Category Archives: NASA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 13-16 Apr 2018

Posted on by

Leaders Of Scientific Community And ILOA Advocating For Moon Return

Letter To USA Congress From Lunar Leaders Highlight Enthusiasm For NASA FY 2019 US$19.9B Budget Request To Return Humans To The Moon, Research Lunar Resources, Explore Lunar Tubes And Magnetic Anomalies; 72 Signatories Include Astronaut Jack Schmitt, James Head III, Clive Neal, Paul Spudis, Wendell Mendell, Bob Richards, Dan Hendrickson; USA Hawai`i-Based International Lunar Observatory Association Continues To Support And Encourage Return To Moon As Apollo 11 50th Observation Fast Approaches In 2019 

Credits: NASA, ILOA, Brown University, Lynn Rothschild, University of Notre Dame, Lunar and Planetary Society, Bob Richards, Astrobotic

Wednesday / 11 Apr 2018

Posted on by

International Space Exploration Coordination Group Promotes Importance Of Moon In New Global Exploration Roadmap

ISECG, Comprised Of 15 Space Agencies, Helps Advance International Station In Lunar Orbit For The 2020s; Kathy Laurini, NASA Senior Adviser For Space Exploration & Operations, Says NASA Plans To Develop Lunar Orbiting Platform-Gateway In Alignment With The Global Exploration Roadmap; Solicitation To Be Issued This Month For 1st Gateway Element – Power & Propulsion Module – Aiming To Launch In 2022; ISECG Is Currently Chaired By Naoki Satoh Of JAXA

Credits: ISECG, NASA, JAXA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 30 Mar – 2 Apr 2018

Posted on by

Major Spacefaring Powers Discuss Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway, Collaboration With China

The 2nd Symposium ‘Return To The Moon: A Partnership Of Government, Academia & Industry’ Hosted By USRA, GWU And SPI, Enhances Plans For International / Commercial Cooperation To Land Humans On Moon, Build Permanent Presence In Cislunar Space; 12th Man On Moon (L) Harrison Schmitt Says China Is Geopolitical Imperative; Robert Lightfoot Of NASA States USA Looking To Engage Academia & Industry In International Effort To Explore Space, Vital To Utilize Moon As Step Toward Mars; Space Policy White Paper By D. Holland & J. Burns Includes Analysis Of USA Mixed Comments On Becoming ‘Leading’ Space Power And ‘True International Collaboration’, As Well As Unfocused Exploration Priorities / Goals

Credits: Boeing Co., NASA

Wednesday / 28 Mar 2018

Posted on by

USRA And Space Policy Institute Hold “Return To The Moon” Symposium In DC Today

Universities Space Research Association & George Washington University SPI Host Annual Joint Symposium On 28 March, Focusing On “Partnership Of Government, Academia, And Industry” For Human Moon Exploration; Key Participants Include (L-R) NASA Acting Director Robert Lightfoot, ESA Director Jan Wörner (Via Video), SPI Director Henry Hertzfeld, Astronaut Jack Schmitt, Former NASA Chief Scientist Ellen Stofan; From Industry Will Be Christie Iacomini Of Blue Origin & Dan Hendrickson Of Astrobotic; Exploring Strategies To Align USA Space Initiatives With Those Of Other Nations; ~150 People Expected At Evening Reception

Credits: USRA, SPI, NASA, ESA, Blue Origin, Astrobotic

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 23-26 Mar 2018

Posted on by

ULA Proposes Self-Sustaining Econosphere / CisLunar 1000 Initiative

United Launch Alliance Plans To Collaborate With Commercial Companies To Create Community Of ~1,000 People In Earth-Moon Vicinity; Self-Sufficient Economy Would Be Based On In Situ Resource Utilization From ~17,000 Near Earth Asteroids, Lunar Resources; ULA CEO Tory Bruno Says Creating Propellant In Space Will Increase Deep Space Travel; Roadmap Could Align With International Lunar Gateway, Involve Current Collaborator Bigelow Aerospace For 20-Person Cislunar Habitat & Depot; Jeff Bezos Of Blue Origin Working On Blue Moon Lunar Lander; SpaceX CEO Elon Musk Continues Plans For Rockets To Support Interplanetary / Lunar Transport Services

Credits: NASA, Boeing, Bigelow Aerospace, ULA, SpaceX, Blue Origin, Business Insider

Wednesday / 14 Mar 2018

Posted on by

Astrobotic Receives NASA Funding To Develop CubeRover For Moon Missions

NASA Awards Astrobotic 2-Year Contract Up To US$750,000 To Develop 2-kg CubeRover – To Be The Smallest Rover Ever On Lunar Surface – Able To Traverse 0.5 km Or More; For Various Applications Including Testing Dust Mitigation, Establishing Communication Infrastructure, Repairing Surface Assets; Intending To Be A Standard For Moon Industry As CubeSats Are For Orbit; Led By Principal Investigator Dr. Andrew Horchler (B) In Partnership With Carnegie Mellon University; Astrobotic Hopes To Fly 1st CubeRover On Its Peregrine Lunar Lander In 2020.

