Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 6-9 Nov 2020

NASA Asks For Help Sharing Artemis Story With World As Leadership Continuity In Question

Administrator Jim Bridenstine Says NASA Wants To Recreate “The Awe Of Apollo For A New Generation – The Artemis Generation” By Utilizing Contemporary And Innovative Visual Technologies Such As High Definition Recording, Wide Angle/Panoramic Lenses, Virtual Reality, Digital Compression, Selfie Sticks And Body Cameras During Artemis II, 2023; Media, Academia, Industry, Organizations And Individuals Are Encouraged To Submit Imagery Ideas NLT 11 Dec; Bridenstine Widely Praised Within Space Community For Deftly Steering Major Powers Toward Moon Exploration Coalition Despite Uncertain Political Realities, And Ought To Be Retained

Credits: NASA, Youtube

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 23-26 Oct 2020

2024 Artemis Human Moon Lander Teams Clear Certification Baseline Reviews

NASA HLS Program Manager Lisa Watson-Morgan Oversees CBR Process, Customized To Establish Standards For Each Of 3 Unique Lander Designs: Traditional Approach By Blue Origin Group Awarded US$579M, Stripped-Down Strategy From Dynetics / 25+ Subcontractors Awarded $253M And Novel In-Space Refueling Method From SpaceX Initially Awarded $135M + $53M For Propellant Transfer Demonstration; Safety, Construction, Testing / Validation Considered; Watson-Morgan Is Confident That Diversity Of Design Advances “Bold And Challenging Objective Of Sending Astronauts To The Lunar South Pole”; 2 Option A Contracts To Be Issued NLT Feb 2021

Credits: NASA, SpaceX, Dynetics, Blue Origin

Tuesday / 20 Oct 2020

Lunar Human Science Objectives & Artemis Accords Jurisprudence Are Subjects Of 22 Oct Meetings

Artemis III Science Definition Team To Present Findings Of Report On 2024 Human Moon Mission Priorities Including Planetary Processes, Lunar Volatiles, Earth-Moon Impact History, Risks, Astronomical / Solar Record And ‘Observing Universe And Local Space Environment From Unique Location’ At LPI  Virtual Town Hall 12:00-14:00 EDT; Space Court Foundation Holds Meeting On Coming Space Law Realities, Moderated By (T-B) Daniel Porras Of SWF, Featuring Cassandra Steer Of ANU InSpace, Mike Gold Of NASA International / Interagency Relations At Online Event Starting 13:00 EDT

Credits: NASA, LPI, Space Court Foundation

Friday / 18 Sep 2020

Artemis 2024 Human Mission: Moon South Pole vs Equatorial Landing Site Speculation 

Target Of First Crewed Lunar Mission Of 21st Century, Artemis 3, Called Into Question At Lunar Exploration Analysis Group Online Meeting; Focus For Sustainable Occupation Has Been On Polar Region Since 2008 ISRO Chandrayaan-1 Confirmation Of Water Ice; NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine Says “Inspiration Of Going Back To An Original Apollo Site Would Be Pretty Amazing” While HEOMD Administrator Kathy Lueders Comments “We’re Looking At Different Ways To Get More Communities To Participate In That [Landing Location] Decision”; Equatorial Landings Require Less Fuel / Technical Challenge

Credits: NASA / LRO

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 11-14 Sep 2020

Who Owns The Moon?

Administrator Bridenstine Says In Order “To Stimulate And Normalize The Extraction And Sale Of Lunar Resources” NASA Will Pay US$15,000-$25,000 For In-Situ Collection / Cataloguing 50-500g Of Material; USA Moon Expert Clive Neal Declares Action A “Paradigm Shift”; Canada, Russia Leaders And Scholars Expressing Concerns, As Are Europe Officials, Moon Village Association; Asia Spacefaring Powers India, China, Japan Have Yet To Comment On Possible Egalitarian Considerations And Solutions; China Chang’e-5 Moon Sample Return Mission Late 2020 Readies Attempt To Mine Up To 2kg Of Regolith, Return To Earth, Long Before Any American Or Other Moon Lander Is Expected To Touch Down

