Category Archives: Moonbase

Thursday / 22 October 2015

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Russia-Europe To Collaborate On Human Lunar Settlement At Late 2016 Meetings

10222015Moscow Space Research Institute Prof Igor Mitrofanov (TL) Asserts “We Have To Go To The Moon” Due To Commercial, Astronomical Observation & Utilization Of Lunar Resource Benefits; Meeting Of Ministers To Decide Europe Participation Late 2016; Russia Vostochny Cosmodrome For Lunar, Planetary, Human Missions Described As “Biggest & Most Ambitious Projects” By Pres Putin (TR); ESA Lunar Exploration Head, Bérengère Houdou (BL) States “Ambition To Have European Astronauts On The Moon” & Lead Scientist Dr. James Carpenter (BR) Notes Moon South Pole Unique Characteristics Includes Possible Water Ice For “Use As Rocket Fuel; Luna-25 Luna-Glob Lander Expected 2018 & Luna-Resurs 1 Lander Expected 2020

Credit: ESA, EPA/ Alexei Nikolsky, University of Bristol, IKI

Wednesday / 29 April 2015

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Bigelow Developing Expandable Technology With Eye Towards Lunar Operations

BigelowCarswell

Expandable Habitats Pioneered By Bigelow Aerospace Could Facilitate Lunar Settlement More Quickly & Affordably Than Generally Believed; Bigelow Set To Launch BEAM Module – With 16 Cubic Meter Volume – To ISS Sep 2015; Larger BA 330 Modules To Follow Before Company Begins Enabling Individuals, Companies & Countries To Extend Human Activity To Moon Utilizing Its Habitat Systems; Basic Lunar Habitat Could Consist Of 3 BA 330s, 4 Propulsion Buses & 4 Docking Nodes

Image Credit: Bigelow Aerospace, Space Age Publishing Company

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 17-20 April 2015

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ESA, China Consider Human Missions
To Moon Far Side

FarSideESAchina

Incoming ESA Director General Johann-Dietrich Wörner Wants To See Establishment Of Base On Far Side Of Moon To Enable Radio Astronomy; Current DLR Chairman Wörner Will Assume ESA Leadership On 1 Jul; China Lunar Exploration Program Chief Design Consultant Ye Peijian Says He Is Confident Country Will Accomplish Human Lunar Landings, Envisions Human Expedition To Far Side Of Moon 

Image Credit: ESA, china.org.cn, NASA

Thursday / 26 March 2015

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New Russia Cosmodrome Key For Lunar Plans

Vostochny0315

With Over US$5B Investment, Russia Leaders Making Every Effort To Complete New Vostochny Spaceport & Begin Initial Steps Of New Moon Program; 885-Square Km Facility Will Have 7 Launch Pads & 25,000-Person ‘Satellite City’ For Rocket Scientists; Delays & Corruption Threatening Timeline For 1st Soyuz Launch, Projected Dec 2015; Site Will Be Critical For Russia Goal Of Creating Permanent Base On Moon By 2035, Likely At North Pole; Russia Leaders Foresee International Competition For The Limited Amount Of Locations Ideal For Moon Base Development

Pictured: (R) Russia President Vladimir Putin, (L) Deputy Premier Dmitry Rogozin

Image Credit: Siberian Times

Friday / 20 March 2015

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46th LPSC Revealing Further Data On Moon Evolution, Structure, Habitability

46th LPSC

Final Day Of 46th LPSC At The Woodlands TX Focuses On “Early Lunar Evolution: Accretion To Crustal Formation & More”, “Later Lunar Evolution: How Old Is Old?”, “Impact Craters On Mars & The Moon”;  New Map Of Moon, Produced By Jack Wilson & Team At Durham University, Charts Thorium Spread 70,000km2 From Volcanic Eruption 3.5B Years Ago; Study By David Blair & Colleagues At Purdue University Concludes Moon Lava Tubes Of 1km+ Would Be Structurally Sound For Permanent Bases, Tunnels Are Expected To Be Larger On Moon Than On Earth Due To Lower Gravity

