Weekend Edition / Fri-Mon 14-17 June 2013

Google Lunar X PRIZE Update: Barcelona Moon, Summit 2014

LED-6-14-2013

Barcelona Moon Team Developing Baseline Plan For Mission Build, Integration, Launch Logistics; Lander Module Structure To Be Built In Spain, Sent To China For Propulsion System Integration, Back to Spain For Electronics Integration & AIT Campaign, Again To China For Assembly On Top Of Long March 2C-CTS2 For Launch NET June 2014; Penn State Lunar Lion Team Bid To Host 2014 Summit At University Park, Pennsylvania, USA Bolstered By Support From Senator Pat Toomey

Image Credit: BMT, Penn State Lunar Lion

Thursday / 13 June 2013

ILOA – China Collaborate On Moon Telescope Observations

ILOA, China NAOC

ILO-X 180 X 70mm Telescope Built For ILOA Of Hawaii USA By Moon Express Launching To Moon 2015; Will Observe Galaxies, Stars, Planets, Moon, Earth; ILOA MoU With National Astronomical Observatories of China Enables Exchange Of ILO-X Observing Time With Lunar Telescope On Chang’e-3 Launching Late 2013; Also Collaborating With Golden Spike Co For Human Moon Missions (2018-2020); Learn More At Galaxy Forum China 22 Sep ‘Human Moon Missions: Giant Steps Into The Galaxy’

Image Credit: ILOA, NAOC

Thursday / 6 June 2013

Bolden: US Open To Contribute To Human Moon Mission

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Administrator Charles Bolden Clarifies NASA Stance On Human Moon Missions: US Unable To Orchestrate Lunar Surface Mission With Current Budget / Priorities, Yet Is Willing To Provide Engineering Expertise To Existing Moon Mission In Exchange For Sending American Astronaut As Part Of Crew; Comments Made To Institute Of Medicine Panel Which Is Developing Ethics / Health Guidelines For Future Long-Duration Human Spaceflights

Image Credit: NASA, ESA

Weekend Edition / Fri-Mon 31 May – 3 June 2013

Japan Lunar Aspirations Highlighted At International Space Symposium

JapanMoon0613

29th International Symposium On Space Technology & Science In Nagoya Japan 2-9 June; Features 3 Sessions On ‘Missions To The Moon’; Sho Sasaki (Inset) Of NAOJ To Present ‘Sciences Of Human Exploration Of Lunar Polar Regions’; Mitsubishi Electric Corp To Present On Lunar Transfer Vehicle Proposal; JAXA Planing Selene-2 Lunar Lander NET 2018 As A Precursor / Technology Demonstrator For Human Moon Exploration

Image Credit: JAXA, ISTS, NAOJ

Tuesday / 21 May 2013

India Advancing Space Power Standing With Mars & Moon Missions

IndiaMoonMars

Chandrayaan-2, Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) Pushing India To Accelerate Space Capabilities, Advance Global Standing As Space Leader; Chandrayaan-2 With Russia Will Be First India Lunar / Planetary Surface Mission, Currently Slated Under 2012-2017 5-Year Plan; Mars Mission Success Would Be 1st For Asian Country, ISRO Addressing Added Mission Complexity Due To Distance & Communication Logistics

Image Credit: ISRO

Weekend Edition / Fri-Mon 10-13 May 2013

Preserving Tranquility Base & Other Artifacts Of Human Drive To Explore Space

LED-5-10-13

New Efforts To Protect Off-Earth Objects, Sites Of Significance Arise Out Of Society For American Archeology 78th Annual Meeting; Space Session Co-Chairs Beth O’Leary UNM Las Cruces / Lisa Westwood CSU, And Further Analysis At The Space Review, Suggest Evolving Legal Framework To Protect Without Claiming Sovereignty, Multilateral Transparency; Similar To Antarctica, Int’l Waters

Image Credit: NASA, NMSU

Thursday / 2 May 2013

LEAG Annual Meeting Set For October

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2013 Meeting Of The Lunar Exploration Analysis Group Will Be Held 14-16 Oct 2013 At The Johns Hopkins University / APL In Laurel, MD; The Scientific Questions, Measurement Techniques & Options For Exploring The Moon With Discovery-Class Missions Or With Payloads Flown On International Or Commercial Missions Will Be Discussed And Evaluated At The Meeting; Abstract Deadline 31 July

Image Credit: LEAG, LPI, usra.edu

Wednesday / 1 May 2013

New International Space Age Emerging

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Bruce Cordell Outlines Thesis That New ‘Maslow Window’ – Era Of Expansive Exploration & Cultural Dynamism – Is Fast Approaching In Recent Space Policy Article & Space Show Episode; Cites Economic & Political Evidence Signaling Approach Of New International Space Age, Also Notes Upswing Of Public Enthusiasm For Moon / Solar System Exploration; New Window, Triggered By JFK-Style Boom By Mid-Decade, Will Likely Include Return To Lunar Surface

Image Credit: 21stcenturywaves.com, NASA

Friday / 26 April 2013

International & National Support For Human Moon Mission

NASA Moon vs Asteroid

US Congress Rep. Lamar Smith (R) States Human Moon Mission Has More Support Than Proposed NASA Asteroid Retrieval Mission; Can Learn More From Moon & Is Better Precursor For Deep Space Exploration; NASA Chief Bolden (L) Says Going To Moon Would Cost 3 Times More Than Asteroid & With US$17.7B 2014 Budget It Is All NASA Can Afford; Solidifying China, Russia, Commercial USA Moon Plans May Induce Another ‘Sputnik Effect’ On NASA In Near Future

Image Credit: house.gov, NASA

Friday / 19 April 2013

Google Lunar X PRIZE Update

GLXP Update

20 GLXP Teams At Recent Chile Summit Give Updates On Progress: White Label Space Now Solely Based In Japan Will Change Name; Part-Time Scientists Working On COMRAY Project To Provide Communications With In-Space Assets; Independence-X Scoping Out Potential Launch Sites In Malaysia; Barcelona Moon Announces Launch Contract Jun 2014; Astrobotic / SpaceX Has Launch Oct 2015; Omega Envoy & Moon Express Plan 2015 Launches; More Collaborations / Mergers, Publicity Expected

Image Credit: GLXP