2nd SELENE Symposium On 4-5 March At NAOJ, Mitaka, Tokyo, Japan; Regional & International Scientists Will Review New Lunar Mission Science Results, Discuss Opportunities For International Collaboration On Lunar Research & Future Missions; 1st Symposium (Jan 2013) Had Over 90 Participants From 7 Countries; SELENE-2 Orbiter / Lander / Rover Mission Expected 2017; Pictured: Science Organization Committee Chair Junichi Haruyama
Image Credit: JAXA, NAOJ
Multi Nation Science And Commerce Human Lunar Expeditions 2019-2020 Preceded By Moon South Pole International Traffic Jam 2015-2016 With Robotic Landings From USA, PRC, Japan, India, Russia, as well as Moon Express / ILOA, Golden Spike, Shackleton Energy, Astrobotic, Lunar Lions, Others; NEOs, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn Next
Ad Astra — Happy New Year / Holidays To All
Image Credit: NASA, ILOA, ME, Penn State Lunar Lions, Astrobotic Technology
International Lunar Development Corp. Proposed By Buzz Aldrin To Facilitate Unified International, Commercial & Academic Partnerships To Advance Moon Exploration & Settlement; China, India, Russia, Japan, Europe, USA, NewSpace Companies Such As Bigelow, Shackleton Energy, Golden Spike Urged To Implement Step-By-Step Space Plan; Humans Need To Become Multi-World Species For Long-Term Survival, Will & Should Settle On Moon Long Before Mars, Europa, Etc
Image Credit: Bigelow Aerospace, PISCES, Shackleton Energy Co., GSC
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
International Lunar Activity Gaining Momentum In 2010s As China Prepares For Chang’e-3,4,5 Lunar Lander Missions In 2013, 2015, 2017; Russia Luna-Glob Orbiter In 2015, Luna-Glob / Luna-Resurs Polar Landers in 2016, 2017; USA LADEE Orbiter In 2013; India Chandrayaan-2 Lander ~2015; Japan SELENE-2 Lander ~2018; Private Enterprise GLXP Landers 2014-2015, ILO-1 Lander 2015-2016, Golden Spike Company Human Mission ~2019
Credit: Dwayne Day – The Space Review
Image Credit: Corby Waste, fourth-millennium.net
Japan Lunar Orbiter Kaguya / SELENE Data Reveals Low-Calcium Pyroxene Mineral In ‘Ocean Of Storms’ On Moon; Ryosuke Nakamura From National Institute Of Advanced Industrial Science And Technology Says This Suggests Giant Impact Caused 29,000-km Wide Magma Sea; Future Japan Missions Hope To Confirm With SELENE-2 Rover Launch In Mid 2010s / SELENE-X Advanced Lander / Human Lunar Outpost In 2020s
Image Credit: JAXA, NIAIST
Planned To Launch In Mid 2010s, SELENE-2 Includes Lander, Rover, Communication Relay Orbiter; Top Science Priority To Clarify Process Of Magma Ocean During Early Stage Of Planetary Evolution, & Seismic Observation To Understand Internal Structure Of Moon; JAXA Considering Possibility Of Launching 2 Landers, Polar & Equatorial; SELENE-X Sample Return / Logistics Demonstrator To Follow; Pictured: SELENE-2 Director Prof Sho Sasaki
Image Credit: JAXA
JAXA Sees Moon As Next Destination For Human Exploration; Associate Executive Director Yuichi Yamaura Confirms Japan’s Lunar Aspirations At Recent GLEX 2012 Conference; Japan Previously Released Plan For US$2.2B Robotic Base Near Moon South Pole By 2020 As Precursor To Human Habitation; JAXA Has Plans For Polar Lander, In-Situ Lunar Orientation Measurement (ILOM), Equiped With 20cm Optical Telescope
Image Credit: JAXA
Image Credit: JAXA, mainichinews.jp, kyodonews.jp
JAXA Conducts Tests Of 8 Prototype Moon Exploration Robots At Lunar-like Nakatajima Sand Dunes In Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture; Made By Various Research Institutions Including Tohoku University, Osaka University, & Tokyu Construction, Which Are Competing In JAXA Lunar Robotics Challenge; Winning Designs Will Become Part Of Next Generation Japan Lunar Exploratory Equipment
Image Credit: Air & Space, CNET
Lunar Exploration A Top Priority As Japan Confirms Plan For Space Program; 2015 SELENE-2 Short-Term Lunar Lander Mission, 2020 SELENE-X Robotics Long-Term Exploration / Sample Return Mission To Begin Assemblage Of Base At Moon South Pole Region; Development Of Human Transport Systems By 2020