Category Archives: NASA

Wednesday / 20 June 2018

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Observance Of Sally’s Ride Begs The Question: When Will The First Woman Walk On The Moon?

This Week Marks 35 Years Since Sally Ride Became The 1st American Woman In Space, Commemorated By New USA Forever Postage Stamp; After Shattering The Ultimate Glass Ceiling, Ride Said “Weightlessness Is A Great Equalizer”; Another Of The “Original Six” Women Astronauts, Anna Lee Fisher — 1st Mother In Space On STS-51 Discovery, Becomes The Godmother To Viking Latest Ocean Ship, Orion, Same Name As NASA Crew Ship That Could Take The 1st Women To The Moon

Credits: USPS, Viking Cruises, NASA, SPC

Wednesday / 13 June 2018

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NASA Requests Information On Availability Of Potential Lunar Payloads

NASA Issues Request For Information For Availability Of Existing Hardware That Could Fly To Lunar Surface With Little Development Necessary As Early As 2019: Engineering Models, Flight Spares, Modified Off-The-Shelf Instruments, Etc – Under Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) Program; Responses Sought From USA Industry, Universities, Non-profit Organizations, Others – Due Wednesday 27 June 2018; Astrobotic Encourages Lunar Community To Submit Payload Details To Inform Near-Term NASA Lunar Payload Solicitations

Pictured: NASA Program Scientist Sarah Noble, Astrobotic VP Business Development Dan Hendrickson; Credits: NASA, Astrobotic

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 1-4 Jun 2018

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AOGS Meeting To Focus On Lunar Science, Humans In Space

Asia Oceania Geosciences Society (AOGS) 15th Annual Meeting 3-8 June In Honolulu HI With 209 Sessions Will Include 4 June “Science Of Exploration As Enabled By The Moon, Near Earth Asteroids, And The Moons of Mars”; Speakers (L-R) Gregory Schmidt For International Cooperation In Exploration, Ben Bussey On Lunar Activities, Allison Zuniga On Lunar Infrastructure & Economy, With Clive Neal For Human Return To Moon, Bernard Foing On Lunar Technology

Credits: AOGS, NASA, NSS, ISDC, U. Notre Dame, IAF, SSERVI

Friday / 18 May 2018

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Apollo First Missions To Moon
50th Observations Ready To Launch

Approaching Semicentennial Commemorations, Apollo 8 First Human Mission To The Moon (21-27 Dec 1968) With Astronauts Frank Borman, James Lovell And William Anders, Legendary Earthrise Photo Will Be Honored This Year In Rocket Men Book, Documentary Film, Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum ‘Apollo To The Moon‘ Exhibit, And Events Held By NASA / Other Organizations; USA Advancing ~2021 Return To Moon With EM-1, Space Policy Directive 1, Lunar Exploration Campaign; Planning For 50th Observations Of Apollo 11 (July 2019), Apollo 13 (April 2020), Apollo 17 (December 2022)

Credits: NASA, Lockheed Martin Corp.

Wednesday / 16 May 2018

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Astrobotic Readies For New Start On Moon Exploration With Proposed US House Appropriations Bill For NASA

US House Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations Subcommittee Proposes Full Funding Of Robotic & Human Exploration Of The Moon, Including $504M For Lunar Orbital Platform & $117M For Lunar & Surface Capabilities — To Be Marked Up By Full Committee On 17 May; Astrobotic, Moon Express, And Masten Partnering With NASA Through Lunar CATALYST Program To Conduct Science & Exploration Missions; Astrobotic 1st Lander On Moon For 2020 To Carry Lunar Library Microfiche

Pictured: Astrobotic CEO John Thornton; Credits: Astrobotic, Arch Mission Foundation, ME, Masten

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 11-14 May 2018

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LRO Mapping And Monitoring Lunar Surface Supports NASA Return To Moon Plans

Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) Surpasses 40,000 Orbits Around Moon, Gathering Information On Lunar Temperatures, Geologic Activity, Newly Formed Craters, Topographical Changes; On 23 June Spacecraft With 7 Operating Instruments Will Celebrate 9 Full Years In Orbit; Inertial Measurement Unit Indicates Low Functionality, Will Be Powered Down Except For Lunar Eclipses, Safe Mode Entries; 34th Data Set Release Upcoming, Invaluable Mission Supports International, National, Commercial, Academic Ventures & Research

Credits: NASA

Friday / 4 May 2018

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Commercial Lunar Payload Services To Build Upon Successes Of Lunar CATALYST, Commercial Resupply / Crew Programs

New NASA Program Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) To Award Contracts To Private Enterprises For Delivering Science And Tech Demonstration Payloads To Moon Surface; Industry Day Being Held At NASA HQ In Washington DC 8 May To Discuss Draft Request For Proposals; Companies Such As Moon Express, Astrobotic, Masten, Past GLXP Contenders Already Developing Lunar Landers In Prime Position To Accelerate USA Return To Moon, Support Space Policy Directive 1; Blue Origin With Vision Of ‘A Trillion People Living & Working In Space’ Planning New Armstrong Rocket, Blue Moon System For 4,500-kg Cargo Deliveries

Credits: Moon Express, Astrobotic, Masten Space Systems, Blue Origin, Bigelow Aerospace

Wednesday / 2 May 2018

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 LunarCubes Workshop Focuses On EM-1 ‘Lucky 13’, Awarded SmallSat Studies, Interactive Design Challenges

7th Annual LunarCubes Workshop 3-4 May In San Luis Obispo CA With 4 Major Design Challenges Include Effective Data Management, Lunar Transportation, CubeSat Paradigm Development Models, Beyond LEO Platform Concepts; Anticipates 30-40 Participants, 8 Presentations Covering Deep Space Concepts PRISM, PROVE, BOLAS, Other Missions From 19 Awarded Studies; NASA JPL CubeSat Development Lab Director Pamela Clark Is Technical Program Chair; 1st CubeSats To Deep Space (MarCO) Set To Launch 5 May To Mars, SLS EM-1 Dec 2019 To Moon Will Carry 13 CubeSats

Credits: NASA, CubeSat

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 27-30 Apr 2018

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Science And Moon Experts Advise Reinstatement Of Resource Prospector Mission

Lunar Exploration Analysis Group Chairs (L-R) Samuel Lawrence And Clive Neal Urge NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine To Reestablish Resource Prospector (RP) Mission Vital For Lunar Economy, Space Exploration; Letter States Cancellation Of NASA Only Polar Lander-Rover Mission A Source Of Incredulity And Dismay To Community; Critical To Provide Strong Leadership As 6 International Lunar Lander Missions Planned Into 2025; International Lunar Observatory Association And Space Age Publishing Company Support RP Reinstatement Within Context of Space Policy Directive 1, Dedication Of Human Return To Moon, First Women On Moon Initiative

Credits: NASA, University of Notre Dame, LEAG, ILOA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 20-23 Apr 2018

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Lunar Community Optimistic That Bridenstine Could Further Plans To Return To Moon

In 50-49 Vote, US Senate Confirms Jim Bridenstine As 13th NASA Administrator; Bridenstine States Readiness To Work With Outstanding Team At NASA Toward Administration’s Vision To Return To Moon, Reach Deep Space, Beyond; Has Shown Support For Cislunar Presence, Permanent Moonbase, Utilizing Lunar Resources, Regulating Commercial Spaceflight; Has Potential To Advance NASA Lunar Exploration Campaign, Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway, National / International / Commercial Collaborations

Credits: NASA, CNN, Jim Bridenstine