Category Archives: Advanced Technology

Friday / 29 June 2018

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Buzz Aldrin Vision For Human SpaceFlight Institute, Lunar Gateway, Global / China Space Collaboration

Iconic Astronaut Dr. Buzz Aldrin Launching Houston-Based Human SpaceFlight Institute To Pioneer Research For Future Human Space Systems / Missions, Host Workshops & Internships – Will Announce High-Level Strategic Partners Oct 2018; Aldrin Advocates For Return To Moon Surface, Sees Lunar Gateway As Major Opportunity To Work With China, Advance Fuel / Power Tech, Build Deep Space Infrastructures Or Multiple Gateways To Reach Mars & Beyond; Inspiring Announcements Anticipated For 49th And 50th Observation Of Apollo 11 On 20 July

Credits: NASA, Buzz Aldrin via Twitter

Friday / 22 June 2018

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Next Rocket Lab Flight Success Would Boost Ambitions For Lunar Missions

The 3rd Rocket Lab Electron Flight And 1st Fully Commercial Mission “It’s Business Time” 2-Week Launch Window Opens 23 June In New Zealand From Launch Complex 1 At Mahia Peninsula With Daily Windows 12:30–16:30; Set To Carry 2 Spire CubeSats, 1 GeoOptics CICERO Satellite, IRVINE01 Educational Payload, NABEO Drag Sail Tech Demonstrator; Continued Success On Low-Cost US$5M System Is Encouraging For Launch Customers Such As Moon Express Which Was Originally Slated For 3 Launches For Its Lunar Missions With Option To Purchase 2 More

Pictured: Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck; Credits: Rocket Lab, Moon Express, NASA, HPS GmbH, Spire, Tyvak

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 15-18 June 2018

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Chang’e-4 Relay Satellite Enters Intended Orbit, Prepares For Upcoming Mission

China Relay Satellite Queqiao Successfully Reaches Halo Orbit Around Earth-Moon Lagrange Point 2, Will Undergo Orbit Maintenance Every 7 Days, Equipped With NCLE Low-Frequency Pathfinder To Detect Cosmic Dark Ages Radio Signals, Will Act As Communication Relay For Chang’e-4 Lander & Rover Mission Planned Nov-Dec Launch To South Pole Aitken Basin / Von Kármán Crater; Microsatellite Longjiang-2 Operates In Lunar Orbit, Transmits Far Side Pictures Using Saudi Arabia Optical Camera; NAOC Prof Ping Jinsong Mentions Feasibility Of Flying Near-Future Low Cost Lunar Constellation

Credits: CNSA, CLEP, KASCST, NAOC, CAS, Planetary Society, NCLE, ASTRON

Friday / 15 June 2018

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AAS Advancing Galaxy Science, Human Equality, Astronomy From The Moon

21st Century Directions Apparent At American Astronomical Society 232nd Meeting In Denver CO With 5 Of 10 Plenaries On Galaxies, 5 Of 10 Presented By Women Astrophysicists, Supported By (L-R) Incoming AAS President Megan Donahue And Outgoing President Christine Jones; Pioneering Sessions On Low Radio Frequency Observations From Space And Moon Included Presentations By Heino Falcke, Robert MacDowell, Jack Burns, Joseph Lazio, Which Could Enable AAS Symposium In 12-24 Months On “Astronomy On, For and From The Moon”

Credits: ILOA, SPC, Steve Durst, AAS, NLSI, IAU, NASA, JPL, Radboud Univ., ISIS, ASTRON, Netherlands Space Office, et al

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 8-11 Jun 2018

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LUNAR, DARE Missions Advance Astronomy From The Moon

Jack Burns From University Of Colorado Boulder Continues To Lead Lunar University Network For Astrophysics Research (LUNAR) To Advance Space Science Studies, Lunar Laser Ranging, Heliophysics, Astrophysics; Burns Is Also Principal Investigator On Dark Ages Radio Explorer (DARE) Lunar Orbiter Planning For Launch 2023, 2-Year Mission Would Study Cosmic Dawn Through Heating, Ionization Of Intergalactic Medium, Low-Radio Frequencies Of 40-120 MHz From Moon Farside At 125-km Altitude

