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

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 17-20 July 2020

Humanity Strives Toward Achievement Of Multi-World Habitation

As UAE/JAXA, China, USA Prepare Vessels Destined For Mars Orbit, Atmosphere And Surface, Chang’e -4 Lander And Yutu-2 Rover Continue Pioneering Geophysical / Astronomical Observation And Traversment Of Lunar Farside Surface, Citizens Of Earth Pause To Reflect On Incredible Accomplishments Of The First Space Era; Apollo 11 Moon Landing Commemorated For 51st Time On Moonday, July 20 As Space Exploration Day; Inscription “We Came In Peace For All” On Mare Tranquillitatis Landing Site Remains Poignant Moral Guidance, As Does Antarctica Treaty Model Allowing Only Peaceful Military Presence

Credits: CNSA, NASA, UAESA, Antarctic Treaty System

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 10-13 July 2020

USA And Japan Sign Joint Exploration Declaration Of Intent On Artemis

NASA Administrator Bridenstine Signs JEDI With Koichi Hagiuda, Japan Minister Of Education, Culture, Sports, Science And Technology; Specific Commitments Yet To Be Formalized, JAXA Will Likely Collaborate On International Habitation Module, Energy And Gas Storage On Gateway; Also Will Contribute Mission Data From 2022 Smart Lander For Investigating Moon And Offer Next Generation Cargo Capacity Via Uncrewed HTV-X Powered By H3 Rocket In 2022; Crewed Rover Being Developed In Conjunction With Toyota Motor Company For 2029

Credits: NASA, JAXA, Toyota

Friday / 10 July 2020

NASA Supports Advanced Lunar Resource Extraction / Exploration Technologies With ~US$17M

4 Enterprises Nurtured By Phase 1 & 2 SBIR/STTR Grants Chosen To Further Refine Technologies Deemed Vital For Artemis Mission Success: Informatic Health And Spacecraft Diagnostics Systems By Qualtech Systems (CT), Regolith Refining Machinery For ISRU By Pioneer Astronautics (CO), Protoinnovations (PA) Tasked With Rover Traction Control, Fibertek (VA) To Develop Cis-Lunar Laser Communication; Post-Phase 2 Awards Range $2.5M – $5M, Designed As Final Stage Of Incubation Prior To Commercialization; Administrator Bridenstine Seeks $25.2B Appropriation From Congress To Fund Agency

Credits: NASA, Qualtech , Pioneer Astronautics, Protoinnovations, Fibertek

Tuesday / 7 July 2020

Artemis / Sustained Moon Habitation Advances Via Lunar Dust, Power, Sterilization Investigations

NASA Awards 312 Small Businesses ~US$125K For 409 Technology Proposals ($51M Total) Through Phase 1 Of Annual NASA SBIR & STTR Programs; 9 Funded Ideas Center On Regolith Dust Mitigation, Including Electrodynamic Shielding (Hedgefog Research), Wireless Communication (Astrobotic), <1 Micron Filtration (Mainstream Engineering Corporation); Opterus R&D Will Study Heavy Duty Lunar Solar Array Concept, Paragon Space To Work On Water Collection / Purification, CU Aerospace To Develop Plasma Anti-Microbial Device; Phase 2 Will Include ‘Multi-million’ Prototyping Contracts, Market Entry Support; 27% Of Awardees Women / Minority Owned

Credits: NASA, ESA, MEC, HR, Astrobotic, PSDC, ORD, CU Aerospace

July 4th Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 3-6 July 2020

Galaxy Forum USA 2020 July 4 Continues Space Age / ILOA Strategy And Tradition Aiming For Stars Via Moon, Jupiter And Mars

USA Celebrates Revolutionary Progression, Exploration And Resilience As National Character Traits, 50 Stars Adorn Flag Of United States Of America, Most Of Any National Emblem; In Ad Astra Spirit, Space Age Publishing Presents Dynamic Talks On Investigation Beyond Our Solar System, Space Medicine, Artemis 2024 Human Moon Landings; Pete Worden, Executive Director Of Breakthrough Starshot, NASA Ames Astrobiologist Lynn Rothschild And Planetary Scientist Chris McKay Join Director Steve Durst Of International Lunar Observatory Association For 98th Galaxy Forum; 1st Online, Co-Hosted By The Vi, Palo Alto

Credits: Breakthrough Initiative, The Vi, NASA Ames 

Friday / 3 July 2020

Artemis 2024 Human Moon Landings, Dragon VS Orion: Space Experts Debate Best Path

As Astronauts Hurley And Behnken Continue ISS DM-2 Mission, NASA Kathy Lueders Moves From Head Of CCP To HEOMD, Aerospace Engineers (L-R) Robert Zubrin And Homer Hickam, Voice Strong Advocacy For Utilization Of US$3B SpaceX Dragon / Falcon Heavy Configuration For Artemis In Lieu Of  $18B SLS / Orion; Pair Argue That Orion Is Dependent On Orbital Gateway And As-Yet Unproven Capability, Cost, Readiness; Lockheed Orion Director Tony Antonelli Responds With Defense Of Current Artemis Mission Profile, Insisting Orion Is Better Suited To Deep Space

Credits: SpaceX, Lockheed Martin, The Mars Society, NASA

Tuesday / 12 May 2020

Artemis Moon Technology Development / Education Supported By US$2.4M Funding

Artemis Student Challenges, A NASA Space Grant And STEM Engagement Initiative, Awards University Of California, San Diego And University Of Washington, Seattle Approximately $500K Each To Develop Lander, Exploration And Habitat Competitions; University Of Hawaii, Honolulu And University Of Colorado, Boulder Also Granted $500K Each From Artemis Core Technologies Awards For Development Of Orbital Cubesats And Lunasats To Be Deployed On Surface Of Moon In 2024 Via Great Lunar Expedition For Everyone Rideshare; University of Alabama, Huntsville And University Of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign Receive $200K Each Through Artemis Teaching And Resource Availability

Credits: NASA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 1-4 May 2020

Artemis And Chang’e: Two Mythological Women Lead Humanity Forward, Upward

China Chang’e Program Of 4 Successful Missions To Date, 1st To Land On Moon This Century & 1st On Lunar Far Side, Prepares For Sample Return CE-5 Dec 2020, Continues CE-4 Astrophysics From Surface & Communications From Cislunar Space, Could See 2-4 More Missions Before Human Landings; USA 21st Century Artemis Program Est. 2017 Extends Its Branches Through Multiple Infrastructure Contracts (SLS, Orion, CLPS, VIPER, PRISM) To Realize First Women And Next Men On Moon – At Unexplored Moon South Pole 2024

 

Credits: NASA, CNSA, NAOC-CAS, CLEP