Columbia Astrophysicist Arlin Crotts (Inset) Says Russia Secured Evidence Of Water In 1976, Ignored By West; Luna 24 Mission Drilled 2m Into Moon Surface, Returned 300g Of Rock, Found It To Be 0.1% Water; Paul Spudis Says Water Level Seems High For Mid-Latitudes, Analysis Of Samples Needs to Be Confirmed / Cross-Checked; Discovery Further Support Of In-Situ Water Manufacturing On Moon For Future Exploration
Image Credit: NASA, Columbia University
Image Credit: Masten Space Systems, Phil Smith
Space Agencies & Commercial Enterprises Refining Plans For Human Lunar Development; ULA Forms Organization For Human Launches Beyond LEO; Masten Reveals Human Lunar Lander Design; Space Adventures Advancing Circumlunar Mission; China Lunar Exploration Program Progressing; Russia Reinvigorates Push For Moonbase; Human Lunar Presence Ensures Multi-World Species Future
Image Credit: NPO Lawochkina, iki.rssi.ru
Russian Academy Of Sciences Space Research Institute Director Lev Zelyony Says Luna-Glob Mission To Land On South Pole In 2015; Zelyony Announces Mission To Be Followed In 2016 By Orbiter, 2017 By Unmanned Heavy Spacecraft Carrying 2 Landers, “Moon Will Be In The Focus Of Our Activity This Decade”; Russia Also Collaborating With India On Chandrayaan-2 Mission
Image Credit: NASA, Russianspaceweb.com, CLEP
Highest Resolution Image (R) Of Russia Luna 24 Lander Descent Stage Acquired By LROC From Altitude Of 29km Above Surface On Orbit #10904; Spacecraft (L) Landed On Mare Crisium On 18 August 1976, Returned 170g Of Regolith To Earth After Less Than 24 Hours On Moon; Long Hiatus From Moon Surface Will End In 2013 If China Successful With Chang’e-3 Landing
Image Credit: Phil Smith, Roscosmos, en.rian.ru
Russia Shifting Focus Of Space Program To Human Moon Missions By 2020, Fully-Functioning Lunar Base Complete With Astronomy Lab By 2030, Says Roscosmos Head Vladimir Popovkin; Cosmonauts Selected In Recruitment Drive Will Be Trained For Lunar Mission; Polar Destinations Likely As Russia Seeks To Rekindle Lunar Program After 40+Year Hiatus