Category Archives: Lunar Sample Return

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 18-21 Dec 2020

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China / Zhongguo Becomes 3rd Nation To Achieve Lunar Sample Return, 2nd To Do So Robotically

Chang’e-5 / Phase 3 Of CLEP Achieves Successful Transport Of 2kg Surface Regolith + 0.5kg Subsurface (1.8m Depth) From Oceanus Procellarum To Inner Mongolia Via High Speed Skip Retry; Recovered From Remote Tundra By Team Outfitted With 4kg Exoskeleton Suits, Providing 10% Strength Assist, And Joined By Curious Rabbit; First Samples Procured Since 170g From Luna 24 To Be Followed By Commercial / National Robotic And Human Efforts; International Collaboration On Analysis Invited, Chang’e-6/7/8 And Phase 4 Lunar Research Base Build-Out To Commence, Per Deputy Commander Wu Yanhua

Credits: CNSA, Xinhua

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 9-12 Oct 2020

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China (Zhongguo) Set To Conduct First Lunar Sample Return Of The Modern Era

Wenchang SLC On Hainan Island Is Center Of Preparatory Activity For 24 Nov Chang’e-5 Launch: Testing, Assembly, LM-5 Launch Vehicle Integration; Built By CAST For CNSA, Chang’e-5 23-Day Mission Comprised Of Orbiter, Lander, Ascender And Returner; ≤ 2 Kilograms Of Regolith To Be Collected By Lander Via Robotic Drill / Scoop Near Dense Mons Rümker Volcanic Structures, Within Oceanus Procellarum; 4-Spacecraft Mission Begins Phase 3 Of China Lunar Exploration Program, And Signals Level Of Technical Sophistication Necessary For Future Crewed Lunar Missions / Deep Space Exploration

Credits: CNSA, CAST, China Daily

Friday / 9 Oct 2020

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European Space Agency Selects 5 Lunar Cave Study Proposals For Advancement

Collaborative ESA Initiative Open Space Innovation Platform Has Narrowed Contestants From  September RFP To Become SysNova Studies, From Which ESA Will Formulate Mission To Explore Cave Structures / Lava Tubes Under Moon Surface, Determining Habitability Prospects; Plans Include Lowering Of Spherical LIDAR Probe (University Of Würzburg), Tethering A Small Rover (German Research Center For Artificial Intelligence), Utilizing A Swarm Of Hopping Probes (University Of Manchester), Deployment Of Gravimeter-Equipped Rover Around Depressions (Canadensys Aerospace Corp) And Suspension Of Wireless Power Charging Via Crane Into Exploration Site (University Of Oviedo)

Credits: ESA, Canadensys, DFKI, University of Manchester

Tuesday / 15 October 2019

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Canada Institute For Earth And Space Exploration Works With Lunar Analog Mission

Canada Western University Opens Institute For Earth And Space Exploration; Opening Ceremony Includes Director Gordon Osinski (L) And Astronaut-Physician Dave Williams, Chair Of Western Space Advisory Council; Osinski And Ed Cloutis From University Of Winnipeg Will Participate In Future CanMoon Lunar Sample Return Analog Missions On Canary Islands With Mission Operations Manager Cassandra Marion; International Industry Days At CSA-ASC Headquarters In Quebec 17-18 Oct Will Include Representatives Of Brazil And Germany Space Industries

Credits: Western University, McGill University

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 2-5 August 2019

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China Advancing International Collaboration With Chang’e-6 While Longjiang-2 Fulfills Its Mission

47-kg Micro Lunar Orbiter Longjiang-2 Makes Controlled Impact On Lunar Surface After 437 Days In Orbit Around Moon, Launched 20 May 2018 With Queqiao Communications Relay Satellite As Part Of Chang’e-4 Far Side Exploration; International Support From Japan, Germany And The Netherlands On Development; Payload Included Saudi Made Optical Camera; CNSA Offers 20 Kg Payload Space To Domestic and International Partners On Planned Chang’e-6 Sample Return Mission – Deadline To Apply Is 31 Aug 2019

