Weekend Edition / Fri-Mon 8-11 Nov 2013

LADEE / Chang’e-3 Conjunction: Opportunity For International Cooperation

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Dec Moon Landing Of China Chang’e-3 Could Provide NASA LADEE Orbital Mission Unique Opportunity To Collect Data On Ejected Dust From Descent Engines; Valuable For Planning Future Missions, Heritage Site Preservation, Lunar Base Development; Current USA Policy Impeding NASA From Arranging Such Collaboration With China; Apollo Moonwalkers Advocate For NASA To Begin Cooperation With China On Human Moon Return

Image Credit: NASA, CLEP, CNSA

Wednesday / 30 October 2013

ESA Innovating Advanced Robots To Support Future Lunar Exploration

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European Space Agency Releases Video Depicting Various Lunar Rovers / Robots It Is Designing / Developing; Moon Rover With Multifunctional Wheels (Prototype Already Developed); Concept Teleoperator Robot, Forklift, Bulldozer To Assist Astronauts In Construction Of Moonbase; ESA Positioning Itself As Key Contributor To Future International Human / Robotic Moon Missions

Image Credit: ESA

Friday / 25 October 2013

China Chief Lunar Scientist Ouyang
Notes Moon Military Uses

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In Speech At Shenzhen City People’s Culture Hall On 13 October 2013, Prof Ziyuan Ouyang, Senior / Chief Lunar Scientist At NAOC / Chinese Academy Of Sciences, Noted: “To Carry Out Lunar Exploration Project Has Four Major Reasons: The Moon Has A Major Military Strategic Position, Will Become A Contemporary Space Warfare Military Platform …”, And Many Other Vital Resources And Assets; Statement Likely To Need Resolution With American Apollo Spirit “In Peace For All”

Image Credit: CUG, AIA, NASA, randomwire.com

Weekend Edition / Fri-Mon 18-21 Oct 2013

Planetary Security Through
Moon High Ground

LED 10-18-13

Moon To Become New High Ground For Human Operations,
Serve Planetary Defense To Detect Earth Approaching Objects;
New Luna Enterprise From China, America, Independents
Also To Advance Non-Military Precedent Of 7th Continent Antarctica,
Open 8th Continent Opportunities “In Peace For All”

Image Credit: ME, ILOA, CNSA, NASA, G. Nagle, UN

Tuesday / 30 July 2013

Sustained Presence On Moon Suggested By US Space Agency Leader

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 Lori Garver, NASA Deputy Administrator, Seems To Flip Flop On Previous Comments Re Moon Plans; Speaking At NewSpace 2013 Garver Says Asteroid & Moon Complimentary, Not Competitive Target Destinations; NASA Has “Increased Focus On Sustainable Lunar Activity”; Contrasted With Recent Comment That Agency Has No Funds For Lunar Activity; Likely Influenced By US House Republicans Calling For Sustained Human Presence On Both Moon & Mars

Image Credit: NASA

Weekend Edition / Fri-Mon 19-22 July 2013

Golden Spike To Lunar South Pole?

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To Be True Leaders / Pioneers In 21st Century Lunar Exploration Golden Spike Company May Focus On Ideal Destination For Enabling 1st Permanent Off-World Settlement: Moon South Pole; Plentiful Ice Water / Resources For ISRU In Permanently Shadowed Craters / Aitken Basin, Relatively Stable Temperature, Access To Near-Continuous Sunlight To Power Long-Duration Missions & Permanent Settlements; GSC Working To Achieve Commercial Human Moon Missions By End Of Decade

Image Credit: Golden Spike Company, NASA

Thursday / 18 July 2013

ILO Mission Demonstrates Rising Importance Of Moon South Pole Destination

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South Pole Destination Of NET 2016 ILO-Moon Express Lunar Mission Selected To Ensure Long-Duration Nature Of Mission – Thermal Environment (~-50°C) / Solar Power Access On Malapert Mountain / PEL, Continuous Line Of Sight To Earth For Commercial Communications, Ability To Image Milky Way Galaxy Center; ILO Also To Observe & Report Human Lunar Buildout, Private & Public Parties Pointing To South Pole / Aitken Basin – With Prevalent Water Ice / Mineral Deposits – As Ideal Location For Development 

Image Credit: ILOA, Moon Express, NASA

Friday / 14 June 2013

From Hawai`i To The Moon To Deep Space

Buzz Aldrin, PISCES

Moonwalker Buzz Aldrin (L) Says Geography / Geology Of Big Island, Hawaii Is Excellent Analog / Testing Ground For Permanent Moon Base; He Encourages Learning In Hawaii, Settlement Of Moon, Then Mars & Beyond; Also Supports PISCES Technology Development For Robotic & Human Missions Beyond LEO – Rob Kelso (R) Exec Director Featured On The Space Show 21 June; ISDAC-USIS Workshop On 22 June In Colorado Continues Discussion Of ‘Moon Permanent Base Headed By Buzz Aldrin’

Image Credit: Getty Images, IAF, ESA/Foster, WHT/A.Pacheco

Wednesday / 12 June 2013

CRaTER Reveals Plastics Provide Lightweight Radiation Shielding

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Researchers At University of New Hampshire & SwRI Report That Data From LRO’s CRaTER Validates Computer Models Which Indicate Lightweight Materials Offer Superior Shielding From Radiation; Lead Author Cary Zeitlin Of SwRI Calls Plastics “Pound-For-Pound More Effective For Shielding Against Cosmic Radiation Than Aluminum”; These Lower Mass Alternatives Open The Door To Deep Space Missions & A Permanent Human Presence On The Surface Of The Moon

Image Credit: NASA, SwRI, UNH

Thursday / 23 May 2013

Space Act Agreement May Help Extend Commercial Activity To Cis-Lunar Space

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‘Media Availability’ Event Today At 13:30 EDT, NASA Associate Administrator Bill Gerstenmaier & Robert Bigelow Discuss Recent Space Act Agreement; Unfunded Study Identifying Common Objectives Between NASA & Private Sector, Companies & Their Potential Contributions To Extend Commercial Activity To All Cis-Lunar Space; If Commercial Interests Demonstrate Capability To Reach / Operate On Moon May Help Cure NASA / Obama Selenophobia

Image Credit: Bigelow Aerospace, NASA