Image Credit: NASA, Planetary Resources Inc, Astrobotic Technology Inc
New Wave Of Interest In Lunar / Asteroid Mining Peaking With Announcement Of Billionaire-Backed Planetary Resources Inc., Developing Plans Of Moon Express & Astrobotic Technology; Craig Covault Notes Importance Of LRO High Resolution Mapping Capabilities To Prepare For Future Human-Tended Robotic Surface Mining Operations; LRO Orbiting At Altitude Of 24-29km
Image Credit: Astrobotic Technology Inc
New Polaris Lunar Rover Will Prospect For Water Ice, Methane & Other Resources At Moon North Pole; Solar Powered Astrobotic Robot Will Launch Aboard Falcon 9 Rocket NET 2015, Spend 12 Days Exploring, Carry 80kg Of Payload Including Drill, Instruments To Analyze Samples, Neutron Spectrometer & Infrared Spectrometer To Search For Signs Of Ice; Design Adapted From Lunar Excavation Machine Astrobotic Prototyping Under 2010 NASA Contract
Image Credit: Astrobotic Technology Inc
Astrobotic Receives Additional Task In US$10M Innovative Lunar Demonstrations Data (ILDD) Contract With NASA; Company Will Present NASA With Summary Of Progress Designing New Model Rover For Lunar Polar Prospecting; $100K Task Order Brings Astrobotic ILDD Contract Funding Total To $610K; Astrobotic Planning Prospecting Mission To Moon South Pole In May 2015
Image Credit: NORCAT, Neptec, CSA
Mining Expertise Could Be “Toe In The Door” To Lunar Exploration For Canada; 9 Of Top 40 Global Mining Companies Are Canada-Based; CSA Already Developing / Testing Prototype Lunar Excavation Rovers, More Tests This Summer In Hawaii; Ottawa-Based Neptec Working With NASA, CSA, NORCAT On Lunar Water Ice Drilling Project Called RESOLVE
Image Credit: PRL, NASA, docstoc.com
India Physical Research Laboratory Scientists In Ahmedabad Propose Wireless Sensor Network For In Situ Probing Of Water Ice On Lunar Surface; Large Number Of Tiny Battery-Operated Devices Scattered On Surface With Self-Organizing Capability; Concept May Have Advantage Over Rovers For Exploration Of Permanently Shadowed Regions; Chandrayaan-2 Launch Could Be Delayed To 2016
Image Credit: SRR, PTMSS, NORCAT, CSM
Lunar-Related Issues Prominent At 3rd Joint Meeting Of Space Resources Roundtable And The Planetary & Terrestrial Mining Sciences Symposium, 4-7 June 2012 At Colorado School Of Mines; Abstract Submission Deadline 30 April; Promotes Interaction Between Space & Mining Sectors In USA & Canada; Pictured: Steering Committee Chairs: Angel Abbud-Madrid (C) & Dale Boucher (R)
Image Credit: usgs.gov, wikipedia, Daily Galaxy
Mining The Moon For Rare Earth Minerals & Helium-3 Gaining Mainstream Attention With Recent Coverage From Washington Post; Article Notes Prevalence Of H3, Potential Areas With Concentrated Mineral Deposits; Space Mining Expert John Chapman Discusses Technology Opportunities For Lunar Mining During AIAA SF Lecture
Image Credit: AIAA, ILOA, The Rich Times
Mining On The Moon & Mars; John Chapman To Describe How To Apply Proven Mining Methods For Successful Mineral Exploration, Mineral Deposit Development & Mine Process Operations On Moon & Mars; Wed 8 Feb, 18:30-20:00 At NASA Research Park, Moffett Field CA; Sponsored By AIAA San Francisco Section