Friday / 19 Aug 2022

NASA to Declare Candidate Regions for Artemis 2025 Human Moon Landing at Press Briefing

Potential landing areas for Artemis 3, with crewmembers including the first woman and first person of color on the Moon, to be revealed at media teleconference with NASA officials (L-R) Mark Kirasich, Jacob Bleacher, Sarah Noble and Prasun Desail; Regions are within 6° of MSP, are of scientific interest and contain viable landing sites; Criteria including communication coverage, illumination, and topographical considerations given weight in decision; NASA to outreach to “broader science community” to make final human landing site selection; Meeting audio to be broadcast Friday 19 Aug at 14:00 EDT

Credits: NASA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 15-18 July 2022

International Moon Day Prelaunch: Space Community Observes Apollo 11 Flight on 16 July

53rd commemoration of Apollo 11 launch to Moon will be recognized at Houston Astros baseball game, with Astronaut Anne McClain (R) throwing first pitch, Jessica Meir (L) presenting 28,163-kph ‘fastball’ that flew on ISS; AIAA hosting Neil’s Day celebration of Apollo 11 / Viking Mars landing with online presentations from Space historian Christian Gelzer, Apollo Mission Controller Lawrence Kuznetz and others; Economist/YouGov poll shows strong USA support for human exploration of Moon / Mars, with majorities of both parties / men and plurality of women in favor

Credits: NASA

Tuesday / 14 June 2022

NASA Inspiring Artemis Generation Schoolchildren with STEM Learning Lunchboxes

In partnership with Orlando Science Center, Second Harvest Food Bank and Center of Science and Industry, NASA outreach promoting Artemis mission to land first woman and person of color on Moon with 30,000 Artemis-themed kits (each containing 10 hours of STEM education material divided into 5 lesson modules) across country intended to spark interest in space science / exploration – with special focus on underrepresented communities; NASA Administrator Nelson kicks off campaign, assisting in distribution of first 500 Learning Lunchboxes at New Beginnings Church, Orlando

Credits: NASA

USA Thanksgiving Weekend Edition
Thur-Mon / 25-29 Nov 2021

VP Kamala Harris Set to Convene NSC 1 Dec with Continuity of Purpose / Greater Emphasis on Climate Expected

9th National Space Council meeting since 2017 reinstitution to be presided over by (clockwise from top) VP Harris with support of Executive Secretary Chirag Parikh; Harris likely to highlight Earth observation benefits, commercial opportunities, and Artemis / USA Moon return; First Woman on the Moon championed as “incredible” by former NASA Administrator Bridenstine and First Person of Color on the Moon goal announced by Acting Administrator Steve Jurczyk are foundational, multipartisan initiatives; Bhavya Lal, Associate Administrator for the Office of Technology, Policy and Strategy may be nominated to UAG

Credits: NASA, SPC, White House

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 1-4 Oct 2021

World Space Week 2021: Looking Toward First Woman on the Moon, International Cooperation in Space

UN-declared commemoration of Sputnik-1 (4 Oct 1964) and Outer Space Treaty (10 Oct 1967) commences next week with Women in Space theme, during a new era of space and lunar exploration with revitalized 21st Century goals to land the First Women and People of Color on the Moon; 8,000+ events across nearly 100 countries to occur, supported by organizations including Space Foundation, International Astronomical Union, SETI Institute, UNOOSA, Philippine Space Agency, European Space Education Resource Office, and Phoenix Space

Credits: WSW, Roscosmos, UN

Tuesday / 9 Mar 2021

Women Leaders At NASA Express Confidence In Artemis Mission, Voice Strategic Views

“So Much Scientific Discovery To Come From Returning To The Moon” Says (T-B) Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, First Female Launch Director (Exploration Ground Systems Program At KSC), Who Will Oversee The Launch Of The First Women To The Moon; MSFC Director Jody Singer Reiterates Importance Of SLS, Insisting It Is “Only Vehicle That Exists That Can Carry The Orion”, Cites 45-State / 1,100-Vendor Participation; Lori Garver, Deputy Administrator Of NASA Under Obama Administration, Questions Artemis Implementation With Pointed Critique Of “US$2 Billion For Every [SLS] Launch” Vs “Fraction” Of Cost For SpaceX Falcon Heavy

Credits: NASA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 12-15 Feb 2021

NASA Office Of Inspector General Outlines Artemis Financials, Biden / Harris Administration Backs Program

US$85.7B Artemis Price 2012-2025 Represents < 30% Of Adjusted Apollo Budget, With $35.2B Already Allocated; Remaining $50.5B To Meet 2024 Goal Largely Needed For Human Landing Systems ($21.3B), Space Launch System ($10.9B) and Orion Spacecraft ($6.4B), NASA 2021 Fiscal Year Budget Stands At $23.3B Total; White House, 11 Senators Voice Support, Giving Boost To Multi-partisan Nature Of Program, Critical For Moving Appropriations Through Government; Vice President Typically Leads Administration On Space, Kamala Harris Yet To Opine

Credits: NASA, White House, OIG

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 16-19 Oct 2020

Stanford On The Moon (SOM) 20th Anniversary Symposium Considers ‘1st Woman’…

SOM Symposium Convenes 16 October 1500-1700 PDT With Theme ‘NASA Returns To The Moon, First Woman On The Moon / Artemis, And Astronomy From The Moon’; First Woman Astronaut On Moon / Beyond Could Be Stanford Alumni (10 To Date); Henning Roedel (’11) To Moderate With Speakers Including Astronaut Tammy Jernigan (’81), Grant Anderson Of Paragon Space (’85) And Astronaut Nicole Aunapu Mann (’01); Panel Discussion Including ILOA Director Steve Durst (’65) To Be Moderated By Loretta Hidalgo Whitesides (’96); Endowment Funds Awarded To SSO & SAS, Received By Prof Bruce Macintosh And Prof Roger Romani, Respectively

Credits: NASA, Stanford, Paragon, Joseph Severn / Wikipedia

Tuesday / 21 July 2020

Gender Equality, Human Flourishing Are Driving Forces In Artemis Moon Return

First Woman / Next Man To Set Foot On Moon Are Among Current NASA Astronaut Corps Who Have Worked On ISS —  A Requirement That 9 Women Now Meet, 7 Other Female Astronauts Including Zena Cardman Of VA May Fly Before 2024; Per Administrator Bridenstine, A “Transformational”, “Incredible” Event “For Young Women… All Across The World”; Uplifting Motivation Will Expand Woman Sphere Of Influence / Domain, A Necessary Condition For Equality; Increasing Humanity Area Of Habitat Will Mitigate Terrestrial Carrying Capacity Issues In Progressive, Inspiring Manner

Credits: NASA, SPC, ILOA

July 4th Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 3-6 July 2020

Galaxy Forum USA 2020 July 4 Continues Space Age / ILOA Strategy And Tradition Aiming For Stars Via Moon, Jupiter And Mars

USA Celebrates Revolutionary Progression, Exploration And Resilience As National Character Traits, 50 Stars Adorn Flag Of United States Of America, Most Of Any National Emblem; In Ad Astra Spirit, Space Age Publishing Presents Dynamic Talks On Investigation Beyond Our Solar System, Space Medicine, Artemis 2024 Human Moon Landings; Pete Worden, Executive Director Of Breakthrough Starshot, NASA Ames Astrobiologist Lynn Rothschild And Planetary Scientist Chris McKay Join Director Steve Durst Of International Lunar Observatory Association For 98th Galaxy Forum; 1st Online, Co-Hosted By The Vi, Palo Alto

Credits: Breakthrough Initiative, The Vi, NASA Ames