Author Archives: LED Editor

Wednesday / 11 December 2013

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Moon Express Unveils Innovative Lunar Lander

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MX-1 Lander Lacks Legs & Typical ‘Bus’ Structure, Instead Using Fuel Tanks For Structural Integrity And Landing Stability; Craft Weighs 600kg When Fully Fueled (75% Of Mass = Fuel), Capable Of Delivering 60kg To Lunar Surface; Moon Express Co-Founder & CEO Bob Richards Says Engineering Prototype May Be Ready For Testing By May 2014; 2015 Mission Will Deliver International Lunar Observatory Precursor Instrument (ILO-X) To Moon, Compete For GLXP

Image Credit: Moon Express

Tuesday / 10 December 2013

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Lunar Enterprise Daily Is Undergoing Operation Upgrades And Will Resume Publication ASAP. Thank You For Your Understanding And Support. – Editor

Weekend Edition / Fri-Mon 6-9 Dec 2013

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Nelson Mandela A Role Model For Peaceful Moon Collaboration

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Iconic Leader, Strong Supporter Of Human Equality & Freedom / Science & Technology Advancement In Africa, Saw Education As Most Powerful Tool To Change World; Apollo 11 Moonwalker Buzz Aldrin Calls Mandela “True Inspiration & Role Model For Peace & International Collaboration“; Humanity More Likely To Succeed In Peacefully Developing Moon If World Leaders Follow His Example; Pictured: Nelson Mandela Peace Crater At Lacus Somniorum

Image Credit: lunasociety.org

Friday / 6 December 2013

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Chang’e-3 To Enter Moon Orbit Today

Chang'e-3 LOI

China Spacecraft To Enter 100Km Circumlunar Orbit 09:30 UT After 112-Hour Cruise & Prepare For 14 Dec Landing At Sinus Iridum 44°N, 31°W Between 08:00-12:00; Chief Designer Sun Zezhou (L) States Mission Success Based On Safe Landing, Rover Functionality, Imaging Of Rover & Lander, Reception Of Data By Ground Control; Greg Kulacki (R) UCS China Project Manager Says China May Prefer International Collaboration On Human Moon Missions

Image Credit: CCTV, NASA GSFC, Beijing Institute of Spacecraft System Engineering, CNS

Thursday / 5 December 2013

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Human Exploration Rover Challenge: Name Change Reflects Evolving NASA Priorities

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10-12 Apr 2014 Student Competition Held In Huntsville AL, Now Dubbed ‘NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge’; Rules / Format Of 20-Year Old Moonbuggy Race Remain Relatively Unchanged; New Name & Updated Course Are Consistent With Growing Solar System-Wide Focus Of NASA: Moon As 1st Enabling Step For Human Deep Space Exploration, Then On To Asteroids, Mars, Jupiter System & Beyond

Image Credit: NASA

Wednesday / 4 December 2013

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Preserving Historic Lunar Sites From Rising Tide Of Moon Exploration

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With China Moon Landing Fast Approaching & Commercial  Missions Soon To Follow, US Legislators Propose Bill To Qualify Apollo Sites As National Park; Space Law Experts Henry Hertzfeld (R) & Scott Pace Say This Action May Violate UN Outer Space Treaty, Suggest Government Officials Open Dialogue To Establish Ground Rules For Respecting Mission Sites / Equipment / Artifacts; May Also Help Ease Strained International Relations

Image Credit: NASA, CNSA

Tuesday / 3 December 2013

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Robotic Precursor Missions May Get USA Lunar Program Back On Track

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Aggressive Lunar Exploration Plan With USA Rovers / Landers On Moon To ID Resources, Advance ISRU Technologies, Construct Power Infrastructure Is Currently Feasible With Limited NASA Budget, & Needed To Reassert Leadership In Moon Exploration, Prepare For Human Moon Outposts – Says Nelson Bridwell In Aviation Week

Image Credit: NASA

Thanksgiving Edition / Thu-Mon
28 Nov – 2 Dec 2013

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Chang’e-3 Moon Launch Expected NET Mon 2 Dec 01:00 China Time

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‘Middle Country’ First Attempt To Land On Another World And First Attempted Moon Landing By Anyone In 37+ Years May Mark Start Of Permanent Lunar Operations, For Good; Weather Permitting Chang’e-3 / Yutu Will Launch On Long March 3B From Xichang Launch Site Into Direct Lunar Transfer Orbit, Moon Orbit Insertion After 5-Day Cruise, Entry Descent Landing EDL Phase To Commence After 10 Days In Lunar Orbit

Image Credit: CNSA, CLEP

Wednesday / 27 November 2013

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China LUT To Take Advantage Of Moon As Ideal Venue For Astronomy

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LUT – Lunar Ultraviolet Telescope To Land On Moon Mid Dec Aboard Chang’e-3; Scientific Goals Include Continuous Monitoring Of Variable Stars & Galaxies, Low Galactic Latitude Sky Survey; Instrument Will Observe During Lunar Daytime; Flat Mirror With Gimbal Mount Provides Over 1200 Square Degrees Of Visible Sky For 150mm-Diameter Aperture Telescope; Stable Platform, Tenuous Atmosphere Of Moon Ideal For Long-Duration Low-Frequency Observations; Pictured: LUT Lead Scientist Jianyan Wei

Image Credit: phys.scichina.com, ILOA, CNSA

Tuesday / 26 November 2013

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Lunar Lion Team Sets Launch For July 2015

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Penn State GLXP Team Pays Launch Reservation Fee To Team Phoenicia LLC, New Space Launch Services Provider Offering Significant Savings And More Flexibility; Will Share Launch With Several Spacecraft, Some Released In LEO Before Rest Are Pushed On Lunar-Intercept Trajectory; SHERPA Hosted Payload Platform / In-Space Maneuvering Stage To Bring 5 Additional Spacecraft Up To 330Kg Each To Trans-Lunar Injection Orbit

Image Credit: Penn State Lunar Lion, Andrews Space