Credits: CU Boulder, NASA

Friday / 8 Jun 2018

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Astronomy From The Moon Advancing At American Astronomical Society 232nd Meeting

 AAS 232nd Meeting Highlights Multiple Applications / Benefits Of Astronomy From Moon & In Space: ‘A New Frontier For 21st Century Astrophysics‘ By ILOA Director Steve Durst (R) Discusses Galaxy Observations From Stable & Large Platform Of Lunar Surface, Radio Quiet Far Side, Permanent Darkness In Polar Craters, Thin Exosphere, Access For Future Human Service Missions; Jack Burns Of CU Presents Advantages Of Satellite In Low Lunar Orbit; Robert MacDowall Of GSFC Talks On Possibility Of Low-Frequency Observations From Moon Surface; Heino Falcke (L) Of Radboud University Examines China NCLE & Building Toward Lunar Radio Observatory

Credits: ILOA, NASA, Radboud Univ., ISIS, ASTRON, et al

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 1-4 Jun 2018

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AOGS Meeting To Focus On Lunar Science, Humans In Space

Asia Oceania Geosciences Society (AOGS) 15th Annual Meeting 3-8 June In Honolulu HI With 209 Sessions Will Include 4 June “Science Of Exploration As Enabled By The Moon, Near Earth Asteroids, And The Moons of Mars”; Speakers (L-R) Gregory Schmidt For International Cooperation In Exploration, Ben Bussey On Lunar Activities, Allison Zuniga On Lunar Infrastructure & Economy, With Clive Neal For Human Return To Moon, Bernard Foing On Lunar Technology

Credits: AOGS, NASA, NSS, ISDC, U. Notre Dame, IAF, SSERVI

Friday / 1 Jun 2018

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Blue Origin Planning Its Contributions Toward Permanent Lunar, Solar System Settlement

Jeff Bezos, Founder Of Blue Origin, Discusses During NSS ISDC The Necessity For Moon Base Before Mars, States “We Will Do Anything We Need To Do” To Support The Future Vision Of Trillions Of People Living In Space; Planning Blue Moon Lunar Lander Cargo System 2020s, New Armstrong Rocket, Seeking International And National Public-Private Partnerships; Returning To Moon Requires ‘Step By Step Advances, Lowering Cost Of Access To Space, Reusability, Building Landers & Rovers, Exploring Craters And Determining Resources’

Credits: Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos, LRO, NASA, JPL

Friday / 25 May 2018

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Blue Origin Invites Australia To Discuss Its Role In Moon Missions, Space Tourism

Blue Origin Commercial Director Ted McFarland Says CEO Jeff Bezos To Announce Lunar Mission Plans At 69th IAC And Hopes Australia Will Be A Collaborator; Newly Established Australia Space Agency (8 May) Budgets US$26M Over Next 4 Years With Additional $15M To Invest In Specific Projects; Australia Open Land Mass, Eagerness To Boost Economy & Invest In Space Could Be Ideal For New Shepard Space Tourism & Blue Moon / Moon Base Advances; Equatorial Launch Australia Hopes To Build 1st Commercial Spaceport Near Nhulunbuy, Northern Territory

Credits: Blue Origin, Australia Government Dept. of Industry, NASA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 18-21 May 2018

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Chang’e-4 Relay To Attempt Detection Of Radio Signals From Cosmic Dark Ages

China To Launch Long March 4C / Chang’e-4 Relay From Xichang 20 May, Precursor For November Moon South Pole Lander; Loft 2 Microsatellites To Lunar Orbit For Low Frequency Radio Astronomy & Interferometry, And Relay Satellite (Queqiao) To L2 Which Carries Netherlands-China Low Frequency Explorer (NCLE) Pathfinder; NCLE Scheduled To Unspool Three 2-meter Antennas March 2019, Detect Radio Signals Pre-First Stars, Study Solar Flares & Jupiter Aurora; NCLE PI Heino Falcke Advocates For Radio Astronomy From Moon

Credits: CNSA, NASA, Radboud University, ASTRON Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy