Category Archives: Lunar Communications

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 15-18 June 2018

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Chang’e-4 Relay Satellite Enters Intended Orbit, Prepares For Upcoming Mission

China Relay Satellite Queqiao Successfully Reaches Halo Orbit Around Earth-Moon Lagrange Point 2, Will Undergo Orbit Maintenance Every 7 Days, Equipped With NCLE Low-Frequency Pathfinder To Detect Cosmic Dark Ages Radio Signals, Will Act As Communication Relay For Chang’e-4 Lander & Rover Mission Planned Nov-Dec Launch To South Pole Aitken Basin / Von Kármán Crater; Microsatellite Longjiang-2 Operates In Lunar Orbit, Transmits Far Side Pictures Using Saudi Arabia Optical Camera; NAOC Prof Ping Jinsong Mentions Feasibility Of Flying Near-Future Low Cost Lunar Constellation

Credits: CNSA, CLEP, KASCST, NAOC, CAS, Planetary Society, NCLE, ASTRON

Friday / 15 June 2018

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AAS Advancing Galaxy Science, Human Equality, Astronomy From The Moon

21st Century Directions Apparent At American Astronomical Society 232nd Meeting In Denver CO With 5 Of 10 Plenaries On Galaxies, 5 Of 10 Presented By Women Astrophysicists, Supported By (L-R) Incoming AAS President Megan Donahue And Outgoing President Christine Jones; Pioneering Sessions On Low Radio Frequency Observations From Space And Moon Included Presentations By Heino Falcke, Robert MacDowell, Jack Burns, Joseph Lazio, Which Could Enable AAS Symposium In 12-24 Months On “Astronomy On, For and From The Moon”

Credits: ILOA, SPC, Steve Durst, AAS, NLSI, IAU, NASA, JPL, Radboud Univ., ISIS, ASTRON, Netherlands Space Office, et al

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 18-21 May 2018

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Chang’e-4 Relay To Attempt Detection Of Radio Signals From Cosmic Dark Ages

China To Launch Long March 4C / Chang’e-4 Relay From Xichang 20 May, Precursor For November Moon South Pole Lander; Loft 2 Microsatellites To Lunar Orbit For Low Frequency Radio Astronomy & Interferometry, And Relay Satellite (Queqiao) To L2 Which Carries Netherlands-China Low Frequency Explorer (NCLE) Pathfinder; NCLE Scheduled To Unspool Three 2-meter Antennas March 2019, Detect Radio Signals Pre-First Stars, Study Solar Flares & Jupiter Aurora; NCLE PI Heino Falcke Advocates For Radio Astronomy From Moon

Credits: CNSA, NASA, Radboud University, ASTRON Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 11-14 May 2018

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LRO Mapping And Monitoring Lunar Surface Supports NASA Return To Moon Plans

Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) Surpasses 40,000 Orbits Around Moon, Gathering Information On Lunar Temperatures, Geologic Activity, Newly Formed Craters, Topographical Changes; On 23 June Spacecraft With 7 Operating Instruments Will Celebrate 9 Full Years In Orbit; Inertial Measurement Unit Indicates Low Functionality, Will Be Powered Down Except For Lunar Eclipses, Safe Mode Entries; 34th Data Set Release Upcoming, Invaluable Mission Supports International, National, Commercial, Academic Ventures & Research

Credits: NASA

Wednesday / 2 May 2018

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 LunarCubes Workshop Focuses On EM-1 ‘Lucky 13’, Awarded SmallSat Studies, Interactive Design Challenges

7th Annual LunarCubes Workshop 3-4 May In San Luis Obispo CA With 4 Major Design Challenges Include Effective Data Management, Lunar Transportation, CubeSat Paradigm Development Models, Beyond LEO Platform Concepts; Anticipates 30-40 Participants, 8 Presentations Covering Deep Space Concepts PRISM, PROVE, BOLAS, Other Missions From 19 Awarded Studies; NASA JPL CubeSat Development Lab Director Pamela Clark Is Technical Program Chair; 1st CubeSats To Deep Space (MarCO) Set To Launch 5 May To Mars, SLS EM-1 Dec 2019 To Moon Will Carry 13 CubeSats

Credits: NASA, CubeSat

Friday / 20 Apr 2018

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New Views From The Moon 2 – Asia 2018 In Japan Exchanging International Lunar Research, Mission Plans

