Author Archives: LED Editor

Friday / 11 April 2014

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Moon First, Then Mars And Beyond

US Moon First

Scientists, Policy Makers, Astronauts Urge U.S. Gov To Support Return To Moon As Discussions Continue At NASA Global Exploration Roadmap Workshop 10-11 Apr; Don Brunell (TL) Points Out Moon Program Would Solidify USA Space Leadership, Facilitate Testing / Development Of Technologies For Living / Working / Transporting In Deep Space, Help Keep Pace With China; David Criswell (TC) Believes Moon Could Supply Clean Renewable Energy For Entire Planet; Harrison “Jack” Schmitt (B) Says Helium 3 Is Key To 2nd Generation Fusion Reactors

Image Credit: eoearth, D. Brunell, ISECG, NASA

Thursday / 10 April 2014

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NSS-Sponsored Initiatives Advancing Moon Exploration

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NSS International Committee, Sponsored by David Dunlop, Proposing Initiation Of International Lunar Geophysical Campaign To Advance Scientific Exploration Of Moon & Broaden Number Of Countries Participating In Lunar Exploration / Commercial Development; High & Middle School Students Working To Design Payloads For GLXP Missions In Moon Mission Challenge, Affiliate Of NSS; Teams Learning About Challenges Of Lunar Surface Operation, Payload Engineering, Will Present Payload Concepts At 27 Apr USA Science & Engineering Festival In Washington DC

Image Credit: National Space Society

Wednesday / 9 April 2014

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SpaceIL Participating In Google Hangout Today

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ISRAEL21c Hosting Google Hangout With (R-L) SpaceIL Co-Founder Kfir Damari, Head Of Mission Analysis Adam Green, Business Development Director Daniel Saat On 9 Apr, Noon EDT (19:00 IDT); Members Of The Israel-Based GLXP Team Will Be Interviewed By Viva Press Of ISRAEL21c, Then Address Questions Submitted Through Facebook & Youtube Livechat; At Least 10 Schools To Participate In Hangout; SpaceIL Intends To Donate GLXP Winnings To Israel STEM Education   

Image Credit: SpaceIL, Google, ISRAEL21c

Tuesday / 8 April 2014

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LADEE Preparing For Final Descent

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Ground Controllers From NASA Ames Will Command LADEE To Perform Final Orbital Maintenance Maneuver On Friday 11 Apr, To Put Probe On Course For Far Side Impact On Or Before 21 Apr, Travelling At 1.6 km/sec; Total Lunar Eclipse On 15 Apr Will Expose Craft To 4 Hours Of Extreme Conditions; Exact Date / Time Of Impact Depends On Variables Such As Mascons / Lumpy Gravity, Topographic Features; Public Can Guess Impact Time In NASA ‘Take The Plunge’ Contest

Image Credit: NASA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 4-7 April 2014

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PISCES Advancing Lunar Base Analog Development In Hawai`i

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340-kg Rover Unveiled By PISCES; Vehicle Will Be Integral Feature Of Robotic Village The Group Is Developing On Hawaii Island To Pave Way For Human Moon / Mars Bases; Companies From Around World Invited To Send Their Technology To Be Tested On Canada-Manufactured Rover; PISCES Will Utilize Rover & Analog Facilities To Promote STEM Education In Hawaii; Hawaii Aerospace Caucus & Groups Such As ILOA Also Helping To Advance Aerospace Technology & Development Opportunities In Hawaii; Pictured: PISCES Robotic Village Project Manager Rodrigo Romo

Image Credit: PISCES

Friday / 4 April 2014

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GLXP Endeavors To Reach Moon
To Be Televised

GLXP Apr 2014

2015 GLXP Miniseries / Live Broadcast From Moon, ‘Apollo Moment’ For The Next Generation To Be Documented, Aired By Science & Discovery Channels; Chairman Of XPRIZE Foundation Peter Diamandis (TL) Enthusiastic About Penn State Lunar Lion Potential Due To University / Community Support, Reminds All GLXP Teams That The Future Is At Stake; Moon Express Co-Founder Naveen Jain Speaks On Plans To Harvest Moon Resources To Benefit Earth, CEO Bob Richards Featured At ‘Found In Space’ Autodesk Design Night In San Francisco

Image Credit: GLXP, NASA, B. Chen

Thursday / 3 April 2014

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LADEE Media Teleconference Today

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Media Teleconference Hosted By NASA Today At 11:00 PDT To Discuss LADEE Extended Mission Operations, Additional Science Gathering, Planned 21 Apr Impact Into Lunar Surface; US$263M-Probe Successfully Completed 100-Day Primary Mission In March; Spacecraft Will Continue To Gather Data At Progressively Lower Altitudes Until Impact; Teleconference Participants: LADEE Project Executive Joan Salute (T), Project Manager Butler Hine (B), Project Scientist Richard Elphic

Image Credit:  NASA

Wednesday / 2 April 2014

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Future Of Human Spaceflight Debate Rolls On

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Former Astronauts (Clockwise T-B) Rusty Schweickart, Tom Jones, Garrett Reisman – To Discuss Future Of Human Spaceflight At Caltech On 8 April, Event Co-Sponsored By Planetary Society, Former Director Lou Friedman Believes Asteroid Redirection Mission Is Only Way To Advance USA Human Spaceflight Within Budgetary Constraints; Paul Spudis Points Out National Security Implications Of USA Retreat From Space, Notes Cislunar Space Is The ‘Space Theater’ Of Future, Warns Commercial Space Enterprises Unable To Open Up New Frontier Without Strong Space Presence / Capability Of Government

Image Credit: Popular Mechanics, NASA, Planetary Society, Spudis Lunar Resources Blog

Tuesday / 1 April 2014

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Astrobotic Technology Inc Successfully Tests Autolanding System

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GLXP Team Tests New Landing Sensor At Mojave Air & Space Port In CA; Astrobotic Autolanding System (AAS) Utilizes 2 Cameras, Scanning Laser, Inertial Measurement Unit; Low-Power Lightweight System Relies On Hi-Res LRO Lunar Surface Imagery, Makes Decisions Without Human Input; Flawless Flight Test Utilized Masten Aerospace Xombie Rocket, Descended From 250m, Used AAS To Detect Hazards & Select Landing Site; Pictured Astrobotic CEO John Thornton

Image Credit: Astrobotic Technology Inc

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 28-31 March 2014

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Moon South Pole 2016 Missions
An Emerging Priority For Space Powers

SouthPoleMoon2016

Japan / JAXA & Russia / Roscosmos Both Considering 2016 South Pole Lander; China May Be Evaluating South Pole Landing Of Chang’e-4; India Chandrayaan-2 South Pole Lander Could Be Ready For 2016 If GSLV 2nd Test Launch Successful; Europe Advancing South Pole Mission Concept; NASA Recognizes South Pole As Ideal Lunar Destination For Resource Prospecting / Utilization & Human Moon Base, USA Might Advance Lunar Lander Mission Development To Avoid Being Left Behind  

Image Credit: JAXA, ISRO, ROSCOSMOS, ESA, CNSA