Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 15-18 Dec 2023

Laser Communications Experiments Validating Technology for Space and Moon

Seeking to advance in-space communication beyond cost, security and bandwidth limitations of RF and building on Lunar Laser Communications Demonstration (LLCD, 2013-14), NASA now operating first 2-way laser relay link from Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) orbital craft to Integrated LCRD Low Earth Orbit User Modem and Amplifier Terminal (ILLUMA-T) mounted on exposed facility of ISS Japanese Kibō module at 1.2 Gbps data rate, ~7x the average USA internet speed; Deep Space Optical Communications technology demonstration (DSOC) recently validated very deep space laser comms, sending data from JPL Psyche 16,000,000 km (~41x Earth-Moon distance) to Palomar Observatory

Credits: NASA / Dave Ryan

Friday / 18 Aug 2023

International Lunar Year Being Fostered by US State Department as DARPA Advances 10-Year Lunar Architecture

US Department of State, led by Secretary Antony Blinken and Acting Deputy Secretary Victoria Nuland, is hosting high level discussions on the launch of an International Lunar Year (ILY), modeled on International Geophysical Year (1957-58), International Space Year (1992), International Polar Year (2007-08); Called for in US National Cislunar Science & Technology Strategy, an ILY would coordinate international developments in Moon studies, specifically geophysical networks, heliophysics and far-side radio astronomy; 1 July 2027 — 31 Dec 2028 suggested by Bobby Braun of JHUAPL; DARPA offering ≤US$1M for commercial lunar service plans under LunA-10 program, winners to be announced at LSIC 10-11 Oct

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 21-24 May 2021

Solar Weather Patterns May Imperil Human Moon Landings If Artemis Schedule Slips

University Of Reading (UK) Study Applies Statistical Analysis To 150 Years Of Solar Weather Data; Findings Suggest Extreme Coronal Mass Ejections, Deleterious To Human Health And Technology, May Be More Probable In Later Half Of Odd-Numbered 11-Year Solar Cycles (With Opposite Trend During Even), Possibly Due To Concurrent Solar Geomagnetic Reversals; Cycle 25 Runs From Approximately 2019-30, Artemis Human Moon Missions In Possible Jeopardy 2026-30 Unless Nominal Surface Exposure Radiation Levels Of 60 µSv/h Can Be Maintained With Shielding Measures

Credits: NASA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 15-18 Jan 2021

Europe Considers Place In Moon, Mars, Solar System Exploration

ESA Must Remain Relevant Amongst Spacefaring Powers USA, Rising China And India With Long Term Vision / Investment (ESA 2020 Budget = US$7.82B, NASA = $22.6B), Europe Human Landing On Moon By Decade End, Says ESA Director Of Human & Robotic Exploration David Parker At European Space Conference; MVA (Giuseppe Reibaldi, Aline Decadi) Promotes Women On The Moon Initiative; ILEWG (Bernard Foing) Advancing Lunar Exploration; Astronomy From The Moon Championed By Ian Crawford, Martin Elvis, Joseph Silk And John Zarnecki Of UK Royal Society

 

Credits: ESA, MVA, ILEWG, Royal Society

Tuesday / 1 Sep 2020

“Lunar Cruiser” Moniker For Moon Surface Transport Announced By Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency And Toyota

A Lunar Vehicle Capable Of Both Autonomous And Crewed Function, Powered By Hybrid Hydrogen Fuel Cells / Solar Panel, Receives Nickname Homage To Venerable ‘Land Cruiser’ Line Of Off-Road Vehicles Said To Ensure Occupants ‘Come Back Alive’; The 6-wheeled, 6-meter Long Vessel Is To Contain 42.67 Meter2 Pressurized Crew Cabin And Have Range Of ~10,000-km, About The Circumference Of The Moon; Lunar Cruiser Considered Focal Point For Team Japan Study Meeting, A 100+ Strong Association Of Japan Enterprises With Goal Of Lunar Society Actualization

