Author Archives: LED Editor

Thursday / 16 April 2015

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China Lunar Sample Return Mission Progressing On Schedule

CLEP0415

Command Structure Formed To Oversee Long March 5 Development & 3rd Phase Of China Lunar Exploration Program; CLEP General Director Xu Dazhe Gives Speech At Group’s 1st Meeting Calling For Phase 3 Objectives To Be Reached On Schedule; Ascender Of China Chang’e-5 Lunar Explorer Inspected & Accepted For Plume Testing; New Generation Rocket Long March 5 Successfully Undergoes 20-Minute Test Run, Launch Site Drill Planned For End 2015, 1st Launch In 2016, Will Be Used To Launch Chang’e-5 ~2017

Image Credit: CLEP, CNSA, AMA

Wednesday / 15 April 2015

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Abstract Deadline For NASA SSERVI Exploration Science Forum

SSERVIrpm

2nd Annual NASA Exploration Science Forum To Be Held At Ames Research Center, Moffett Field CA On 21-23 Jul; Tomorrow Is Last Day To Submit Abstracts; Forum Will Feature Scientific Discussions Of Human Exploration Of Moon & Other Destinations Of Interest; Event To Be Followed By Resource Prospector Mission Meeting, Will Provide Introduction To Parameters & Capabilities Of Mission & Current Status Of Landing Site Analysis; Follow Up RPM Meeting In Conjunction With LEAG Meeting This Fall

Image Credit: NASA

Tuesday / 14 April 2015

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International Lunar Decade Initiative Seeking UN Support

ILD0415

Initiative Of ILEWG, NSS & University Of Latvia Seeks To Build Foundations For Permanent Human Presence Beyond LEO Through Detailed Framework Of International & Public-Private Partnerships, Legal / Property Rights Resolutions; ILD Working Group Seeking UN General Assembly Sanctioning As Global Activity, 1st Step Is COPUOS Approval, Possibly In 10-19 June 58th COPUOS Session; ILD To Be Discussed / Advanced At Upcoming Conferences In Florida USA, Frascati Italy, Toronto Canada

Image Credit: NASA, ILEWG, UN

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 10-13 April 2015

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LRO Providing Opportunities For Researchers & Educators

LROEducation0415

US$504-Million LRO Mission, Costing US$12.4M To Operate Annually, Will Achieve 6 Years In Lunar Orbit This Jun; Extension Of Operations Into 2016 Still In Question; Data Set 22 – With Data Collected From Dec 2014 To Mar 2015 – Expected In Jun 2015; Slides From Recent LRO Data Users Workshop Now Available; Registration For Jul 2015 Lunar Workshops For Educators Still Open

Image Credit: NASA

Friday / 10 April 2015

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Google Lunar XPrize Developments GLXP

GLXP Team Omega Envoy Reveals New Look For Rover “Sagan” With 3D-Printed Parts & Prepares For Testing; Lunar Lion Working To 3D Print Thruster Model For Prototype; Moon Express Developing KSC Space Launch Complex 36 For MTV-1X Lander Testing; Hakuto & Astrobotic Plan For Rideshare To Moon Late 2016 Aboard SpaceX Falcon 9; Remaining 18 Teams Work To Achieve Moon Landing Before Dec 31, 2016; Discovery Channel & Science Chanel To Air ‘Lunar XPrize’ Documentary Miniseries In 2015-16

Image Credit: GLXP, Astrobotic, Google, SpaceFlorida, Omega Envoy, Penn State Lunar Lion

Thursday / 9 April 2015

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Buzz Aldrin & John Travolta To Host ShareSpace Launch Gala

TravoltaBuzz0415

John Travolta To Headline Gala Event To Launch MoonWorker Buzz Aldrin’s ShareSpace Foundation 18 July At NASA KSC Under Last Surviving Saturn 5 Rocket; Other Astronauts & Apollo Veterans Expected To Join Event; US$1,200-Tickets Limited To 150 People, Extra $1,000 Will Get 25 People VIP Experience Of After Party, Etc, With Actor And MoonWorker; Proceeds Will Benefit ShareSpace Foundation Devoted To Promoting Space Tourism For The Masses

Image Credit: ShareSpace, KSCVC

Wednesday / 8 April 2015

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Lunar Workshop Highlights Opportunities Of Upcoming Surface Missions

IWLSA5

5th International Workshop On Lunar Surface Applications 14-17 April In Cocoa Beach Florida Will Provide Overview Of Lunar Surface Missions That Are In Development & Opportunities They Present For Scientists & Space Entrepreneurs; Representatives From NASA Lunar Catalyst Program Participants Moon Express, Astrobotic, Masten Will Present; Workshop Will Also Feature In Depth Look At Engineering & Science Of Lunar Polar ISRU & NASA Lunar Resource Prospector Mission

Image Credit: Flexure Engineering, NASA, Moon Express, Masten

Tuesday / 7 April 2015

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Moon Reemerging In NASA Plans?

MoonISRUmars0415

Reports Surfacing That NASA Is Shifting Plans To Incorporate More Cislunar / Lunar Surface Elements Into Its “Evolvable Mars Campaign”; Chief Of NASA Human Exploration Admits Current 900-Day Direct Mars Mission Plan Not Achievable, Harnessing Reservoirs Of Ice At Lunar Poles For Rocket Fuel & Testing ISRU Technologies At Moon Is Under Consideration; NASA Officials Still Deny Lunar Surface Plans / Any Changes To Current Human Space Exploration Plan; NASA Advisory Council Human Exploration & Operations Committee Meeting In Washington DC 7-8 April

Image Credit: NASA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 3-6 April 2015

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China Advancing Human Moon Mission Elements

ChinaHumanMoonElements

Research Paper On New Generation Multi-Purpose Space Crew Capsule Published By Aerospace Manned Flight Center Of China Aerospace Technology & Research Institute, Media Reports Reveal It As 1st China Human Moon Capsule Concept Design; Chang’e-5 Lander, Mission Design Indicate Mission Will Test Elements / Procedures For Human Mission – Large Lander & Reentry Vehicle, Apollo-Like Mission Scenario; China Working On Long March-9 Rocket With 130-Metric Ton Payload Capacity, Reportedly To Facilitate Human Moon Missions

Image Credit: CNSA, China Aerospace Technology & Research Institute

Friday / 3 April 2015

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Moon Spacecraft To Observe Shortest Lunar Eclipse Of 21st Century

Lunar Ecplise Apr 4

Total Lunar Eclipse 4 Mins 43 Secs Starting 01:58 HST 4 April Will Be Shortest Of 21st Century & Shortest Since 1529; NASA Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter To Study Lunar Surface Temperature Changes; China Chang’e-3 At Sinus Iridum / Mare Imbrium May Observe Lunar Terminator & Dust Dynamics, Take Images Along With Chang’e-5-T1 In Moon Orbit;  NASA Media Teleconference & Live Feed Of Eclipse From Griffith Observatory In CA Available; Next Total Eclipse 28 Sep To Last 1 Hr 12 Mins

Image Credit: NASA, LRO, CNSA, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Phil Hart