Category Archives: NewSpace

Tuesday / 24 February 2015

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Independent Moon Missions Advancing

Independent Moon MissionsTeam Hakuto Of Japan Announces It Is Teaming Up With Astrobotic To Land Rovers On Moon; Astrobotic Hopes To Carry Rovers From Several Teams On Its Griffin Lander, Setting Up An Actual 500-M Race To Win The US$20M GLXP; More Teams In Talks With Astrobotic About Ride-Share Possibilities; Team Hakuto Intends To Explore Lunar Skylights With Rovers Moonraker & Tetris; ILOA Also Advancing Mission To Land Observation / Communication Payload Near Moon South Pole Through Southeast Asia Meetings Including Galaxy Forum In Thailand Today

Image Credit: Astrobotic, Hakuto, NARIT, ILOA

Thursday / 12 February 2015

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April Workshop To Highlight Near-Term Lunar Surface Mission Opportunities

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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

Thursday / 5 February 2015

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FAA Commercial Space Conference Evaluating Future Direction Of Commercial Space

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US Gov Officials, NASA & Industry Leaders, Space Entrepreneurs, Astronauts And Space Enthusiasts Meeting On 4-5 Feb In Washington DC For 18th Annual FAA Commercial Space Transportation Conference; Event Comes On Heels Of Announcement That FAA Will Ensure Commercial Activities On Moon / Celestial Bodies Can Be Conducted On Non-Interference Basis; On Day 1 Of Conference FAA Administrator Michael Huerta Says It Is Not Too Early For Industry & Government To Plan For Future Of Regulations

Image Credit: Astrobotic, faa.gov

Wednesday / 4 February 2015

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US Government Takes Step To Support Commercial Development Of Moon

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Federal Aviation Administration Supports Request From Bigelow Aerospace To Recognize Private Sector’s Need To Protect Assets & Personnel On Moon, Expanding Scope From Launch Licensing To Lunar Activities Of US Companies; More Legal & Diplomatic Work Still Needed As Issues Regarding Lunar Property & Mineral Rights Pending; Bigelow To Test Inflatable Habitat At ISS This Year, Moon Habitats Around 2025; Moon Express Intends To Return Moon Rocks / Regolith In 3rd Mission

Pictured: TR- FAA Associate Administrator George Nield, BL- Robert Bigelow

Image Credit: Bigelow Aerospace, faa.gov

Tuesday / 3 February 2015

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Shackleton Energy Company Seeks To Fuel
Human Solar System Exploration

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1.6B Tonnes Of Water At Moon Poles Is Likely Prize That Will Stimulate New Lunar Gold Rush; USA Texas-Based Shackleton Energy Company Advancing Plan To Mine Moon Water With Robotic & Human Missions, Convert It To Rocket Propellant (Hydrogen & Oxygen), & Sell It At Orbital Fuel Depots; Company Continues To Advance Business Plan After Pursuing Crowdfunding Campaign & Lobbying For NASA Support

Image Credit: Shackleton Energy Company, Popular Mechanics

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 23-26 January 2015

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Google Lunar XPRIZE To Announce Milestone Prize Winners

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On Monday 26 Jan, Up To US$6M In Milestone Prizes Will Be Awarded To Qualified Teams At A Private Event At California Academy Of Sciences In San Francisco; Max 3 Teams Can Win US$1M Landing Prize, 4 Teams Can Win $500K Mobility Prize & $250K Imaging Prize; Previous Announcement Confirmed That Astrobotic Won Mobility & Imaging Prizes; Other Teams Competing For Prizes Include: Hakuto, Moon Express, Indus, Part Time Scientists

Image Credit: GLXP

Friday / 23 January 2015

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Moon Express, Space Florida, NASA
Advancing Florida Moon Missions Legacy

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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

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 16-19 January 2015

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Moon South Pole
Drawing New Lunar Pioneers

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New Moon South Pole Ventures Including UK-Based Lunar Mission One & Russia-Based Lin Industrial Join Established Declarations Of Interest In Moon South Pole Missions By USA (RPM), American Enterprises Such As Shackleton Energy Corporation, Japan (SELENE-2), India (Chandrayaan-2), Russia (Luna-Glob), ESA, ILOA; Moon South Pole – Replete With Valuable Resources & Providing A Relatively Stable Thermal Environment – Is Generally Considered Optimal Location For Human Lunar Exploration / Settlement

Image Credit: JAXA, Lunar Mission One, Lin Industrial

Friday / 16 January 2015

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Moon Express Steadily Advancing
Moon Lander Technologies

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Moon Express Preparing For Phase 2 Test Flight Campaign Of Hydrogen Peroxide Fueled MTV-1X Lander After Successful Dec 2014 Test Flights At Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Landing Facility “Moonscape” In Florida; Testing Is Being Conducted In Partnership With NASA Lunar CATALYST Program & In Pursuit Of GLXP Lander & Mobility Terrestrial Milestones Prizes; MTV-2X Vehicle Scheduled To Be Built & Tested In Q1 2015

Image Credit: Moon Express, NASA

Tuesday / 6 January 2015

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Astrobotic Seeking To Make Pittsburgh A Space-Faring City

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Red Whittaker Hopes Astrobotic Will Soon Have Hundreds Or Thousands Of Employees Working On Multiple Moon Missions, Says Pittsburgh – With Its History Of Building Industry – Is Ideal Location To Create Strong Commercial Space / Moon Industry; Company Now Has 20 Employees Working On GLXP Mission, Confident There Is Large Market For Flying Payloads To Moon, Company Leaders Report They Are Now Getting More Interest From Funding Sources

Image Credit: Astrobotic Technology