Category Archives: Lunar Science

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 13-16 March 2015

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Lunar Exploration Scientists Gather At LPSC 2015

LPSCDaily2015

46th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference Held On 16-20 March At The Woodlands, Texas; Event Begins With Session On Results From Recent Lunar Missions LADEE, GRAIL & Chang’e-3; Highlighted Concurrent Events Include LRO Data Users Workshop On 15 Mar, NextGen Lunar Scientists And Engineers Workshop, Lunar Cubes Mission Opportunities Workshop, Lunar Exploration Analysis Group (LEAG) Town Hall; Pictured: Conference Co-Chairs Steve Mackwell Of LPI, Eileen Stansbery Of NASA JSC

Image Credit: NASA, LPI, CNSA

Thursday / 12 March 2015

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Lunar Crust Is Focus Of Microsymposium 56 In Texas

Microsym56

Experts In Moon Exploration Such As (R-L) James Head, Carle Pieters, Maria Zuber & David Scott Will Gather In The Woodlands, Texas On 14-15 March For Brown University / Vernadsky Institute Microsymposium 56 The Crust Of The Moon: Insights Into Early Planetary Processes; Data & Discoveries From Recent Missions Chang’e-1 & 2, Chandrayaan-1, Kaguya, LRO & GRAIL Will Be Evaluated Identifying How They Improved Understanding Of Composition, Diversity, Layering, Thickness Of Lunar Crust; Key Outstanding Scientific Questions And Proposals To Address Those Questions Will Also Be Explored

Image Credit: brown.edu, mit.edu, ju.edu, NASA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 6-9 March 2015

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China Chang’e-3, -4, -5 Aligning To Realize Full Potential Of Moon Program

Chang'e-3 - 5

Chang’e-4 Lander & Rover With Reconfigured Instruments To Follow Successful Chang’e-1, -2, -3 & 5-T1 Missions (2007-Present), Perhaps To Unexplored Destination Such As Moon South Pole; Chang’e-5 Sample Return Mission On Track For 2017 Launch From Developing Hainan Spaceport On Long March 5 Rocket According To Chang’e Chief Cmdr / Designer Ye Peijian; Chang’e-5-T1 In Moon Orbit Testing Technologies For Chang’e-5; Chang’e-3 At 44.12°N 19.51°W May Study Lunar Terminator / Dust Dynamics, Make Other Observations During Lunar Eclipse 4 Apr & 28 Sep

Image Credit: CNSA, NASA, CCTV, Chinese Academy of Sciences, D. Davis, Chinanews.com, K. Kremer, M. Di Lorenzo, Xinhuanet.com

Wednesday / 25 February 2015

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Lunar Science Talk Demonstrates
Value Of Moon Exploration

UAscience

Principal Investigator Of GRAIL Mission, Maria Zuber, Will Give Presentation On Recent Discoveries Concerning The Interior Of The Moon, Thurs 26 Feb At University Of Arizona; Host Of International Lunar Orbiters / Landers Continuing To Advance Understanding Of The History & Potential Future Significance Of Earth’s Closest Neighbor; Currently NASA Has 3 Spacecraft Orbiting Moon (LRO, ARTEMIS), China Currently Has An Orbiter (Chang’e-5 T1), Lander & Rover (Chang’e-3 / Yutu) At Moon

Image Credit: NASA, CNSA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 13-16 February 2015

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LRO Team Meets In Arizona As Orbiter Continues Providing Valuable Data

LRO0215update$

22nd LRO Project Science Working Group At Arizona State University This Week To Outline Research Priorities & Opportunities; NASA GSFC Recently Granted 2-Year Contract Extension To ASU For Management Of LRO / LROC Science & Flight Operations, Data Processing & Analysis; New Contract Goes Until 15 Mar 2017; No Operational Funds Were Requested For 2016 LRO Operations By Obama Administration; LRO Costs ~US$12.4M / Year; Strong Senior Review Rating, Support In Congress Indicate LRO Will Continue To Provide Valuable Data In Coming Years