Credits: Astrobotic, CMU; Pictured: Astrobotic Chairman Red Whittaker

Friday / 2 Mar 2018

Posted on by

Japan Hosting 3 International Space Exploration Forums And Legal Policy Strategies For Moon Base Event

The 2nd International Space Exploration Forum, Industries ISEF & Young Professionals ISEF Are Ongoing 28 Feb – 3 Mar In Tokyo; Workshops And Panelists Will Include (Counter Clockwise TL-TR) Jan Wörner (ESA), Mohammed Al Ahbabi (UAE), Pascale Ehrenfreund (DLR), Robert Lightfoot (NASA), Takeshi Hakamada (ispace), Giuseppe Reibaldi (Moon Village); On 4 Mar University Of Toyko Will Hold “Legal Policy Strategy For The Construction Of Moon Base & Utilization Of Space Resources” Featuring UNOOSA Director Simonetta Di Pippo, ESPI Director Jean-Jacques Tortora, American Space Council Sec. Gen. Scott Pace; There Is Also A Women In Space Session Led By Simonetta Di Pippo And Astronaut Naoko Yamazaki

Credits: JAXA, MEXT, WPSP, NASA, UNOOSA, ESPI

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 23-26 Feb 2018

Posted on by

International Deep Space Gateway Further Support, Funding, Call For Research Ideas, Workshops

Proposed DSG / Lunar Orbital Platform To Establish Permanent Human Presence In Cislunar Space And Enable Moon Village, Missions To Many Worlds Beyond – Could See US$2.7B In NASA Funding From FY19 Allocations Through 2023 When SLS EM-2 Crew Plan To Arrive; Cislunar DSG Would Develop Essential Commercial & International Partners, Technology Advances In Power, Propulsion & Life Support, And Build Toward Multi World Civilization; Latest DSG Workshop Being Held 27 Feb – 1 Mar In Denver CO; ESA, Roscosmos, JAXA, CSA Express DSG Common Interest; China, India, S Korea, SEA, UAE, Other Nations Could Be Important Collaborators

Credits: Boeing, NASA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 16-19 Feb 2018

Posted on by

NASA FY19 Proposal And Human / International Moon Missions

U.S. Space Policy Directive 1 Goal To Lead Sustainable Program Of Exploration With Commercial & International Partners Is Prioritized In US$19.892B NASA FY19 Budget Proposal Including $10.5B Campaign To Return Humans To Moon; Potential $200M May Be Allotted To Develop Commercial Robotic Landers 2020, Leading To Human-Rated Landers 2023; SLS / Orion To Be Fully Funded, Planning 2020 Uncrewed Launch, 2023 Crewed Lunar Flyby; SpaceX Falcon Heavy May Also Contribute To Commercial Lunar Launches, Deliver Humans To Moon & Mars; International Lunar Orbital Platform – Gateway In Cislunar Space Could Accelerate Human Moon Landings & First Women On The Moon

Credits: NASA, SPC, ILOA

Friday / 9 Feb 2018

Posted on by

Deep Space Gateway To The Moon South Pole:
5 Landing Sites Being Explored

International Space Exploration Coordination Group Developing Navigation Routes For 5-Year Campaign Of 5 Human Moon Landing Missions From Envisioned Deep Space Gateway Starting 2028 At Malapert Massif, Shackleton Crater, Schrödinger Basin, Antoniadi Crater, South Pole-Aitken Basin; NASA NexGen ELA Study In 2015 Indicates Human Lunar Return 5-7 Years For US$10B Thru Public-Private Collaboration; Commercial Space At National Space Council Meeting 2017 Confirms Statement Adding Committed Funding & Political Support Necessary – Next Meeting 21 Feb; Reusable Moon Lander For Crew & Robots Would Be Most Essential For Moon, Deep Space Exploration States Clive Neal (R)

Credits: Leonard David, Scientific American; Image Credit: NASA, ISECG, Notre Dame