Our Moon Luna – Greatest Advance For American Human Enterprise, And Source Of Vast Power / Material / Inspiration Resources For Future Generations – Remains Missing In NASA Prospectus; Current Administration Continues To Preside Over Greatest Retreat In U.S. National History, As India, China, And American Pioneers Commit To Seeing Humanity Again A Multi World Species, Asap
Image Credit: NASA, GDFC, B.Hrybyk, Kahilu Theater
ATK Is Set To Conduct First Full-Scale Qualification Static Motor Test For NASA Heavy-Lift Space Launch System Wednesday 11 March In Promontory UT; 2-Minute Test Will Burn 628,225kg Of Solid Propellant In The Two 54-Meter-Long Engines, Producing 1.6 Million Kg Of Force; Rocket – Along With Orion Crew Capsule – Will Be Critical For New Era Of USA Human Lunar / Solar System Exploration; First 2 Test Flights (2018 & 2021) Likely To Include Circumlunar Voyage
Image Credit: NASA, ATK
In A Step Towards Ultimate Goal Of Providing More Affordable Access / Operations To / In Space, Shackleton Energy Corporation (SEC) Signs MOA With CASIS To Develop & Test Mini Space Brakes / Re-entry Vehicles Called ‘Oryx’; Technology Is Critical Enabler For Aerobraking Systems Needed To Economically Fly Water From Moon To Fuel Depots In LEO; SEC To Eventually Develop Larger Re-entry Vehicles / Orbital Lifeboats For Fuel Depot Crew
Image Credit: Shackleton Energy Company
Principal Investigator Of GRAIL Mission, Maria Zuber, Will Give Presentation On Recent Discoveries Concerning The Interior Of The Moon, Thurs 26 Feb At University Of Arizona; Host Of International Lunar Orbiters / Landers Continuing To Advance Understanding Of The History & Potential Future Significance Of Earth’s Closest Neighbor; Currently NASA Has 3 Spacecraft Orbiting Moon (LRO, ARTEMIS), China Currently Has An Orbiter (Chang’e-5 T1), Lander & Rover (Chang’e-3 / Yutu) At Moon
Image Credit: NASA, CNSA
22nd LRO Project Science Working Group At Arizona State University This Week To Outline Research Priorities & Opportunities; NASA GSFC Recently Granted 2-Year Contract Extension To ASU For Management Of LRO / LROC Science & Flight Operations, Data Processing & Analysis; New Contract Goes Until 15 Mar 2017; No Operational Funds Were Requested For 2016 LRO Operations By Obama Administration; LRO Costs ~US$12.4M / Year; Strong Senior Review Rating, Support In Congress Indicate LRO Will Continue To Provide Valuable Data In Coming Years
Image Credit: NASA, ASU
Abstract Deadlines Due Friday 13 February For 5th International Workshop On Lunar Surface Applications; Event – Scheduled For 14-17 April 2015 In Cocoa Beach FL – Will Provide Overview Of Moon Mission Development & Plans Of The 3 Commercial Enterprises Supported By NASA Lunar Catalyst Lander Program, & Opportunities For Science & Commercial Activities On Moon; To Include Additional Presentations About Lunar Polar ISRU & Upcoming NASA Resource Prospector Mission
Image Credit: lunarworkshops.com, NASA, Moon Express
110,000 Individually Cataloged Samples Totaling 382 Kg Of Lunar Material Returned By Apollo Lunar Surface Exploration Are Currently Preserved At NASA Johnson Space Center; Curation & Analysis Planning Team For Extraterrestrial Materials (CAPTUM) Is Accepting Research Proposals / Lunar Sample Requests For Spring 2015 CAPTEM Meeting Until Friday, 13 Feb Deadline; Samples Can Be Used For Planetary Science Studies Or Engineering & Resource Utilization Studies
Image Credit: NASA
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Finds 23 Parts-Per-Million-By-Weight More Hydrogen On Crater Slopes In Southern Hemisphere (Starting Between 50-60° S Latitude) That Face Lunar South Pole Than On Equator-Facing Slopes Possibly Due To Lack Of Sunlight / Evaporation; LRO In 30 X 180-Km Altitude Orbit Passing Over Lunar South Pole With 21st Data Set Release Upcoming, Not Yet Funded For 2016 According To NASA Budget; Team Including Timothy McClanahan Of GSFC To Determine If N Hemisphere Has Same Pattern, & Effects Of Lunar Day / Night Cycle
Image Credit: NASA, Institute for Space Research, GSFC
ME Testing & Developing MTV-1X Lunar Lander At KSC Shuttle Landing Facility, Will Begin Operations By End Of Q2 2015 At Space Launch Complex 36, Which Was Used To Launch Surveyors To Moon, Mariners To Mars, Pioneers To Jupiter / Saturn / Beyond; Bob Richards (CEO) Says Agreement With Space Florida, & ME Initial Investment Of US$500K Will Allow For “Immediate” Infrastructure Improvements To Make Site Operational; Likely To Build Own “Moonscape”; Block House & Engineering Building To Be Dubbed “Moon Mountain”
Image Credit: ME, NASA
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