Image Credit: NASA, ASU

Thursday / 12 February 2015

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April Workshop To Highlight Near-Term Lunar Surface Mission Opportunities

LSA5_0215

Abstract Deadlines Due Friday 13 February For 5th International Workshop On Lunar Surface Applications; Event – Scheduled For 14-17 April 2015 In Cocoa Beach FL – Will Provide Overview Of Moon Mission Development & Plans Of The 3 Commercial Enterprises Supported By NASA Lunar Catalyst Lander Program, & Opportunities For Science & Commercial Activities On Moon; To Include Additional Presentations About Lunar Polar ISRU & Upcoming NASA Resource Prospector Mission

Image Credit: lunarworkshops.com, NASA, Moon Express

Tuesday / 10 February 2015

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Lunar Sample Research Requests Due This Week

CuratorLunarSample

110,000 Individually Cataloged Samples Totaling 382 Kg Of Lunar Material Returned By Apollo Lunar Surface Exploration Are Currently Preserved At NASA Johnson Space Center; Curation & Analysis Planning Team For Extraterrestrial Materials (CAPTUM) Is Accepting Research Proposals / Lunar Sample Requests For Spring 2015 CAPTEM Meeting Until Friday, 13 Feb Deadline; Samples Can Be Used For Planetary Science Studies Or Engineering & Resource Utilization Studies

Image Credit: NASA

 

Friday / 6 February 2015

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LRO Finds Most Lunar Hydrogen On Slopes Facing Moon South Pole

LRO Hydrogen

Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Finds 23 Parts-Per-Million-By-Weight More Hydrogen On Crater Slopes In Southern Hemisphere (Starting Between 50-60° S Latitude) That Face Lunar South Pole Than On Equator-Facing Slopes Possibly Due To Lack Of Sunlight / Evaporation; LRO In 30 X 180-Km Altitude Orbit Passing Over Lunar South Pole With 21st Data Set Release Upcoming, Not Yet Funded For 2016 According To NASA Budget; Team Including Timothy McClanahan Of GSFC To Determine If N Hemisphere Has Same Pattern, & Effects Of Lunar Day / Night Cycle

Image Credit: NASA, Institute for Space Research, GSFC

Thursday / 15 January 2015

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Science Lectures: Lunar Swirls For Space Exploration, Origin Of Moon

SwirlyTheia

Ruth Bamford At BIS London 21 Jan To Explain How Mini Magnetospheres (Lunar Swirls) On Moon May Provide Key For Interplanetary Travel / Radiation Protection; Using Technology Based On This Phenomenon, Radiation Protecting Hardware Mass Could Be Kept Below 3000kg Requiring Only 10-20kW Of Power, Well Within Practical Expectations; Sarah Stewart Of UC Davis To Give SETI Lecture On 27 Jan Detailing Models Of The Giant Impact Believed To Have Created The Moon, A Follow-Up From Recent Billy Quarles SETI Lecture On “Theia’s Date With Destiny“

Image Credit: Fahad Sulheria, RAL Space, UC Davis, NASA

 

Friday / 9 January 2015

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Cube Quest Challenge Summit For
Missions Near & Beyond Moon

Cube Quest Challenge Summit 2015

2-Day Summit At Moffett Field CA Held 7 & 8 Jan Introducing US$5M NASA Program For Teams To Design, Build & Deliver Flight-Qualified, SmallSats Capable Of Advanced Operations Near & Beyond Moon; Winner(s) Qualify For Mission To Launch On Maiden Flight Of SLS ~Nov 2018; (L-R) Ames Research Center Director Pete Worden, Cube Quest Challenge Administrator James Cockrell, Planetary Protection Officer Cassie Conley & Others Discuss Mission & Engineering Details, Secondary Payloads, How Cube Quest Relates To Human Exploration

Image Credit: NASA, Ames Research Center