Credits: JAXA, Toyota, Team Japan Study Meeting

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 19-22 June 2020

Africa Rising: Second Largest Continent Increasingly Focused On Space, Moon

African Space Industry Report Estimates Continental Space Industry Valuation Equals US$7B, Expected To Reach $10B By 2024; (T-B) Space Agency Directors Solomon Tessema Of Ethiopia, Valanathan Munsami Of South Africa And Ahmad Shaba Of Nigeria Optimistic On Pan-Africa Cooperation Through Recently Established African Space Agency, Headquartered In Egypt; Proposal Made During MVA General Assembly 19 June To Hold 2022 Moon Village Workshop & Symposium In Africa; Capetown-Based Satellite Engineering Space Advisory Company Contributed Digital Controller To NCLE, Currently Conducting Astronomy From The Moon

 

Credits: NASA, ASA, ESSTI, AGEOS, TSA, SASA, NSRDA, ESA, KSA, ZNGSA, GGPEN, GSSTC, LCRSSS, NRSC

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 7-10 June 2019

New Form Of Public / Private Collaboration Key To Realization Of Artemis Program?

Wealthiest Individual Jeff Bezos Says ‘Civilization Needs Moon’ And Space Habitation Critical To ‘Save Earth’, Hours Before NASA Administrator Bridenstine Declares 2024 Lunar Landing ‘Off The Table’ If Additional US$1.6B Congressional Funding Fails To Materialize; Given Existential Motivation For Humanization Of Space, New Form Of Public / Private Partnership Could Realize Artemis Moon Mission If Political Will Falters

Credits: NASA, Twitter

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 7-10 Sep 2018

JAXA, ANA Holdings AVATAR X Program Aims For Remote Robotic Lunar Base Construction

JAXA And ANA Holdings Partner On AVATAR X Program To Develop Robotic Avatars To Remotely Build Lunar Camps, Support Long-Term Missions & Deep Space Exploration; Aims For Remote Lunar & Mars Construction, Space Station Operation & Maintenance, Space Entertainment & Public Travel; Consortium Phase Begins In 2018, Opening Construction Designs To Interested Space Industry Companies; Phase Two 2019 Building Of “AVATAR X Lab@OITA” In Oita, Japan To House Infrastructure, Telecommunication Hardware, Testing Facilities; Early 2020s Phase Three To Test In LEO, Leading To Final Phase On Moon, Beyond

Credits: JAXA, ANA Holdings, Inc.

Friday / 20 July 2018

Apollo 11 49th Landing Observation And Buzz Aldrin’s Vision Of Moon / Mars Future

Space Exploration Day / First Footsteps Taken On Another World By Neil Armstrong And Buzz Aldrin Commemorated Today For Historic Impact & Perpetual Motivation To Surpass And Explore Beyond; Moonworker Buzz Aldrin Developing Human SpaceFlight Institute In Houston, Publishing To The Moon & Back Co-Authored By Marianne Dyson 16 Oct, And Advocating For ‘The Next Eagle Landing’ To Involve International Cooperation, Including China, To Develop A Path To Mars As Next Stepping Stone Into Solar System

Credits: NASA, GSFC

Friday / 29 June 2018

Buzz Aldrin Vision For Human SpaceFlight Institute, Lunar Gateway, Global / China Space Collaboration

Iconic Astronaut Dr. Buzz Aldrin Launching Houston-Based Human SpaceFlight Institute To Pioneer Research For Future Human Space Systems / Missions, Host Workshops & Internships – Will Announce High-Level Strategic Partners Oct 2018; Aldrin Advocates For Return To Moon Surface, Sees Lunar Gateway As Major Opportunity To Work With China, Advance Fuel / Power Tech, Build Deep Space Infrastructures Or Multiple Gateways To Reach Mars & Beyond; Inspiring Announcements Anticipated For 49th And 50th Observation Of Apollo 11 On 20 July

Credits: NASA, Buzz Aldrin via Twitter