Credits: NASA, UND /  Washington Post

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 4-7 Sep 2020

4 Years Out From Human Moon Landing Goal, Artemis Tech Accelerates Development

SLS Core 8-Minute, 4-Engine Green-Run Test #5 Of 9 Planned NET Oct By Boeing At Stennis, Simulating Launch & Ascent; Recent 2-Minute SLS Booster Test Fire By Northrop In UT Provided 3.6M Pounds-Force, Simulating Lift Off & Flight, And Tested New Materials For Artemis 4 + Beyond; Orion Crew Capsule Moves Into Integration Phase As Major Final Certification Achieved, Will Be Shipped To KSC With SLS For Artemis 1 Launch NET Nov 2021; Artemis 2 + 3 Core Stages Under Production At Michoud

Credits: NASA, Northrop Grumman, Boeing

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 28-31 Aug 2020

NASA Head Of Human Exploration And Operations Expresses Confidence On Meeting SPD-1 Human Moon Landing 2024

Kathy Leuders Gives Upbeat Assessment Of USA Space Program; Notes SLS Cost Is Now US$9.1B + $2.4B For Ground Support, Core Stage Evaluation Past Midpoint As Test 5/9 Underway At Stennis Space Center; Final Construction Of Orion Spacecraft Nears With Successful Pacific Recovery Trial, Installation Of 4 Solar Arrays, Currently Undergoing Thermal And Electromagnetic Endurance Tests In Preparation For Artemis II Human Lunar Orbit Mission; Operational Efficiencies Ensure NASA Is “Working At The Best Possible Pace”

Credits: Kim Shiflett, NASA, Northrop Grumman, ILOA

Tuesday / 25 Aug 2020

2-Crew Artemis III South Pole Mission Lunar Science Ideas Solicited 

NASA Science Mission Directorate Planetary Science Division, Led By (L) Lori Glaze, Forming Science Definition Team To Prioritize Lunar Science To Be Conducted By Artemis III Crew At Undetermined Site Within 6 Degrees Of Moon South Pole; RFP For 2-Page White Paper For Human Moon Surface Science Ideas To Be Integrated With Aggregated Recommendations From Lunar Exploration Analysis Group / Decadal Survey Publications; NASA Planetary Scientist Sarah Noble Is Lead On Vetting Submissions Via USRA Portal, Due 17:00 CDT 8 September

Credits: NASA, Twitter

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 14-17 Aug 2020

USA, China On Fast Track For Human Moon Missions Through Sustained Science, Exploration Programs

NASA LRO Surpasses 5 Years In Polar Mapping Orbit Collecting Data For Landings; Part Of Extensive Artemis SPD-1 To Achieve Humans At Moon South Pole (MSP) 2024, CLPS Program To See 1st Commercial Landings [Astrobotic, Intuitive Machines] Second Half Of 2021, Masten To MSP 2022, VIPER MSP 2023, PRIME-1 & 19D Contracts Upcoming; China / Zhongguo Chang’e-4 Operating On Farside, CE-5 Sample Return Launching 24 Nov, CE-6 Payloads Being Selected, CE-7 Collaboration With Russia Developing, CE-8 In 2027 May Be Final Robotic Landing Before Crew

Credits: NASA, CNSA, NAOC-CAS

Tuesday / 21 July 2020

Gender Equality, Human Flourishing Are Driving Forces In Artemis Moon Return

First Woman / Next Man To Set Foot On Moon Are Among Current NASA Astronaut Corps Who Have Worked On ISS —  A Requirement That 9 Women Now Meet, 7 Other Female Astronauts Including Zena Cardman Of VA May Fly Before 2024; Per Administrator Bridenstine, A “Transformational”, “Incredible” Event “For Young Women… All Across The World”; Uplifting Motivation Will Expand Woman Sphere Of Influence / Domain, A Necessary Condition For Equality; Increasing Humanity Area Of Habitat Will Mitigate Terrestrial Carrying Capacity Issues In Progressive, Inspiring Manner

Credits: NASA, SPC, ILOA