Category Archives: Moon Express

Thursday / 3 September 2015

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GLXP Challenge To Get To Moon More Difficult Than Expected

9032015Lunar Lion Withdraws From Competition; Multiple GLXP Teams Successful With Rover Mobility & Visual Testing Yet Securing Launch Contracts (LC) Proving Difficult; Lack Of Updates / LC / Departure Of Tim Pickens & Andy Aldrin From Moon Express Signal Possible Withdrawal; Astrobotic & HAKUTO Collaborating In Rideshare Partnership Via SpaceX Falcon 9 For Late 2016; One Team Must Secure LC Within ~4 Months To Extend GLXP

Credit: GLXP, Astrobotic Technology, HAKUTO

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 17-20 July 2015

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SpaceDay 2015

7172015Apollo@50 Considerations, Preparation Energized By New Horizons / Pluto Galaxy Enterprise; Apollo 11 / Armstrong / Aldrin Touchdown Stands As Signature Event Of 20th Century & Points To American / Global Potential For 21st Century Solar System Challenges & Competence; New Horizons New Solar System 3-Zone Confirmation; NASA (JPL) Transformers For Lunar Extreme Environment At Moon South Pole Shackleton Crater; India SpaceWeek Observances At Regional Science Centre-Tirupati To Generate Space Interest & Awareness With Science Director A. Jayaraman (BR)

Credit: NASA, NARL

Tuesday / 16 June 2015

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Propulsion Expert Tim Pickens Expects

GLXP Launches 2017, 2018

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Tim Pickens Of Huntsville, Alabama, Chief Propulsion Engineer For Moon Express States That ME Is Operating In Cape Canaveral To Centralize Its Developments; While Pickens Mentions No Google Lunar X Prize Team Will Launch This Year, 2017 Or 2018 Is Expected; Pickens Currently Working On Propulsion System For Virgin Galactic SpaceShip Two; When Asked To Support Other Projects, Pickens Criteria Is That Involvement Has To Be Fun

Credit:  Moon Express, Tim Pickens, GLXP, NASA

Thursday / 21 May 2015

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ISDC 2015 Focusing On Breakthrough Technologies For Lunar / Space Exploration

ISDC2015

Over 1,000 Attendees Meeting At NSS International Space Development Conference In Toronto, Canada 20-24 May; Robert Richards Of Moon Express To Speak Today On ‘Breakthrough Technologies Shaping Our Future’; Friday To Feature Presentations On The International Lunar Decade By Dave Dunlop & Vid Beldavs, Plus A Keynote Presentation By Apollo 11 Moonwalker Buzz Aldrin; Lunar Workshop To Include Presentations On Lunar Surface Solar Power / Power Beaming, Supporting A Cislunar Econosphere, Mapping Lunar Lava Tubes

Image Credit: National Space Society, Canadian Space Commerce Association, Moon Express, LinkedIn

Tuesday / 19 May 2015

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Moon Express To Deploy Lunar Laser Ranging Array On Moon

MEDCurrie

4-Mission Agreement Signed With National Laboratories Of Frascati (Italy) & University Of Maryland To Deliver Series Of Laser Range Finding Arrays On Moon Surface; Total Cost Of Agreement Is US$24M, Half Of Which Will Be Paid By Moon Express; Payload Will Continue Successful Experiment Deployed By Apollo 11, 14 & 15 Astronauts, Allowing Scientists Such As Doug Currie (L) Of UMD To Test General Relativity & Advance Understanding Of Gravity

Pictured (R): Bob Richards, Co-Founder Of Moon Express

Image Credit: Moon Express, NASA

Friday / 8 May 2015

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Moon Express Advances Moon Mission At Kennedy Space Center

Moon Express 2015

Moon Express Testing Lunar Lander Test Vehicle MTV-1X At Shuttle Landing Facility / Company’s New Home At KSC In Florida; Bob Richards States KSC Has Communications, Safety & Hazard-Field Infrastructure, Talent / People, Room To Expand For Moon Mission Development; Company Seeks To Win Google Lunar XPrize, Build New Propulsion System, New Vehicles, Series Of Private Robots To Bring Resources Of Moon To Earth & Solve Current Earth-Moon Transportation Challenges

Image Credit: NASA/Lunar CATALYST Initiative, Ben Smegelsky, Moon Express Inc.

Friday / 10 April 2015

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Google Lunar XPrize Developments GLXP

GLXP Team Omega Envoy Reveals New Look For Rover “Sagan” With 3D-Printed Parts & Prepares For Testing; Lunar Lion Working To 3D Print Thruster Model For Prototype; Moon Express Developing KSC Space Launch Complex 36 For MTV-1X Lander Testing; Hakuto & Astrobotic Plan For Rideshare To Moon Late 2016 Aboard SpaceX Falcon 9; Remaining 18 Teams Work To Achieve Moon Landing Before Dec 31, 2016; Discovery Channel & Science Chanel To Air ‘Lunar XPrize’ Documentary Miniseries In 2015-16

Image Credit: GLXP, Astrobotic, Google, SpaceFlorida, Omega Envoy, Penn State Lunar Lion

Wednesday / 8 April 2015

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Lunar Workshop Highlights Opportunities Of Upcoming Surface Missions

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5th International Workshop On Lunar Surface Applications 14-17 April In Cocoa Beach Florida Will Provide Overview Of Lunar Surface Missions That Are In Development & Opportunities They Present For Scientists & Space Entrepreneurs; Representatives From NASA Lunar Catalyst Program Participants Moon Express, Astrobotic, Masten Will Present; Workshop Will Also Feature In Depth Look At Engineering & Science Of Lunar Polar ISRU & NASA Lunar Resource Prospector Mission

Image Credit: Flexure Engineering, NASA, Moon Express, Masten

Thursday / 12 February 2015

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April Workshop To Highlight Near-Term Lunar Surface Mission Opportunities

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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

Wednesday / 4 February 2015

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US Government Takes Step To Support Commercial Development Of Moon

FAABigelow0215

Federal Aviation Administration Supports Request From Bigelow Aerospace To Recognize Private Sector’s Need To Protect Assets & Personnel On Moon, Expanding Scope From Launch Licensing To Lunar Activities Of US Companies; More Legal & Diplomatic Work Still Needed As Issues Regarding Lunar Property & Mineral Rights Pending; Bigelow To Test Inflatable Habitat At ISS This Year, Moon Habitats Around 2025; Moon Express Intends To Return Moon Rocks / Regolith In 3rd Mission

Pictured: TR- FAA Associate Administrator George Nield, BL- Robert Bigelow

Image Credit: Bigelow Aerospace, faa.gov