Wednesday / 7 Feb 2018

JAXA To Hold Workshops On Lunar Polar Exploration & Global Exploration Roadmap

JAXA Announces 2nd Workshop On Exploration Of Moon Polar Region To Be Held Feb 19 To Deepen Discussion Toward International Collaboration On Instruments & Vehicles For Exploring Water Ice, In Conjunction With Workshop On International Space Exploration Coordination Group Global Exploration Roadmap Feb 18; Drawing On Results From 2-Day Workshop Dec 8-9, 2017; Both In Tokyo & Open To Public – Soliciting Participation From Private Sectors & Universities; Marks Rapid Growth Of Japan Interest In Moon, Including Human Exploration

Pictured: JAXA lunar scientist Makiko Ohtake (top left), JAXA workshop convener Hiroki Furihata; Credits: JAXA, Makoto Nakamura, SPC

Friday / 26 Jan 2018

New Views Of The Moon 2 – Asia To Contribute To Synthesized International Database On Lunar Research

Multinational Lunar Experts Will Share Cutting Edge Data And Research At 2018 New Views Of The Moon 2 Being Held At University of Aizu, Japan 18-20 April; Following Successful Meetings In Europe (Germany) And USA (Houston TX) The 2008-2018 NVM2 Initiative Consists Of Topical Workshops, Special Meeting Sessions And Web-based Resource Collections, Leading To A Published Book; Featured Speakers Include (L-R) Clive Neal, Makiko Ohtake, Chip Shearer, Lisa Gaddis, Sam Lawrence, Steve Mackwell, Naru Hirata

Credits: NVM2, LPI, University of Mexico, University of Aizu, JSC / NASA

Friday / 12 Jan 2018

Lunar Science For Landed Missions NASA Ames Workshop To Evaluate Target Sites Today

3rd & Final Day Of Workshop At NASA Ames Organized By NASA Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI) & Lunar Exploration Analysis Group (LEAG); 1st Presentation Today By Jack Burns On Lunar Farside Science Including Radio Observations Of Redshifted 21-cm Hydrogen Line For Cosmology; Final Panel Discussion With Jim Green, Sarah Noble, Ben Bussey, Clive Neal, Greg Schmidt; Ends With Discussion On Top Recommended Sites — Within Context Of Newly Reactivated USA Moon Goals; Remote Participation Possible Through Live Coverage

Pictured: NASA Planetary Science Division Director Jim Green, Professor Jack Burns; Credits: NASA, University of Colorado

Thursday / 14 Dec 2017

Chang’e-3 Begins 5th Year On Moon Continuing LUT Astronomy While Chang’e-4 Prepares For 2018 Launches With VLF Antennas

Dec 14 Marks Full 4 Years Of Operating On Lunar Surface For Chang’e-3, Currently In 50th Lunar Night; China Plans To Launch Chang’e-4 Lander & Rover In Dec 2018 To Accomplish 1st Ever Lunar Far Side Mission, Likely In South-Pole Aitken Basin; Relay Satellite To Earth-Moon L2 To Be Launched First In June; Both Lander & Satellite To Carry 3 Orthogonal Low-Frequency Radio Spectrometer Antennas For Astronomical Measurements Below 30 MHz; Chang’e-5 Sample Return Mission Now Manifested For NET 2018

Credits: SASTIND, Wen Wei Po, CNSA

Thanksgiving Weekend Edition
Thu-Mon / 23-27 Nov 2017

Lunar Interests / Plans Accelerate Globally

Moon Village Association / ESA Records Progress At ISU In Strasbourg, France; US National Space Council Working Scenarios For 3-7 Year Human Moon Return; India Early 2018 Chandrayaan-2 Moon South Pole Touchdown Could Startle Global Space Communities; China Expanding Astronomy From The Moon Activities With Chang’e-4 VLF Payloads And Technology; India-Japan Announce Lunar Sample Return Collaboration; Canada Space Agency LEAD Project To Support International HERACLES Moon South Pole Mission Concept; Prospective Candidates For ‘First Woman On The Moon’ Rising

 Credits: ESA/ Foster + Partners, WH.gov, ISRO, CAST, JAXA, SPC / ILOA, CSA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 10-13 Nov 2017

