Author Archives: LED Editor

Weekend Edition / Fri-Mon 8-11 Nov 2013

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LADEE / Chang’e-3 Conjunction: Opportunity For International Cooperation

MissionConjunction1113

Dec Moon Landing Of China Chang’e-3 Could Provide NASA LADEE Orbital Mission Unique Opportunity To Collect Data On Ejected Dust From Descent Engines; Valuable For Planning Future Missions, Heritage Site Preservation, Lunar Base Development; Current USA Policy Impeding NASA From Arranging Such Collaboration With China; Apollo Moonwalkers Advocate For NASA To Begin Cooperation With China On Human Moon Return

Image Credit: NASA, CLEP, CNSA

Friday / 8 November 2013

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Universities Partner With NASA,
Open Science Centers

SSERVI, Universities

University Of Cincinnati To Open Neil Armstrong Space Science Institute To Promote Space-Based Research & Engineering In Partnership With Ames Research Center; University Of Central Florida Daniel Britt (L) Awarded US$6M Grant To Establish Center For Lunar & Asteroid Surface Science; Will Aid NASA In Planning Exploration Missions To The Moon, Asteroids, Mars Moons; Chosen As 1 of 9 Organizations Under SSERVI Program

Image Credit: UCF, UC, SSERVI, NASA

Thursday / 7 November 2013

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VASIMR Plasma Rocket Technology Ideal For Lunar Cargo Delivery

AdAstra1113

Ad Astra Rocket Company Working To Raise US$100M To Build Prototype Of Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket For Testing At ISS; Founder & 7-Time Shuttle Astronaut Franklin Chang-Diaz Says Already Raised $30M From Private Investors; Cites Lunar Cargo Transport As One Of Many Potential Uses For The Technology, Working As Tug Boat Between LEO & LLO, VASIMR Could Deliver Twice As Much Payload To Lunar Surface As Chemical Propulsion

Image Credit: Ad Astra Rocket Co

Wednesday / 6 November 2013

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Morpheus Set To Resume Lunar Landing Technology Demonstrations

MorpheusKSC1113

New Morpheus Vehicle To Arrive KSC 12 Nov; Will Conduct Dry Run, Wet Run & Test Readiness Review In Early Dec; 3 Free Flight Operations & First Flight Campaign In Mid Dec; Craft Will Then Help Test Key Technologies Such As In-Space Propellant Transfer; Team Hopes To Scale Up 500-kg Payload Lander So It Is Able To Land Habitat With Crew On Moon

Image Credit: NASA

Tuesday / 5 November 2013

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Huge China Moon Lander A Precursor To Human Module

chinaLander1113

Chang’e-3 Lander Is 42% Mass & Scale Of Apollo Lunar Descent Module (1200kg Unfueled), Apollo Veterans Aldrin (L) & Cernan Say Size & Design Indicate Craft / Mission Is Precursor To Human Descent Stage; Moonwalkers Encourage NASA / USA To Seek Cooperation With China On Human Moon Return, Form International Lunar Outpost Authority, South Pole Base For ISRU / Prepare For Mars Habitation

Image Credit: China Space News, NASA

Weekend Edition / Fri-Mon 1-4 Nov 2013

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Opportunities Abound For Lunar Explorers

BagaBucks1113

London Economic Market Study Commissioned By GLXP Projects US$Billions Of Profit From Commercial Opportunities On Moon In Next Decades; $1.9B Over Next Decade Mainly From Government Customers, 25-Year Projection Is $6.9B In Profits Predominantly From Private Sector Customers; Moon Express CEO Naveen Jain Says $150M Robotic Moon Mission Could Return $Billions Worth Of Material To Earth

Image Credit: Wired, NASA, Dreamstime

Friday / 1 November 2013

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GLXP Teams Progressing

GLXP News

Italia (Italy) Contractors Working On Final Refinement Of Lunar Lander Design With Special Attention On Propulsion Subsystem; AngelicvM (Chile) Planning Research Center In Curacavi, Will Sponsor 2014 Global Aerospace Summit In Abu Dhabi; Puli (Hungary) Hosting 2nd Campaign To Raise Funds To Test 1 of 2 Rovers On Slopes Of Mauna Kea, Hawai`i

Image Credit: Italia, AngelicvM, Puli

Thursday / 31 October 2013

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ISRO Seeking Government Support For 2nd Moon Mission

Chandrayaan-2--1013

ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishnan Says Agency Is Awaiting Government Approval / Funds To Develop Lander For Chandrayaan-2 Mission; India To Proceed Independently On Mission, After Russia Delays / Plan Changes; Hopes Lander Could Be Developed By 2016, Acknowledges Lander More Complex Than Rover; Need 2 Successful GSLV Launches Before Attempting Moon Mission, Next Launch Set For 15 Dec 2013 

Image Credit: ISRO, PTI

Wednesday / 30 October 2013

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ESA Innovating Advanced Robots To Support Future Lunar Exploration

ESAMoonBots1013

European Space Agency Releases Video Depicting Various Lunar Rovers / Robots It Is Designing / Developing; Moon Rover With Multifunctional Wheels (Prototype Already Developed); Concept Teleoperator Robot, Forklift, Bulldozer To Assist Astronauts In Construction Of Moonbase; ESA Positioning Itself As Key Contributor To Future International Human / Robotic Moon Missions

Image Credit: ESA

Tuesday / 29 October 2013

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Chang’e-3 Carrier Rocket En Route To Launch Site

XichangOnDaWay1013

Changcheng 3B / Long March 3B Rocket En Route From Beijing To Xichang Space Center – Chang’e-3 Launch Site, Expected To Arrive 1 Nov; Carrier Rocket Equipped With A Number Of New Technologies To Further Its Reliability; Tests On Chang’e-3 Moon Probe Proceeding Smoothly As China Prepares To Conduct The 1st Soft Landing On Moon In 37 Years; Country Considering Human Moon Mission Between 2020-2025

Image Size: EPA / NG Hong, cntv.cn