Credits: CNSA / CLEP, NASA Scientific Visualization Studio

Friday / 2 Nov 2018

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Moon Rocks Valued At >US$700K Highlights Significance, Worth Of Lunar Resources

Sotheby’s Auction Of 3 Lunar Pebbles Brought Back From Soviet Luna 16 Mission In 1970 Opening 25 November, Expected To Be Sold For $700K – $1M; Approximately 382 kg Collected From Apollo And 326 grams From Luna Missions Are Considered Priceless For Their Rarity, Contributions To Scientific Discoveries, Research Value And General Commercial Appeal; More Than 35 Lunar Simulants Created / Being Studied By International Space Agencies, Universities and Enterprises; Next Lunar Sample Return Mission Chang’e-5 Launching NET 2019 Could Return 2 kg

Credits: Sotheby’s, NAOC, Ilhan Chang, Bembmv

Tuesday / 28 Aug 2018

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First Woman On Moon Aspirant Works With Lunar Dust Simulant, Advocates For Sample Returns

ESA “Spaceship EAC” Initiative Focuses On Creating Bricks From Moon Dust Simulants, Dubbed EAC-1, Made Of Similar Basaltic Silicates To Allow Astronauts To Build Permanent Habitats On Lunar Surface Through ISRU; Unlike EAC-1, Lunar Dust Has Electrical Charge Due To Constant Radiation, Therefore Lunar Dust Topical Team Member Erin Tranfield, Who Dreams Of Becoming First Woman On Moon, Mentions Value Of Obtaining Pristine Lunar Dust To Further Science

Credits: ESA, NASA, Foster & Partners, SPC, ILOA

Wednesday / 25 July 2018

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Moon May Have Had Habitability Windows For Previous Life

New Astrobiology Article Identifies Two Possible Windows For Habitability Of Life On Moon: Immediately Following Accretion Of Moon, And 100s Of Millions Of Years Later Following Outgassing From Volcanism; Authors (L) At Washington State University & Ian Crawford (R) At University Of London Call For Obtaining Lunar Samples Of Deposits From Time Of Peak Volcanism ~3.5 Billion Years Ago To Determine Evidence Of Hydrated Conditions & Biomarkers

Credits: WSU, BBK, NASA, SSERVI, GSFC, Arizona State University

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 29 June – 2 July 2018

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Chandrayaan-2 Lunar South Pole Mission To Target Water, Possibly He-3

GSLV Mk II Launch NET Oct / Nov Of 3,290-kg Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter, Lander, 6-Wheel Rover, Will Research Topography, Mineralogy, Exosphere, Prospects For Ice-Water Utilization, Consider Future Helium-3 Extraction; Rover To Operate In Semi-Autonomous Mode For 2 Weeks; ISRO Chairman K. Sivan States India Plans To Be A Leader In Space Resource Utilization, Aims To Put India Crew On Moon

Credits: ISRO, NASA

Friday / 9 Mar 2018

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Mapping Moon South Pole Aitken-Basin Mineralogy For Future Landing Sites

Oldest, Largest, Well-Preserved South Pole-Aitken Basin, Nearly 1/4 Of Moon Diameter At 2,500 km, Is Area Of Most Recent Study Led By Brown University Prof. Carle Pieters & Daniel Moriarty Of GSFC; Using Data From USA Imaging Spectrometer ‘Moon Mineralogy Mapper’ Aboard ISRO Chandrayaan-1, Compositions Of Deposits From Volcanic Activity And Exposed Mantle Material Detected; Chemical / Mineral Analysis, Age Calculations And Especially Sample Return Missions Can Help Determine History Of Early Evolution Of Moon & Solar System, Be Compared To Previous Apollo / Other Sample Returns, Define Vital Zones For Exploration

Credits: NASA, ISRO, Brown University, Goddard Space Flight Center