Human Moon Missions Could Advance World Peace And Cosmopolitan Culture

Hawai`i Galaxy Forum 2017 – Kamuela 8 November Featuring Hawaii Mayor Harry Kim Speaking On Mauna Kea As A Living Monument For World Peace From A Truly Cosmopolitan And Aloha People, Joins Cultural Practitioner Kimo Pihana, International Lunar Observatory Association, A Panel Of Astronomical / Astronautical Experts From Canada, Japan, China, Europe And South East Asia, As Well As A Subaru Astronomer Focusing On Exoplanets – To Explore The Quest For Knowledge, Enhance Collaboration And Mutual Respect Needed To Face Challenges To Reach The Stars, And Highlight The Moon As A New Frontier To Fulfill Pledge “In Peace For All”

Credits: ILOA, CFHT, G. Mitchell

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 3-6 Nov 2017

American Lunar Updates: CATALYST, Next NASA Admin, HERA, Moon Express New Hire

Lunar Cargo Transportation And Landing by Soft Touchdown (CATALYST) Program To Spur Moon Commercial Cargo Transportation & Enable New Science / Exploration Being Extended 2 Years For Astrobotic, Masten Space Systems, Moon Express – Jason Crusan Of NASA States ‘Its Optimistic These Companies Could Deliver Payloads In 2018’; Nominee For Next NASA Admin Jim Bridenstine Testifies In Front Of Senate Committee, Awaiting Confirmation; JSC In Houston 4-Person 45-Day Spaceflight / Moon / Mars Mission Analog Campaign 4: Mission 3 Of Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA) Ongoing Until Dec 4; Dr. Alain Berinstain Of Canada Joins Moon Express As VP Of Global Development

Credits: NASA, Moon Express, A. Berinstain, Astrobotic

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 27-30 Oct 2017

India Chandrayaan-2 Pioneering
Moon South Pole

ISRO Confirms Q1 2018 Plan To Deploy Orbiter, Attempt Lunar South Pole Touchdown With Lander And Rover; Chandrayaan-2 Project Director Mylswamy Annadurai States Specific Landing Site Is Not Yet Determined, Total Mission Cost US$93M, Lift-off Mass 3,250 kg; First Mission Ever To New Frontier Moon South Pole And India 2nd Mission To Moon Could Prove To Be Game Changer For Lunar Base Build Out, Resource Prospecting, Science, Energy / Technology Advancements; Payloads On-board Lander Include Thermal Sensors For Temperature, And RAMBHA To Measure Near-Surface Plasma & Its Changes

Credits: ISRO, NASA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 22-25 Sep 2017

LDSE 2017 Promoting Lunar And Deep Space Science, Technology, Planning, International Collaboration

The 3rd Beijing Lunar & Deep Space Exploration Conference With Chair Prof Ouyang Ziyuan Focusing On Major International Lunar Missions Including Chang’e Program Successes, China Upcoming Lunar Sample Return & Far Side Plans, India Chandrayaan-2, USA Orion / SLS, Deep Space Gateway, ESA Moon Village, JAXA SLIM, Commercial Moon Ventures, Human Moon Missions In 2020s; ESA-CNSA And Russia-CNSA Potential Agreements For Future Lunar Cooperation; Representatives Also Discussing Mars, Jupiter, Asteroids Exploration Before 2030

Credits: ILOA, CAS, CNSA, NASA, ESA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 15-18 Sep 2017

New Moon Water Distribution Map Points To Lunar Poles As Vital Areas Of Exploration

Brown University Researchers Including Shuai Li (T) And Ralph Milliken Moon Water Study Shows Concentration In Lunar Soil Within Upper Millimeter Of Soil Reaches Average Max Of ~500 To 750 Parts Per Million In Polar Regions, Largely Uniform With Gradual Decrease Toward Equator; Permanently Shadowed Craters & Deeper Soil Not Analyzed; Concentration Fluctuates Over Day – Indicating Water Formation Is Active And “Raises The Possibility That Water May Re-accumulate After Extraction”; Water Is Important For Habitation (Drinking Water, Oxygen) And Transportation (Fuel); Further Analysis Needed Through Detailed Science Missions Preferably With Humans Landing On Moon

Credits: Brown University, LRO, LCROSS, ISRO MMM, GSFC, NASA