Category Archives: Moonbase

Tuesday / 23 December 2014

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Space Horizons Workshop Focuses On Antarctica Moon Base Analogs

SpaceHorizons2015

Brown University Hosting ‘Space Horizons 2015’ On 18-19 Feb, With Theme ‘McMurdo On The Moon’; 50 Paid Participants & 10 Invited Students Will Examine How McMurdo & Other Antarctica Stations Can Be Studied As Models For Human Bases On Moon & Mars; Day 1 Will Include Participation In CAVE (BL) Virtual Reality Tour Of Dry Antarctic Valleys & Surface Of Moon & Mars; Day 2 Engineering Workshop Will Feature Examination Of Architecture & Technologies To Facilitate Functional Moon Base; Featured Speakers Include (L-R) Marco Lisi Of ESA, James Head Of Brown U, Brent Sherwood Of JPL

Image Credit: Brown University, NASA JPL, ESA

Thursday / 6 November 2014

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Bootstrapping A Moon Base

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In 3-Part Interview, Former NASA KSC Research Physicist Philip Metzger Outlines How NASA / Global Private / Public Community Could Begin Today To Develop Sustainable Lunar Base With Fraction Of Current Budget; Plan Relies On Robotic Manufacturing / Extracting Of Resources In Space To Reduce Launch Mass, Advance Immediate Payback Opportunities, Spread Cost & Development Over Extended Period Of Time; Progressive Robotic Technological Development In Cislunar Space Could Bring Benefits To Life On Earth While Facilitating Settlement Of Solar System & Beyond

Image Credit: NASA, PhilipMetzger.com

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 17-20 October 2014

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“Forget Mars, We Should Live On The MOON”

LED-10-17-14

Canada Hero, CSA Astronaut, Former ISS Commander, Chris Hadfield Advocates For Permanent Settlement Of Moon As Among Highest Priorities For Human Space Exploration; Mars About 500 Times More Distant On Average, Making Many Things Much More Difficult: Communications, Mission Timeline, Safety Parameters, Abort Procedures, Earth-Based Mission Control; Hadfield Suggests We’ll Be Living On The Moon Several Generations, Then Eventually Go On To Mars

Image Credit: CSA, NASA, ESA, L. Oleastri

Wednesday / 15 October 2014

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Space Horizons 2015:
McMurdo On The Moon?

LED101514Brown University Hosts Annual NASA Sponsored Event Space Horizons 2015, 18-19 Feb; Antarctic McMurdo Station Inspires Asking “What Can 50+ Years Of Science In The Toughest Setting On Earth Tell Us About Working On The Moon?”; Workshops Examine Analog For Breakthrough Technologies To Realize Lunar Settlement; Brown’s 250-Year Anniversary Celebration Highlighted By Contributions In Planetary Science; Cutting Edge Virtual Reality Exhibit Allows Viewer To Fly Over Moon And Antarctica; Online Registration Now Open

 Image Credit: USAP, NASA, Brown University

Wednesday / 1 October 2014

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ISRO Chair Affirms Lunar Settlement Plans At IAC 2014

KRadIAC2014

While Speaking At International Astronautical Congress 2014 Heads Of Agencies Panel In Toronto, Canada, Top Space Official Of India K Radhakrishnan Affirms That ISRO Looks Forward To Explore & Settle The Habitable Worlds Of Solar System, Including Moon & Mars; Comments Come After India Became 1st Asia Nation To Reach Mars Orbit, & As Country Prepares For GSLV Mark 3 Launch In Coming Months Which Will Test Reentry Capsule For Future Crewed Missions

Image Credit: ISRO, IAC

Thursday / 18 September 2014

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Commercial Crew Enterprises Advancing
Lunar Aspirations

SpacePeople Commercial Crew Selection Allows NASA To Focus On Deep Space Exploration; Commercial Space Enterprises Not Content With Taxi Service To LEO: Space Adventures (2017) & Excalibur Almaz (by 2025) Planning Circumlunar Tourism Missions, Golden Spike Company Advancing Human Surface Mission Architecture; While At ASE In Beijing Buzz Aldrin Says He Is Supportive Of China & International Human Moon Exploration, Thinks USA Should Advance Robotic Lunar Exploration, Build Permanent Station On Moon As Staging Post To Mars / Beyond

Image Credit: NASA, Golden Spike Company, Space Adventures

Wednesday / 17 September 2014

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Lunar Agriculture Study Indicates Potential Viability / Challenges

WiegerMoonPlants

1st Large-Scale Controlled Experiment Investigating Plant Growth In Moon & Mars Soil Simulant; Research Led By Wieger Wamelink At Wageningen University In The Netherlands Indicates Plants Able To Germinate & Grow In Both Moon & Mars Simulant For 50 Days With No Additional Nutrients Though Poor Water Retention, High pH & Toxic Metals Pose Challenge For Lunar Agriculture; Study Utilized 4,200 Seeds Of Agricultural Crops, Wild Plants & Nitrogen Fixers; Further Research Needed On Characteristics Of Extra-Terrestrial Soils, Means Of Irrigation & Importing Friendly Bacteria, Fungi & Pollinators

Image Credit: NASA, wageningenur.nl

Thursday / 11 September 2014

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Canada Industry Minister Confirms Lunar Aspirations / Capabilities

CanadaMoonIndustry0914

James Moore Says Canada Has Technological Capability & Political Will To  Send Humans To Moon & Mars; Industry Minister Comments Made In Televised Interview With Astronaut Chris Hadfield; Canada Is Participating With Other National Space Agencies In Global Exploration Roadmap Which Foresees Human Missions To Lunar Orbit & Surface In Mid-2020s; Banking On Its Expertise In Robotics & Mining, Canada Proposes To Send An Astronaut To Lunar Space To Control A Canadian Moon Rover, Assist In Developing Small Lunar Settlement To Learn To Live Away From Earth, Prepare For Further Solar System Exploration

Image Credit: cbc.ca, ESA

Wednesday / 27 August 2014

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Russia Lunar Ambitions Could Limit ISS Support

RussiaBeyondISS0814

Russia Actions / Statements Indicate A Growing Seriousness About Finally Fulfilling Long-Standing Plans To Put Humans On Moon; Roscosmos Recent Budgetary Request For US$770M To Advance Robotic Moon Program Includes US$55M To Complete Technical Specifications For Human Lunar Base; Development Of Prospective Piloted Transport System (PPTS) (TR), Next Generation Russia Crew Capsule With 4-Person Capacity To Moon Orbit; Angara Rocket (BR) Emerging As Contender For PPTS Launches; Projected Launch Schedule Sees Lunar PPTS Launching in ~2024 – Last Year Of Current ISS Program

Image Credit: Roscosmos

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 15-18 August 2014

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Bigelow Aerospace Advancing Towards Goal Of Lunar Base

BigelowAstronauts0814

Preparations Underway To Launch BEAM Module To ISS In 2015, First Step Towards Independent Space Stations & Lunar Bases; Robert Bigelow (L) Believes Company Will Be Ready To Land Functional Lunar Bases On Surface Of Moon In 10 Years; ‘Lunar Depot Ares’ Would Have 990 Cubic Meters Of Habitable Space, House 12-18 Astronauts; Plan Hinges On Success Of Its Space Habitats, Lunar Property Rights Recognition, Interest From Private Companies / Nations; Bigelow Aerospace Intends To Form Sizable Astronaut Corps, Already Hired 2 Former Shuttle Astronauts, Plans To Have 4 More On Team By End 2014

Pictured: Bigelow Astronauts Kenneth Ham (R) & George Zamka

Image Credit: Bigelow Aerospace, NASA