Image Credit: NASA, CNSA
Lunar Plant Growth Habitat Team Of NASA Ames Research Center Will Try To Grow Arabidopsis, Basil, Sunflowers, Turnips In Coffee-Can-Sized Aluminum Cylinders On Moon; NASA Expects To Build / Launch For Under US$2M By Buying Space On Commercial Launch Of GLXP Team; Chief Biologist Dr. Robert Bowman (Center) Points Out Need To Understand Plant Ability To Overcome Stress Of Space Radiation, Moon Partial Gravity, Small / Controlled Environment For Use In Human Solar System Buildout
Image Credit: NASA, Hemil Modi
Vermont Technical College Has Launched Small Satellite Into Space To Test Navigation Components That Will Eventually Be Used To Send Satellites To Moon; ‘Lunar Lander CubeSat’ Was 1 Of 28 CubeSats Launched On ORS-3 Enabler Mission Via Minotaur-1 Rocket From NASA Wallops Island Virginia Flight Facility; CubeSat Will Remain In Space 3-5 Years; Pictured: Project Organizer / Vermont Tech Professor Carl Brandon
Image Credit: Vermont Tech
21 Nov Is Deadline To Submit Suggestions For Special Sessions For 45th Lunar & Planetary Science Conference At The Woodlands TX On 17-21 Mar 2014; Conference Brings Together International Specialists In Petrology, Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geology & Astronomy To Present Latest Results In Planetary Science; Abstract Submission Deadline 7 Jan 2014
Image Credit: NASA, USRA
Mars Orbiter Mission In Elliptical Orbit Around Earth, Testing Sensors / Calibrating Instruments; Mission Uses Moon Pull To Stretch Orbit To 192,000-km Apogee, Orient Spacecraft Correctly, Increase Speed In Preparation For 1 Dec Departure Into Mars Trajectory; Deep Space Navigation Experience Acquired Will Aid India In Preparations For Chandrayaan-2 Moon Lander / Rover Mission
Image Credit: ISRO
Silicon Valley-Based GLXP Team Analyzing Data From Successful Tethered Hover Flight Test Of Its Guidance, Navigation & Control Software Aboard NASA Mighty Eagle Prototype Lander; Team Will Determine If It Is Ready To Proceed With Closed Loop Free Flight Test; Philanthropist Klee Irwin (L) Announces 6-Figure Investment In Moon Express; Pictured (R): ME Principal GNC Engineer Jim Kaidy
Image Credit: Moon Express
Prime National Objective Announced By S Korea President Park Geun-Hye To Send Lunar Lander, 10-20 Kg Rover To Look For Rare Minerals & Orbiter To Moon In 2020 Aboard Korea Space Launch Vehicle-2 Rockets; 15 Government-Funded Research Institutions Led By KARI To Begin Collaborating In 2014, Hope To Overcome Challenges With NASA Support; May Need ~$655M To Complete Project By 2020; Also Potential For KARI Associate Membership In SSERVI
Image Credit: KARI, K. Dietsch/UPI/Newscom
Report Prepared By Robert Bigelow Under NASA Space Act Agreement Recommends That NASA Pursue A Partnership With Industry To Develop Beyond LEO / Cislunar Space; Permanent, Semi-Commercial Lunar Base Achievable & Affordable In Next 10 Years; Private Companies / Individuals Would Need To Acquire Property Rights On Moon / Other Bodies If Plan Is To Be Viable; Bigelow Already Applying To FAA / AST For Review Of Lunar Property Rights Policy
Image Credit: Bigelow Aerospace, NASA
William Bottke – Southwest Research Institute, Boulder CO; Daniel Britt – University Of Central FL, Orlando FL; Ben Bussey – Johns Hopkins University APL, Laurel MD; William Farrell – NASA Goddard SFC, Greenbelt MD; Timothy Glotch – Stony Brook University, NY NY; Jennifer Heldmann – NASA Ames, Moffett Field CA; Mihaly Horanyi – University Of Colorado, Boulder CO; David Kring – Lunar & Planetary Institute, Houston TX; Carle Pieters – Brown University, Providence RI
Image Credit: SwRI, UCF, APL, NASA, Stony Brook U, CU, LPI, Brown University
Study of GRAIL Moon Maps Show Same Total Number Of Craters But Large Variation In Size; Data / Simulations Compiled By Study Lead Katarina Miljković Of Paris Institute Of Earth Physics Predict Craters On Nearside Up To 2x Larger Than Farside Craters From Similar Impacts; Variation In Crust Temperature And Thickness Affects Impact-Related Topography; Warmer Nearside Crust Also More Prone To Giant Lava Flows Filling In Craters To Create Basins
Image Credit: NASA