Lori Garver, NASA Deputy Administrator, Confirms Ambitious USA Plans To Return To Moon During Speech At AIAA Conference In Pasadena, CA; Uncrewed Mission Scheduled For 2017, Human Orbital Mission By 2021; NASA Report To US Congress Outlines Plan For “Nearly Self-Sustaining Surface Habitat” On Moon For Long-Duration Astronaut Missions, Capable Of Extracting Oxygen, Water, Silicon, Etc In Situ
Image Credit: NASA, Stephan Wlodarczyk
In Part 2 Of IPinSpace Extraterrestrial Property Rights Commentary, Andrew Rush proposes USA Institutes A Unilateral System Of Recognition & Enforcement Of Private Land Claims & Tangible Goods Derived From Space-Based Activities; Author Argues That USA Financial Dominance Will Ensure Stellar Enterprises Need To Conduct Business In USA / Abide By USA Regulations To Make Return On Their Investment
Image Credit: Astrobotic Tech, IPinSpace
Peter Kokh In Moon Miners’ Manifesto Considers Shortfalls Of Antarctic Treaty As Model For Settlement / Development On Moon; Article 7 Completely Bans Non-Scientific Mineral Resources Activity; Better To Allow ISRU, Require Strict Environment Protections, Spur Development Of New Clean Technologies and Techniques; Translate To Responsible Approach For Moon, Mars; Treaty Up For Review In 2019
Image Credit: Antarctic Treaty, NASA
US$250M Mission With U-Shaped Canada Rover, Canada Excavation Tools, US Science Instruments Destined For Moon South Pole; KSC In Situ Utilization Project Manager William Larson Says RESOLVE (Regolith & Environment Science & Oxygen & Lunar Volatile Extraction) Is “Next Logical Step For Lunar Exploration”; Prototype To Be Tested On Mauna Kea HI In July
Image Credit: NASA
3rd Generation Design Of RESOLVE Experiment Set For Mission Simulation Field Test In July 2012 On Slopes Of Mauna Kea, Hawai`i; Next Step In Understanding Available Resources At Lunar Poles; NASA / CSA RESOLVE Payload On Lunar Rover Will Perform 3-5 Sample Collections At Depth Of 1m, Over Area Of Several Square Km During 5-7 Day Mission To Map Horizontal Distribution Of Hydrogen Bearing Volatiles
Image Credit: NASA, JAXA
In-Situ Resource Utilization On Moon / Mars / Asteroids, Space Multi-World Property Rights Topics Of Discussion At SRR 13 – PTMSS, Colorado School Of Mines, 4-7 Jun; Speakers Include Chris Lewicki (B) Of Planetary Resources, Alan Stern (T) Of Moon Express; Dust, Atmosphere & Plasma: Moon & Small Bodies Workshop Begins Today In Boulder CO; Scientists To Discuss Surface Environment Of Moon, Expectations For Future Missions
Image Credit: Astrobotic, SRR, Google+, nature.com
Columbia Astrophysicist Arlin Crotts (Inset) Says Russia Secured Evidence Of Water In 1976, Ignored By West; Luna 24 Mission Drilled 2m Into Moon Surface, Returned 300g Of Rock, Found It To Be 0.1% Water; Paul Spudis Says Water Level Seems High For Mid-Latitudes, Analysis Of Samples Needs to Be Confirmed / Cross-Checked; Discovery Further Support Of In-Situ Water Manufacturing On Moon For Future Exploration
Image Credit: NASA, Columbia University
Moon Society Organizing CisLunar Econosphere Session On Sunday 27 May During International Space Development Conference In Washington DC; Industry, Academia & Independent Experts Will Address Key Infrastructure Elements / Capabilities Needed To Expand Economic Activity In CisLunar Space; Moon Mining From L1, Polar Ice For Fuel, GRAIL Mission Report, Communications, & More
Image Credit: Moon Society, ISDC2012
University Of New South Wales Professor Leonhard Bernold Outlines How Earth Mining Systems Will Not Be Adequate On Moon Due To Dust, Lower Gravitational Acceleration (1.6m/s² vs 9.8m/s²), Minimal Atmosphere / Water, Etc; Proposes Using Suction Extraction With Pneumatic Transportation For Lunar Mining; System Uses Airflow To Transport Material By Venturi Process Through Glass Pipes Manufactured Through ISRU & Joined In-Situ
Image Credit: nextbigfuture.com, amazon.com, nova.org
66 Undergraduate & Graduate School Teams From Around The World Will Compete In 3rd Annual NASA Lunabotics Competition 21-27 May At Kennedy Space Center; Teams WIll Have 10 Minutes To Maneuver Through Obstacle Course Of Lunar Regolith Simulant, Collect As Much Regolith As Possible; NASA Awarding Bonus Points For Autonomous Robots; Lunar Mining / ISRU Critical For Development Of Lunar Outpost
Image Credit: NASA, tuscaloosanews.com