University of Aizu, Japan, and Lunar and Planetary Institute Host NVM2 Conference 18-20 April 2018 With ~55 International Lunar Experts Covering Topics Including Landing Sites, Astronomy From The Moon, Lava Tubes, Geology, Volatiles, Lunar Space Elevator; 8 International South Pole Landers Identified For Missions By 2025, Collaborations Needed To Avoid Duplication, Maximize Science And Determine Where To Lead Investigations; LEAG Commercial Advisory Board Of ~30 Members Planning Next CAB Meeting 19 June

Pictured: Clive Neal, Ben Bussey, Makiko Ohtake, (Steve) Liu Yang, Carle Pieters, Junya Terazono; Image Credits: Univ. of Aizu, Univ. of Notre Dame, NASA, Brown Univ., JAXA, ISRO, KARI, ESA, Roscosmos, CNSA, LPI, ILOA

Wednesday / 18 Apr 2018

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SSTL, Goonhilly To Advance Commercial Communications From The Moon With 2 New Agreements

Surrey Satellite Technology (SSTL), Goonhilly Earth Station (GES), ESA Sign Agreement To Further Long-Term Lunar Commercial Missions, Sustainability, Telecommunications, Navigation Infrastructure In A Low-Risk, Phased Approach; SSTL Founder Sir Martin Sweeting Comments Moon Is Next Frontier; ESA Director Dave Parker States Agreement Could Lead To Lower Costs, Scientific Opportunities; Lunar Pathfinder Payload Begins At £1M / kg, Flight Expected 2022; SSTL & GES Also Sign Formalized Agreement With Astrobotic For Its Lunar Surface Payload Communications Needs Starting 2020

Credits: SSTL, ESA, Astrobotic / John Thornton

Wednesday / 7 Mar 2018

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Vodafone Germany And Nokia Plan To Create Lunar 4G Communications Network

Vodafone And Nokia Partner With Commercial Space Company PTScientists To Deliver 4G Network, Two Quattro Rovers To Apollo 17 Landing Site In Taurus-Littrow Valley 20.0° N, 31.0° E; Expected Launch On SpaceX Falcon 9 In 2019; Networking Gear Weighing Less Than 1-Kg Will Use 1800 MHz, Anticipated Data Rate 100 Megabits To 1 Gigabit Per Second; Will Send HD Video To Autonomous Landing And Navigation Module, Connecting To Berlin; PTScientists Chief Executive, Robert Böhme, States Off-World Infrastructure Is Crucial First Step For Sustainable Human Interplanetary Exploration And Settlement

Credits: PTScientists, Nokia, Vodafone

New Year Holiday Edition
Friday-Tuesday
23 December 2016 – 3 January 2017

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Russia Remains Lunar Focused, Sets Realistic Timeline For Moon South Pole, Human Missions, Lunar Base

Russia Lunar Exploration Program Planning To Launch South Pole Missions: Luna 25 Lander In 2018-19 To  Boguslavsky Crater To Look For Water, Luna 26 Orbiter In 2020, Luna 27 Lander In 2021, Luna 28 Sample Return Mission In 2023, Luna 29 Lander & Rover In 2025; According To Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, Russia Moon Program 2025-2036 Includes Development Of New Super Heavy Rocket For Cargo Transport, Human Moon Missions Beginning 2030, Russian Academy Of Sciences Lunar Rovers & National Centre For Technology Development Humanoid Robots To Support Lunar Base Build Out 2031

Credits: Roscosmos, YouTube/Rokossovskiy Konstantin, Russia National Center for Technology Development and Basic Robotics, Lavochkin Research and Production Association

Wednesday / 13 July 2016

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Surrey Satellite & Goonhilly Earth Station Team Up For Lunar Pathfinder Mission By 2019-2020

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UK Space Age Heavyweights Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL) & Goonhilly Earth Station (GES) Announce Partnership To Provide Low Cost, High Value System To Transport Payloads To Moon Orbit (£0.8-1.5M/kg), Provide Communications Links Back To Earth (Via Mothership X-band Link To 32-meter GHY-6 Dish In Cornwall, UK); Pilot Phase Activity Underway With ESA; Ultimate Aim To Support Solar System Network; SSTL Executive Chairman Sir Martin Sweeting Wants To Help Lunar Explorers Be Able To “Focus On The Science And Business Aspects Of Their Missions”

Credit: SSTL, GES