Image Credit: NASA, JPL, Veronica Osorio, internationalwomensday.com
Maria Zuber Tells 250 Female Students To “Shoot For The Moon” During International Women’s Day Event At NASA Jet Propulsion Lab; Zuber Is Chair Of Planetary & Atmospheric Studies At MIT, Principal Investigator Of GRAIL Mission Currently Studying The Gravity Field Of The Moon; To Date 55 Women Have Traveled To Space & 0 Have Traveled To The Moon
Image Credit: GLXP, NASA
GLXP Teams Moon Express, FREDNET, Along With Astrobotic Receive Additional Task In NASA US$10M ILDD Program Contract; Teams Must Provide NASA With Data About Progress In Spacecraft Development, Payload Accommodations & Planetary Protection Plans To Fulfill US$100K Task Order; Astrobotic Joins Team Phoenicia In Confirming Intention To Conduct Prospecting Mission To Moon South Pole
Image Credit: NASA
Twin GRAIL Probes ‘Ebb & Flow’ Begin Science Mission, Will Spend Next 3 Months Orbiting 56km Above Lunar Surface While Scientists Monitor Slight Variations In Distance To Map Gravitational Field; US$496M Mission May Support Or Debunk Various Theories Of Moon Origin; New Goddard Visualization Studio Applet Uses LRO Images To Show Phase & Libration Of Moon For Every Hour Of 2012
Image Credit: CCTV, CNSA
Chang’e-3 Moon Lander / Rover On Schedule For 2013 Confirms Mission Chief Commander Ye Peijian; 100-Kg Rover Designed To Operate 3 Months On Lunar Surface; Will Include Navigation / Telecommunication Systems For Hazard Avoidance / Remote Control, Scientific Equipment To Collect & Analyze Moon Samples; China Also Developing Heavy-Thrust Carrier Rocket That Could Propel Human Moon Mission
Image Credit: NASA
Tethered ‘Hot Fire’ Tests Of New Project Morpheus Engine Continue; Spacecraft Designed To Be Fully Integrated, Capable Of Transporting 500kg To Lunar Surface, Able To Make Entire Trip Autonomously Including Lunar Descent & Landing; NASA JSC / Armadillo Aerospace-Designed Craft Uses Cheaper & Safer Methane Fuel Which Can Be Harvested On Moon
Image Credit: ILOA, MDA
International Lunar Observatory Association Advances NET 2014 ILO-1 Mission To Lunar South Pole By Signing New Contract With MDA Of Canada; Study Will Establish Development Schedule, Assess Functionality Of 2m Dish For Both Astronomical Observation & Commercial Communication; ILO-X Precursor Mission Phase 2 Rapid Development Program Recently Completed By Moon Express
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Exploration Mission 1 of SLS & MPCV Tentatively Scheduled For 17 Dec 2017; On 7-10 Day Mission Uncrewed Space Capsule Will Launch To High-Apogee Orbit, Make Trans Lunar Injection Burn For Lunar Flyby Followed By Free Return Trajectory To Test Thermal Protection Performance At High-Speed Reentry (~11km/s); EM-2, NET 2019, Will Send Crew Of 4 On Similar Mission
Image Credit: UCLA.edu
Department Of Earth & Space Sciences At UCLA Inviting Applicants For Postdoctoral Position To Produce Improved Mapped Data Products Of Moon Surface Using Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment Observations; 1-Year Appointment Beginning April 2012; Qualified Applicants Send CV To Professor David Paige
Image Credit: Astrobotic Technology Inc
Astrobotic Receives Additional Task In US$10M Innovative Lunar Demonstrations Data (ILDD) Contract With NASA; Company Will Present NASA With Summary Of Progress Designing New Model Rover For Lunar Polar Prospecting; $100K Task Order Brings Astrobotic ILDD Contract Funding Total To $610K; Astrobotic Planning Prospecting Mission To Moon South Pole In May 2015
Image Credit: NORCAT, Neptec, CSA
Mining Expertise Could Be “Toe In The Door” To Lunar Exploration For Canada; 9 Of Top 40 Global Mining Companies Are Canada-Based; CSA Already Developing / Testing Prototype Lunar Excavation Rovers, More Tests This Summer In Hawaii; Ottawa-Based Neptec Working With NASA, CSA, NORCAT On Lunar Water Ice Drilling Project Called RESOLVE