Wednesday / 12 June 2013

CRaTER Reveals Plastics Provide Lightweight Radiation Shielding

LED061213

Researchers At University of New Hampshire & SwRI Report That Data From LRO’s CRaTER Validates Computer Models Which Indicate Lightweight Materials Offer Superior Shielding From Radiation; Lead Author Cary Zeitlin Of SwRI Calls Plastics “Pound-For-Pound More Effective For Shielding Against Cosmic Radiation Than Aluminum”; These Lower Mass Alternatives Open The Door To Deep Space Missions & A Permanent Human Presence On The Surface Of The Moon

Image Credit: NASA, SwRI, UNH

Friday / 24 May 2013

4th Lunabotics Mining Competition Advances Innovative Technologies

4th Lunabotics

700+ Students From 50 Universities & 8 Countries Showcase Student-Built Lunar Excavator Robots (Lunabots) In LunArena At KSC Visitor Complex On May 20-24; Teams Must Mine 10kg Of Moon Regolith Simulant In 10 Mins, Consider Lunabot Weight, Dust Resistance, Use Of Bandwidth; Robert Mueller (B) Lead Senior Tech Of RASSOR Says Competition Is Significant Since It Can Help Get Humans Closer To Living Off Resources Which Already Exist In Space

Image Credit: NASA

Thursday / 25 April 2013

‘The High Frontier’ Still Inspiring People To Think Big

HighFrontier0413

Over 4700 Copies Of 1976 Gerard K. O’Neill Book ‘The High Frontier’ Downloaded During 4-Day Free Promotion Indicating Large-Scale Human Space Settlement Is Still Of Interest To Many; Authoritative Book Details Exciting / Attainable Benefits Of Developing Cislunar Space: Space-Based Solar Power, Mass Drivers For Putting Lunar Resources To Good Use, Large Space & Lunar Habitats

Image Credit: SSI