Author Archives: LED Editor

Weekend Edition / 19-21 May 2012

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LRO CRaTER Scientists Discuss Implications Of Recent Solar Flare

UNH Scientists Harlan Spence (R) & Nathan Schwadron (L), PI & Deputy PI Of LRO CRaTER Instrument Are Available To Discuss Implications Of Powerful Solar Flare That Erupted 16 May; Enormous Sunspot 160,000km Across Could Create Damaging Radiation Storms Over Earth In Next Several Days; Primary Goal Of LRO CRaTER Instrument Is To Characterize Global Lunar Radiation Environment And Its Biological Impacts 

Image Credit: NASA, UNH, dailymail.co.uk

Friday / 18 May 2012

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New Technologies / Ways Of Thinking Needed For Next Mining Gold Rush

University Of New South Wales Professor Leonhard Bernold Outlines How Earth Mining Systems Will Not Be Adequate On Moon Due To Dust, Lower Gravitational Acceleration (1.6m/s² vs 9.8m/s²), Minimal Atmosphere / Water, Etc; Proposes Using Suction Extraction With Pneumatic Transportation For Lunar Mining; System Uses Airflow To Transport Material By Venturi Process Through Glass Pipes Manufactured Through ISRU & Joined In-Situ

Image Credit: nextbigfuture.com, amazon.com, nova.org

Thursday / 17 May 2012

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EPSC 2012 Seeking Lunar Session Abstracts

Abstract Submission Deadline Is 23 May For European Planetary Science Congress 2012; Conference Organizers Seeking Submissions For Following Lunar Sessions: Lunar Volatiles, Lunar Science & Exploration – A Global Approach, Lunar Science & Google Lunar X Prize, Moon As Tool For Public Engagement; EPSC 2012 Will Be Held In Madrid, 23-28 September

Image Credit: epsc2012.eu

Wednesday / 16 May 2012

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LRO Provides Proof Of Recent Lunar Geologic Activity

Scarps & Graben Imaged By LRO Show Moon Was Actively Shrinking & Growing More Recently Than Previously Believed; Lobate Scarps On Lunar Surface Less Than 10m High / Several Km Long Indicate Distance Between Moon Surface & Center Shrank About 100m; Graben (L) Show Evidence Of Lunar Expansion; Scientists Believe Features To Be Around 50M Years Old, Compared To 4.5B Year Old Moon

Image Credit: NASA

Tuesday / 15 May 2012

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Lunabotics Competition Paving Way For Human Lunar Outpost

66 Undergraduate & Graduate School Teams From Around The World Will Compete In 3rd Annual NASA Lunabotics Competition 21-27 May At Kennedy Space Center; Teams WIll Have 10 Minutes To Maneuver Through Obstacle Course Of Lunar Regolith Simulant, Collect As Much Regolith As Possible; NASA Awarding Bonus Points For Autonomous Robots; Lunar Mining / ISRU Critical For Development Of Lunar Outpost

Image Credit: NASA, tuscaloosanews.com

Weekend Edition / 12-14 May 2012

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Call For A United Vision For Space

Preeminent Space Advocate Rick Tumlinson Says Human Space Development & Solar System Settlement Must Be Shared Goal / Direction Of USA Space Program; Enabled By Infrastructure, Ingenuity & Economic Drive Of Commercial Space; Country Must Harness Space Agency, Industrial Base, New Generation All In Need Of Purpose

Image Credit: distantgalaxy.com, NASA, SFF

Friday / 11 May 2012

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Lunar Lander Options For Human Mission

3 Affordable US Lunar Lander Options Advancing Through Commercial & Government Efforts; Armadillo Aerospace Morpheus Lander Passed Several Tethered Tests At NASA JSC, Designed For 1-Way, Uncrewed Missions Up To 500kg; SpaceX Red Dragon Lander Concept Also 1-Way Option, Capsule Useful Component Of Potential Base; Masten Xeus Concept Could Carry 4.5 Tonnes To Lunar Surface & Back

Image Credit: NASA, SpaceX, Masten

Thursday / 10 May 2012

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Strong Lunar Focus At GLEX

Return To The Moon Technical Track At Global Space Exploration Conference, 22-24 May, To Be Co-Chaired By Jean-Claude Piedboeuf (B) Of CSA, Mark Craig (T) Of NASA; Session On Scientific Highlights / Lessons From Recent Lunar Missions, Goals / Status Of Future Lunar Missions, Concepts For Robotic & Human Missions, Lunar Surface Outposts & Enabling Technologies   

Image Credit: NASA, CSA, IAF

Wednesday / 9 May 2012

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‘Triway’ Approach To Solar System Exploration

Peter Kokh & Al Anzaldua Call For Union / Cooperation From Proponents Of Moon, Mars & Asteroid Exploration; Antagonistic Attitude Between Groups Leads To Apathetic Public Support, Undependable Funding; Focus On Comprehensive, Integrated Missions & Technologies That Facilitate Reaching All 3 Destinations, Enabled By Private Sector / Government Partnerships

Image Credit: NASA, visions2200.com, dailygalaxy.com

Tuesday / 8 May 2012

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Moon Studio Final Review At USC

Students Of USC School Of Architecture Graduate Course ‘Moon Studio’ To Present Final Projects To Expert Panel Of Faculty, Agency & Industry Professionals On Wed 9 May; Presentations Display Students’ Conceptual Design Synthesis Skills In Creating Innovative Architecture For Lunar Settlement; Pictured (L-R): USC Professors Carlson, Khoshnevis, Leach & Thangavelu

Image Credit: USC, PARAsite