NASA Successful Lunar Laser Communications Demonstration (LLCD) Paving Way For Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) 2017 Launch As Payload On Space Systems Loral (SSL) Commercial Satellite; LLCD Which Utilizes Laser vs. Radio Frequency (RF) Has Many Benefits Including: Quick Data Transmission 10-100x Faster Than RF, High Bandwidths & Less Mass / Power
Credit: NASA
Moscow Institute For Medical & Biological Problems To Observe Psychological Effects & Performance Of 6 Russia Women Scientists (Selected From 10 Experts In Physical / Biological / Medical Research) During 8-Day “Moon Mission” Starting 27 Oct; Women Will Live In Confined Mockup Spacecraft & Use Short Radius Centrifuge; Mission Duration Simulates Launch, One Orbit Around Moon & Return To Earth; Results Will Aid Planning For Long-Duration Missions / Permanent Moon Settlements
Credit: Medical & Biological Problems Institute, ESA, Laboratory of Physics & Physiology
Research 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
Team Synergy Moon Announces Developments With Launch Infrastructure, Vehicle & Lander; Team Puli Lunar Rover On Display For Participants To Operate In Budapest, Hungary At Exosphere Copernicus Series 13-31 July; Team Astrobotic Lunar Rover To Send Up “Moon Arts Ark” With Weight < 6oz Holding Earth Art / Led By Carnegie Mellon University’s Art Professor & Renowned Space Artist, Lowry Burgess (Top)
Credit: GLXP, Synergy Moon, Astrobotic, PresUniversity, Exosphere, Puli Space
LunarCube Technologies & Opportunities To Be Examined At LCW 5 In San Jose CA 6-9 October; Topics To Include: Cislunar Communications, LunarCube Science & Payloads, & NASA’s Cube Quest Challenge (CQC) To Promote New Technology Developments For Lunar Orbit & Deep Space Communication; CQC CubeSat To Fly To Moon In 2018 As Secondary Payload On Orion Spacecraft & Space Launch Systems (SLS) EM-1; Winning Team(s) To Share Prize Of US$5M NASA’s First In-Space Competition With Largest Prize
Credit: Lunarcubes.com, Lunar-Cube, Lunarnetworks, NASA
International Fleet Of South Pole Lunar Landers Developing From India (Chandrayaan-2, 2017), China (Chang’e-4 & -5, 2017), Japan (SLIM, 2019), Russia (Luna-25, 2019), Korea (2020), As Well As Independent Enterprises Moon Express, ILOA, Canadensys, Golden Spike Company & Shackleton Energy Company; American Flags On Moon Commemorated 4 July As Pioneering Individuals Look Forward To Earth / International Flags & Multi World Species Endeavors
Credit: NASA, JAXA, CNSA, IIT-Kanpur, ISRO, ILOA, ME
China Satellite Launch And Tracking Control (CLTC) 35-Meter Diameter Antenna Being Hosted In Neuquén Province, Argentina, Due To Its Diametric Opposition From China; Designed To Track CNSA China Lunar Exploration Program & Future Missions To Mars; Cooperation Likely To Support Deep Space Missions, Chang’e 3-5 Lunar Lander / Rover & Future China Space Stations; Bilateral Agreements Made By Presidents Christina Fernández de Kirchner & Xi Jinping
Credit: Xinhua, CNSA
Great Time For Bold Thinking / Planning For Human Solar System Exploration Spanning Entire 21st Century; New Horizons Confirmation Of New, Third, Outer Solar System Region Highlights Jupiter / Saturn Systems ‘Strategic Center’ Planning For Comprehensive 21st Century Goals And Complement For Moon / Mars / Asteroids Inner Region Exploration
Credit: NASA, SpaceX
Hakuto Japan Team Leader Takeshi Hakamada (BR) Stresses Importance Of “Commercialization Of Moon”; Lunar Rover To Seek “Cave For Possible Habitat Location” With Wheels Designed For Mobility In Fine-Grained Dust On Moon Surface; German Team Part-Time Scientists Add Cooperating Partner Audi To Provide Technological Know-How From Quatrro All-Wheel Drive For Rover Optimization
Credit: NASA, GLXP, Audi, Team Hakuto, Team Part-Time Scientist
Mapping Lunar Surface & Collecting Information About Moon Environment, LRO Entering Year 7, Flying In Elliptical Orbit 20km Over South Pole / 165km North Pole, With An Orbital Period Of ~115 Mins; US$19M Highlighted In NASA Budget Request For FY2016 Per The House Of Representatives Commerce Justice Science (CJS) Appropriations Bill (H.R. 2578) On 3 June 2015
Credit: NASA