JAXA Sees Moon As Next Destination For Human Exploration; Associate Executive Director Yuichi Yamaura Confirms Japan’s Lunar Aspirations At Recent GLEX 2012 Conference; Japan Previously Released Plan For US$2.2B Robotic Base Near Moon South Pole By 2020 As Precursor To Human Habitation; JAXA Has Plans For Polar Lander, In-Situ Lunar Orientation Measurement (ILOM), Equiped With 20cm Optical Telescope
Image Credit: JAXA
‘Exploration Gateway / Platform’ Concept Emerging As Preferred Direction For NASA Human Architecture Team; Plan Involves Launch Of Several International Modules For Construction At ISS Using Existing Hardware & Launch Vehicles, Transported To EML2 By 25-40kW Solar Electric Propulsion Vehicle; Provides Immediate Deep Space Destination For Astronauts, Excellent Way-Station For Moon, Rest Of Solar System
Image Credit: NASA
Queensland University Of Technology Professor Marek Zbik Utilizes Synchrotron-Based Nano Tomography To Isolate Nano Particles Inside Lunar Glass Bubbles; Formed By Meteorite Impacts; Pulverizing Of Rocks Mixes Particles Into Regolith; Nano Particles Behave According To Laws Of Quantum Physics, Give Lunar Dust Unusual Properties: Electro-Static Charge, Extreme Chemical Activity, Low Thermal Conductivity, Etc
Image Credit: canindia.com, NASA
US$250M Mission With U-Shaped Canada Rover, Canada Excavation Tools, US Science Instruments Destined For Moon South Pole; KSC In Situ Utilization Project Manager William Larson Says RESOLVE (Regolith & Environment Science & Oxygen & Lunar Volatile Extraction) Is “Next Logical Step For Lunar Exploration”; Prototype To Be Tested On Mauna Kea HI In July
Image Credit: NASA
Twin ARTEMIS Crafts Reveal Unexpected Influence Of Complex Lunar Electric & Magnetic Fields On Solar Wind; NASA / GSFC Issues Sole-Source RFP To UCLA For Continuation Of Instrument / Science Management Of LRO Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment From March 2013 – March 2015; GRAIL Crafts Ebb & Flow Preparing For Extended Science Operations 30 Aug – 3 Dec 2012
Image Credit: NASA
Lunar Extreme Workshop 2012 At Ames, Moffett Field CA, 18-22 June; High School Teachers & Students Participating In The DREAM Program Will Interact With Lunar Scientists As They Research The Extreme Environmental Dynamics Of The Moon; NASA Lunar Science Institute To Host 5th Annual Lunar Science Forum 17-19 July 2012, To Include Dedicated Side Conference For Graduate Students & Young Lunar Professionals
Image Credit: NASA
Now In Hibernation, Ebb & Flow Survived Recent Lunar Eclipse; Extended Mission To Run From 30 Aug – 3 Dec; Spacecraft Performed Flawlessly During Primary Mission; GRAIL Will Halve Operating Altitude To 23km During Next Phase To Obtain Even Closer Look At Moon Gravity Field; MoonKAM Program Also Extended, Over 70,000 Student Images Have Thus Far Been Obtained
Image Credit: NASA
Former NASA Administrator Mike Griffin Endorses Comments Made By Roscosmos Head Vladimir Popovkin / International Leaders At GLEX: Human Return To Moon Is Humanity’s “Next Outward Step…The Path To Which We Will Return”; Paul Spudis Asserts That World Sees Moon As “The Enabling Asset” To Build Permanent, Lasting Space Faring Capability; Ian Crawford Outlines Scientific Case For Lunar Exploration
Image Credit: NASA, Lifeboat Foundation
3rd Generation Design Of RESOLVE Experiment Set For Mission Simulation Field Test In July 2012 On Slopes Of Mauna Kea, Hawai`i; Next Step In Understanding Available Resources At Lunar Poles; NASA / CSA RESOLVE Payload On Lunar Rover Will Perform 3-5 Sample Collections At Depth Of 1m, Over Area Of Several Square Km During 5-7 Day Mission To Map Horizontal Distribution Of Hydrogen Bearing Volatiles
Image Credit: NASA, JAXA
In-Situ Resource Utilization On Moon / Mars / Asteroids, Space Multi-World Property Rights Topics Of Discussion At SRR 13 – PTMSS, Colorado School Of Mines, 4-7 Jun; Speakers Include Chris Lewicki (B) Of Planetary Resources, Alan Stern (T) Of Moon Express; Dust, Atmosphere & Plasma: Moon & Small Bodies Workshop Begins Today In Boulder CO; Scientists To Discuss Surface Environment Of Moon, Expectations For Future Missions
Image Credit: Astrobotic, SRR, Google+, nature.com