Category Archives: Advanced Technology

Wednesday / 1 May 2013

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New International Space Age Emerging

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Bruce Cordell Outlines Thesis That New ‘Maslow Window’ – Era Of Expansive Exploration & Cultural Dynamism – Is Fast Approaching In Recent Space Policy Article & Space Show Episode; Cites Economic & Political Evidence Signaling Approach Of New International Space Age, Also Notes Upswing Of Public Enthusiasm For Moon / Solar System Exploration; New Window, Triggered By JFK-Style Boom By Mid-Decade, Will Likely Include Return To Lunar Surface

Image Credit: 21stcenturywaves.com, NASA

Weekend Edition / Fri-Mon 26-29 Apr 2013

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LiftPort Group Advancing After Kickstarter Success

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US$110,000 Kickstarter Campaign Giving LiftPort Group Renewed Momentum In Lunar Elevator Development; Founder Michael Laine Says Group Initiating Strategic Partnerships In Smaller Countries Including With Iceland Company CCP Games; Bought 7.25km Of Vectran String Rated At 1,500lbs For Initial Tests; LiftPort Business Model To Spin Off Technology Solutions & Commercialize Them While Working To Perfect Lunar Elevator System

Image Credit: LiftPort Group, deviantart.com

Thursday / 25 April 2013

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‘The High Frontier’ Still Inspiring People To Think Big

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Over 4700 Copies Of 1976 Gerard K. O’Neill Book ‘The High Frontier’ Downloaded During 4-Day Free Promotion Indicating Large-Scale Human Space Settlement Is Still Of Interest To Many; Authoritative Book Details Exciting / Attainable Benefits Of Developing Cislunar Space: Space-Based Solar Power, Mass Drivers For Putting Lunar Resources To Good Use, Large Space & Lunar Habitats

Image Credit: SSI

Friday / 19 April 2013

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Google Lunar X PRIZE Update

GLXP Update

20 GLXP Teams At Recent Chile Summit Give Updates On Progress: White Label Space Now Solely Based In Japan Will Change Name; Part-Time Scientists Working On COMRAY Project To Provide Communications With In-Space Assets; Independence-X Scoping Out Potential Launch Sites In Malaysia; Barcelona Moon Announces Launch Contract Jun 2014; Astrobotic / SpaceX Has Launch Oct 2015; Omega Envoy & Moon Express Plan 2015 Launches; More Collaborations / Mergers, Publicity Expected

Image Credit: GLXP

Thursday / 18 April 2013

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LRO CRaTER Instrument Helping In Development Of Future Spacecraft

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CRaTER Instrument Precisely Measures Potentially Dangerous Radiation In Space & Its Effects On Human Tissue / Electronics; Data Shows High-Mass / High-Energy Cosmic Rays (HZE Particles) Make Up Only 1% Of Radiation Detected, Yet Account For 50% Of Energy Deposited By Radiation; Researchers Also Able To Determine Effects Of Different Types Of Radiation; Findings Helping Researchers Optimize Spacecraft Shielding Without Making Them Too Heavy

Image Credit: NASA

Friday / 12 April 2013

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Bigelow-NASA Agreement To Build Moon Base

Bigelow-NASA

Bigelow Aerospace Lunar Base Project Expected To Receive NASA Contract / Funding To “Extend & Sustain Human Activities Across The Solar System;” 3 BA-330 Inflatable Habitats With Propulsion Tanks & Power Units Would Be Joined In Space & Piloted To Moon Surface, Offer 990m3 Of Room, House Up To 18 Astronauts; Robert Bigelow Confident Habitats Could Accommodate Uneven Surface, Says Moon Great Practice For Mars & Beyond

Image Credit: Bigelow, Samuel Coniglio

Tuesday / 9 April 2013

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Astrobotic Advancing Autonomous Landing Systems

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Series Of Tests Underway In Astrobotic Contract With NASA To Demonstrate Autonomous Landing System For Moon / Asteroids / Planets; Astrobotic Successfully Flew Sensor Package On Uncrewed Helicopter Operated By Pilot On Ground; Next Step Is To Land Helicopter Autonomously – Without GPS, Then Test System On Astrobotic Griffin Lander; Landing Sensor Uses 2 Cameras, Inertial Measurement Unit, & Scanning Laser

Image Credit: Astrobotic Technology, Inc.

Friday / 5 April 2013

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Russia Solidifies Moon Exploration Plans

Russia Moon 5 Missions

Igor Mitrofanov Of IKI Reveals Russia Moon Exploration Missions: 2015 Luna-Glob South Pole Lander To Analyze Regolith / Exosphere & Test Volatiles; 2016 Luna-Glob 100-km Altitude Polar Orbiter To Map Surface / Landing Sites; 2017 Luna-Resurs-1 South Pole Lander To Test Drilling System For Cryogenic Sampling; 2019 Luna-Resurs-2 Polar Sample Return Mission; 2020 Luna-Resurs-3 Rover To Study Surface & Store Subsurface Samples; Human Missions Could Follow

Image Credit: IKI, NASA, RSA

Tuesday / 2 April 2013

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Asteroid To The Moon

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Human Asteroid Landing Mission Proposed By USA President Obama May Take Place In Lunar Orbit; NASA Expected To Request US$100M In Next Budget To Begin Preparations For 10-Year (~2015-2025) US$2.65B-Robotic Mission To Capture 7-m Diameter, 500,000-kg Asteroid & Tow It To High Lunar Orbit; Spacecraft Would Employ Ion Thrusters, Deploy Massive Inflatable Bag To Envelop Asteroid

Image Credit: NASA

Thursday / 28 March 2013

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Morpheus Rising Again

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Morpheus / ALHAT Team Building New Morpheus 1.5B & 1.5C Vehicles For Static Hot Fire & Dynamic Tethered Tests This Spring At NASA JSC, Project Will Then Return To Free-Flight Testing At KSC This Summer; Morpheus Had 26 Successful Test Flights Before Aug 2012 Crash Caused By Vibration Breaking Connection Of Navigation Instruments; New Craft Design Will Protect Against Shaking; Project Goal To Develop Craft Capable Of Autonomous Moon Landing

Image Credit: NASA