Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 7-10 August 2015

A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Moon Vision Aids India Space Mission Accomplishments

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Human Space Missions To Moon & Mars Proposed By The Late Former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam To ISRO Noted Future Economic Benefits; Kalam Moon Impact Probe As Part Of Chandrayaan-I Discovery Of Water On Moon South Pole Prompted Agencies To Further Investigations; India Second Lunar Mission Chandrayaan-II Moon Lander To Launch In 2017 By Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-MkII)

Credit: ISRO, S. Mahinsha, The Hindu

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 31 July – 3 August 2015

ILOA Astronomy From The Moon At 29th IAU In Hawai`i 3-14 August

MSPA LEDInternational Lunar Observatory Association ILO-1 “Moon South Pole Astronomy” Vision To Be Featured In Honolulu At International Astronomical Union (IAU) Triennial General Assembly Poster Session 3-7 August; ILOA Galaxy Imaging Is Being Conducted With Lunar Ultraviolet Telescope Aboard Chang’e-3 Lunar Lander; ILOA Advancing Astronomy From The Moon With Contractor Canadensys Aerospace & Human Moon Missions With Golden Spike Company; IAU Is The Largest Gathering Of Professional Astronomers

Credit: ILOA, Michael Carroll

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 24-27 July 2015

New Moon Plan For “Evolvable Lunar Architecture” & Campaign 2016 Considerations

7242015Paul Spudis (TR) Of LPI Supports Refining Lunar Water Into Rocket Fuel To Assist Deep Space Exploration; Spudis Raises Concerns On Projected Cost & Quasi-Commercial Lunar Authority Proposing NASA Base To Protect American Interest; Charles Miller (TL) NexGen President & Study’s Principal Investigator Outlines Feasibility Of Returning To Moon By Leveraging Commercial Partnerships; Paper Opens Discussions & Considerations With Upcoming Presidential Elections

Credit: NASA, National Press Club, Lunar and Planetary Institute

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 17-20 July 2015

SpaceDay 2015

7172015Apollo@50 Considerations, Preparation Energized By New Horizons / Pluto Galaxy Enterprise; Apollo 11 / Armstrong / Aldrin Touchdown Stands As Signature Event Of 20th Century & Points To American / Global Potential For 21st Century Solar System Challenges & Competence; New Horizons New Solar System 3-Zone Confirmation; NASA (JPL) Transformers For Lunar Extreme Environment At Moon South Pole Shackleton Crater; India SpaceWeek Observances At Regional Science Centre-Tirupati To Generate Space Interest & Awareness With Science Director A. Jayaraman (BR)

Credit: NASA, NARL

Thursday / 9 July 2015

Moon South Pole & Lunar Cave
Research Being Funded

792015Research Continues For Moon South Pole Shackleton Crater Terraforming For Future Robotic & Human Habitat / Exploration; Crater ~209 Square Kilometers With Peaks Over 4,267 Meters In Which Water Potential Has Been Identified; Technological Trans-Former Will Operate In Darkness / Low Temperatures, Reflect Sunlight & Convert Into Energy For Rover / Astronauts; NIAC Also Awarding Funds For PERISCOPE Orbiter To Shine Laser Pulses Into Crater / Caves & Gather Data

Credit: NASA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 19-22 June 2015

Moon Missions Discussed At 2015 International Paris Air Show

6192015Russia Luna-25 Performing “Earth Trials” For Projected 2019 Landing At Moon South Pole To Study Moon Structure, Cosmic Ray Impact, Electromagnetic Radiation; Incoming ESA Director General (1 July), Johann-Dietrich Wörner (TR) Discussing  International Partnerships & States “One Of My Ideas Is To Go To The Moon, To The Far Side Of The Moon. To Have Robots And Humans Really Be Present There, On A Permanent Station…”

Credit: NASA, Roscosmos Press Service, EuroNews, International Paris Air Show

Thursday / 18 June 2015

Lunar Mission One Continues To Gain

United Nations Attention

6182015Privately Funded Lunar Mission One (LMO) Gaining International Space Mission Support For Moon South Pole 2024 Exploration; David Iron (B), Founder of Lunar Missions Trust & Lunar Missions Ltd Proposes Partnership Allowing Individual & Government Collaboration; Iron Recently Addressed Committee On The Peaceful Uses Of Outer Space (COPUOS) Administered By United Nations Office For Outer Space Affairs; Supported By Former Conservative Science Minister Ian Taylor (TR), & Astronomer Royal Lord Martin Rees (TL), LMO To Deepen Understandings Of Moon & Earth Origins

Credit: Lunar Mission One, David Iron, Ian Taylor, Martin Rees

Tuesday / 9 June 2015

ESA To Collaborate On
China Chang’e-4 Mission

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China National Space Administration Officials Confirm That ESA Will Participate In Chang’e-4 Mission, Collaborating On Mission Science & Payload Development; Agreement Came Out Of Beijing Meetings With CNSA Administrator Wu Yanhua & ESA Director General Jean-Jacques Dordain; Chang’e-4 May Launch 2020, Be 1st Craft To Land On Lunar Far Side, Likely In South Pole-Aitken Basin; Final Decisions Regarding Chang’e-4 Plan Expected Sep 2015

Image Credit: ESA, CNSA, NASA

Tuesday / 2 June 2015

China Showcasing Lunar Exploration Program Successes, Eyeing Next Steps

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China Lunar Exploration Exhibit Open At Museum On Hainan – Site Of Wenchang Launch Center / Future Moon Program Launches Including Chang’e-5 Sample Return In 2017; Additional Exhibit To Be Featured In Kunming, Yunnan Province 12-16 June; Exhibits Feature Objects From CLEP, Models Of Chang’e-3 Lander / Yutu Rover, Presentations By Lunar Experts; Chief Lunar Exploration Engineer Wu Weiren Says Chang’e-4 Mission May Be Destined For Far Side Of Moon, Likely South Pole-Aitken Basin Region

Image Credit: CLEP, Huang Benqiang, Li Peng

Wednesday / 13 May 2015

India Advancing Historic Mission To Lunar Pole

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ISRO Officials Inform India Parliament That Chandrayaan-2 Mission Is On Schedule For 2017 Launch; Space Physics Laboratory Director Anil Bhardwaj Notes Mission Will Be 1st-Ever India Soft Landing On Planetary Body & 1st Attempt By Any Nation To Land At Lunar Pole; Mission Will Be Entirely Indigenous & Include Orbiter, Lander & Rover; Will Be Launched By GSLV Rocket; Orbiter Expected To Include 5 Scientific Payloads, & 2 More On Rover, Still Possible Lander Could Host Astronomical Observatory Payload Similar To Successful LUT Of China Chang’e-3 Lander

Image Credit: K. Ragesh, Vikram Sarabhai Space Center, ISRO