Author Archives: LED Editor

Thursday / 5 February 2015

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FAA Commercial Space Conference Evaluating Future Direction Of Commercial Space

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US Gov Officials, NASA & Industry Leaders, Space Entrepreneurs, Astronauts And Space Enthusiasts Meeting On 4-5 Feb In Washington DC For 18th Annual FAA Commercial Space Transportation Conference; Event Comes On Heels Of Announcement That FAA Will Ensure Commercial Activities On Moon / Celestial Bodies Can Be Conducted On Non-Interference Basis; On Day 1 Of Conference FAA Administrator Michael Huerta Says It Is Not Too Early For Industry & Government To Plan For Future Of Regulations

Image Credit: Astrobotic, faa.gov

Wednesday / 4 February 2015

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US Government Takes Step To Support Commercial Development Of Moon

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Federal Aviation Administration Supports Request From Bigelow Aerospace To Recognize Private Sector’s Need To Protect Assets & Personnel On Moon, Expanding Scope From Launch Licensing To Lunar Activities Of US Companies; More Legal & Diplomatic Work Still Needed As Issues Regarding Lunar Property & Mineral Rights Pending; Bigelow To Test Inflatable Habitat At ISS This Year, Moon Habitats Around 2025; Moon Express Intends To Return Moon Rocks / Regolith In 3rd Mission

Pictured: TR- FAA Associate Administrator George Nield, BL- Robert Bigelow

Image Credit: Bigelow Aerospace, faa.gov

Tuesday / 3 February 2015

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Shackleton Energy Company Seeks To Fuel
Human Solar System Exploration

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1.6B Tonnes Of Water At Moon Poles Is Likely Prize That Will Stimulate New Lunar Gold Rush; USA Texas-Based Shackleton Energy Company Advancing Plan To Mine Moon Water With Robotic & Human Missions, Convert It To Rocket Propellant (Hydrogen & Oxygen), & Sell It At Orbital Fuel Depots; Company Continues To Advance Business Plan After Pursuing Crowdfunding Campaign & Lobbying For NASA Support

Image Credit: Shackleton Energy Company, Popular Mechanics

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 30 Jan – 2 Feb 2015

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Russia & ESA Advancing Plans For Human Exploration / Development Of Moon

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RSC Energia Deputy General Nikolai Bryukhanov Says Russia Aerospace Enterprise Is Working On Creating New Crewed Spacecraft For Missions To The Moon; European Space Agency Releases New Video Outlining Plans For Possible Human Mission To Far Side Moon; Agency Sees South Pole-Aitken Basin As Promising Location For Human Habitation & Development, Moon Place Where All Nations Can Come Together To Understand Common Origins, Build Common Future

Image Credit: RSC Energia, ESA

Friday / 30 January 2015

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India Confirms Plans For
Moon South Pole Landing

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Chandrayaan-2 Moon Lander / Rover Will Land Near Moon South Pole According To Anil Bhardwaj, Director Of Vikram Sarabhai Space Center Space Physics Lab; Announcement Confirms India Will Be At Forefront Of The Push To The New Frontier Of Human Exploration And Development, After Confirming Presence Of Extensive Water Reserves In Polar Craters With Chandrayaan-1 Lunar Orbiter; Success Of Mangalyaan Mars Mission Confirms Country’s Ability To Achieve Cost-Effective Planetary Missions; GSLV-Mark 3 Rocket Success Adds 1000-kg Capacity To Chandrayaan-2

Image Credit: ISRO, quazoo.com

Thursday / 29 January 2015

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Africa2Moon Mission Funding Campaign Closes In 2 Days

Africa2Moon

Africa2Moon Wants To Send Robotic Craft To Moon Orbit Or Surface To Provide Live Images For Africa Classrooms Thereby Raising Space Awareness, Providing High-Tech Project To Keep Graduates In Country, Bringing Investment Opportunities & Skills Training To Africa; Partnered With UN Foundation #GivingTuesday Initiative, Seeking Private Funding For US$150,000 For Phase 1 Mission Concept & Feasibility Study; Fundraising Campaign Ends 31 Jan

Pictured: Mission Administrator Professor Peter Martinez (L); Project Administrator Jonathan Weltman

Image Credit: Africa2Moon, Rueters, Foundation for Space Development of South Africa, NASA

Wednesday / 28 January 2015

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India Advancing Moon & Mars Missions, GSLV, Human CARE Capsule

India ISRO Moon

ISRO Focusing On Chandrayaan-2 Moon Mission & Considering Second Mars Mission; Working On GSLV Mk 3 & Human-Rated CARE Capsule After Successful Launch Last Month; US President Obama Meeting With India Prime Minister Modi Says “Together, We Unlock New Discoveries – From The Particles Of Creation To Outer Space – Two Nations To Have Gone To Both The Moon & To Mars”; GLXP Team Indus Awarded US$1M Milestone Prize, Needs $35M For Completing / Launching Spacecraft

Pictured: Mahatma Gandhi Crater On Moon At Sinus Iridum 43.7°N 26.8°W – Also Known As Laplace A

Image Credit: ISRO, NASA, Team Indus, GLXP, Vinod Singh/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Tuesday / 27 January 2015

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Milestone Prizes Start Off 2015
Decisive Year For GLXP

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Successful GLXP Moon Mission Would Provide Validation Of Critical NewSpace / Commercial Dimension Of Lunar Exploration & Development; Milestone Prizes May Provide Boost / Momentum To Leading Contenders As They Seek To Confirm 2016 Launch Plans By End Of This Year, Thereby Extending The Contest For An Additional Year; Total Of 9 Prizes Were Awarded, With Teams Receiving: Astrobotic US$1.75M, Moon Express $1.25M, Team Indus $1M, Part-Time Scientists $750K, Hakuto $500K

Image Credit: GLXP

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 23-26 January 2015

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Google Lunar XPRIZE To Announce Milestone Prize Winners

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On Monday 26 Jan, Up To US$6M In Milestone Prizes Will Be Awarded To Qualified Teams At A Private Event At California Academy Of Sciences In San Francisco; Max 3 Teams Can Win US$1M Landing Prize, 4 Teams Can Win $500K Mobility Prize & $250K Imaging Prize; Previous Announcement Confirmed That Astrobotic Won Mobility & Imaging Prizes; Other Teams Competing For Prizes Include: Hakuto, Moon Express, Indus, Part Time Scientists

Image Credit: GLXP

Friday / 23 January 2015

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Moon Express, Space Florida, NASA
Advancing Florida Moon Missions Legacy

ME FL

ME Testing & Developing MTV-1X Lunar Lander At KSC Shuttle Landing Facility, Will Begin Operations By End Of Q2 2015 At Space Launch Complex 36, Which Was Used To Launch Surveyors To Moon, Mariners To Mars, Pioneers To Jupiter / Saturn / Beyond; Bob Richards (CEO) Says Agreement With Space Florida, & ME Initial Investment Of US$500K Will Allow For “Immediate” Infrastructure Improvements To Make Site Operational; Likely To Build Own “Moonscape”; Block House & Engineering Building To Be Dubbed “Moon Mountain” 

Image Credit: ME, NASA