Image Credit: LPSC, LPI, NASA, Durham University, GSFC, ASU, LRO

Wednesday / 18 February 2015

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McMurdo On Moon Conference:
Analog For Moon Settlement

McMurdoMoon0215

Space Horizons 2015: McMurdo On The Moon Conference On 18-19 February At Brown University, Providence RI; Experts In Planetary Science & Antarctica Research Come Together To Examine How Antarctica Facilities Can Be Utilized As A Fully Operational Model For Sustainable Human Exploration Of Moon & Mars; Speakers Include (L-R) Pete Worden Of NASA Ames, Marco Lisi Of ESA, David Marchant Of Boston University & James Head Of Brown University; Event Will Feature 3D CAVE Tour Of Moon; Between 1,000-4,500 Researchers Live & Work In Antarctica At Any Given Time

Image Credit: Space Horizons, NASA, ESA, Boston University, Brown University

 

 

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 30 Jan – 2 Feb 2015

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Russia & ESA Advancing Plans For Human Exploration / Development Of Moon

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RSC Energia Deputy General Nikolai Bryukhanov Says Russia Aerospace Enterprise Is Working On Creating New Crewed Spacecraft For Missions To The Moon; European Space Agency Releases New Video Outlining Plans For Possible Human Mission To Far Side Moon; Agency Sees South Pole-Aitken Basin As Promising Location For Human Habitation & Development, Moon Place Where All Nations Can Come Together To Understand Common Origins, Build Common Future

Image Credit: RSC Energia, ESA

Tuesday / 20 January 2015

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State Of The Union, USA:
The Moon, Mars, Stars, Beyond

StateOfUnion2015_2

21st Century Pioneering Americans Work To See Multi World Citizens Once Again, This Time For Good; New Frontier At Moon South Pole Has Resources, Energy To Enrich And Empower, Perspective To Solve Earth’s Most Intractable Conflict – In Peace For All; Nothing Gained By Presiding Over Greatest Retreat In US History

Image Credit: Sol Loeb, pdxmim.com, NASA

New Year / Holiday Edition
Thurs / 25 Dec 2014 – Mon / 5 Jan 2015

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50 Years After Humans Return To Moon,
50,000 Lunar Visitors Per Year?

SPoleAnalogNewYear2015

Antarctica, A Valuable Analog Site For Testing Lunar Base Systems, May Also Be A Prophetic Model Of What Is To Come On The 8th Continent- Luna; Race To Earth South Pole Won In 1912, No Human Returned Until UN IGY 1957, Now About 50 Years Later The Site Receives About 50,000 Visitors / Year (90% Tourists), With 30+ Countries Maintaining Permanent Research Stations; Human Return To Moon Similarly Delayed, Now Expected ~2020; 50 Years Of Development Could Manifest A Situation Similar To Today’s Antarctica; International Space Powers – India, China, USA, Japan, Russia & NewSpace Enterprises Should Take Note: Those Making 1st Pioneering Steps To Settle / Develop Energy & Resource-Rich South Pole Moon Will Reap The Benefits & Be Well Positioned For 21st Century Solar System Leadership

Image Credit: JAXA / Michael Carroll, Amundsen South Pole Station

Wednesday / 24 December 2014

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Angara-5 Test Key Step For Russia Ambitious Moon Program

RussiaAngara5

Angara-5, Largest Rocket Developed By Russia, Achieves Successful Test Flight To GTO; 1st Launch To GEO From Domestic Plesetsk Cosmodrome As Country Moves To Become More Self-Sufficient In Launch Capacities; Largest Of New Generation Of Modular Launch Vehicles Capable Of Carrying 3.8-35 Metric Tons; 1st Crewed Voyage With Heavy Angara Currently Scheduled For 2018; Rocket Capable Of Facilitating Moon Missions, Yet Super-Heavy Launcher Needed To Accomplish Stated Moon Base Goals; President Putin Recently Approved Development Of Super-Heavy Angara With Payload Capacity Of 120-150 Metric Tons

Image Credit: NASASpaceflight, NASA