credit: NASA, GSC

Tuesday / 22 October 2013

ESA Hosting Lunar Sample Return Workshop

ESTECsampleReturn1013

Workshop On Science & Challenges Of Lunar Sample Return In ESA ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands On 18-19 Feb 2014; Event Co-Organized By NASA SSERVI & Russia IKI; Objectives: Discuss How Sample Return Missions Can Support Future Exploration, Scientific Priorities, Mission Requirements / Technical Challenges; ESA Intends To Cooperate With Russia On Moon Lander & Sample Return Missions, & With NASA On Human Missions

Image Credit: ESA, IKI, NASA

Weekend Edition / Fri-Mon 18-21 Oct 2013

Planetary Security Through
Moon High Ground

LED 10-18-13

Moon To Become New High Ground For Human Operations,
Serve Planetary Defense To Detect Earth Approaching Objects;
New Luna Enterprise From China, America, Independents
Also To Advance Non-Military Precedent Of 7th Continent Antarctica,
Open 8th Continent Opportunities “In Peace For All”

Image Credit: ME, ILOA, CNSA, NASA, G. Nagle, UN

Tuesday / 24 September 2013

ILOA 4 Moon Missions Update To Global Space Community

ILOAledUpdate913

International Lunar Observatory Association Presenting At IAC 2013 In Beijing, China, Today: Chang’e-3 – ILOA Galaxy Imaging Program, ILO-X Precursor Mission, ILO-1 Polar Mission, Human Service Mission; 24 Sep ILOA Board Of Directors Meeting To Build Upon Successful Pioneering Galaxy Forum Program, International Partnerships With China / International Space Agencies & Commercial NewSpace Enterprises To Realize Multifunctional ILO, Humans On The Moon Within Decade

Image Credit: ILOA, IAF

Thursday / 19 September 2013

International GLXP Teams Advancing

InternationalGLXP913

Barcelona Moon (Spain) Has Set Launch Date For June 2015, China Great Wall Industry Corporation Is Launch Provider (L); Team Space IL (Israel) Has Reportedly Raised ~US$25M From Israel Citizens; Euroluna Team (Denmark / Italy) Looking To Exploit Budget Microsatellite Market, Base Technology On CubeSats, Ion Thrusters & Tether; Team Indus (India) Finalizing US$15M Launch Contract With ISRO

Image Credit: Barcelona Moon, Space IL, Euroluna, Team Indus

Friday / 13 September 2013

Astronauts Train Underground For Space / Moon Missions

CSA ESA CAVES

Canada Astronaut Jeremy Hansen & 5 International Crew Members Will Live / Work In Sa Grutta Caves In Sardinia, Italy For 6 Days For ESA CAVES Training To Simulate Space Exploration Challenges: Limited Privacy & Supplies, Multicultural Team Work, Technical Issues While Exploring Uncharted Areas; Hansen Spent Time In Canada High Arctic To Learn About Impact Formation & Geology For Future Moon Missions

Image Credit: CSA, ESA, S. Noguchi, NASA/GSFC/ASU

Tuesday / 27 August 2013

Canada Wants To Send Astronauts To Lunar Space

CanadaMoon0813

1st Canada Astronaut To Moon Could Come About Through International Collaboration; Global Exploration Roadmap Crafted By 14 Nations Includes Development Of New Space Station At Earth-Moon L2 Lagrange Point In Early 2020s; Canada Intends To Develop Lunar Rover, Have Canada Astronaut Control Rover From Orbit Or Lunar Surface; Canada Chairing ISECG This Year

Image Credit: NASA, University of Western Ontario