Category Archives: Astrobotic

Tuesday / 16 December 2014

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Astrobotic ‘MoonMail’ Brings Moon Mission Participation To Individuals

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New Service Provides Opportunity For People Around World To Send Special Small Items To Lunar Surface Aboard Griffin Lander On (NET Late 2015) Moon Mission; Packages Range From US$460 For 1.27 X 0.3-cm Hexagonal Package To $25,800 For 2.5 X 5-cm Package; Mission Will Include Lander, Nicknamed Andy, Which Will Attempt To Complete Requirements To Claim GLXP & Potentially Explore Interesting Cave Formations In Lacus Mortis Landing Site (45.0° N, 27.2° E)

Image Credit: astrobotic.com

Friday / 29 August 2014

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GLXP Teams: Moon Missions More Valuable Than Cash Prize

Penn State & Hakuto

Penn State Lunar Lion Aiming To Launch To Moon Dec 2015 Would Use US$20M Prize Money To Set Up Space Research Institute / Student Scholarships, Working On Integrating Propulsion & Control System Into Spacecraft – Recognize GLXP Isn’t Just An Investment To Make Money, But Make History; Japan Team Hakuto Stresses Lunar Skylights As Sites Of Potential Human Habitats (As Does Team Astrobotic), Hopes To Contribute To Human Understanding Of Moon, Working On Pair Of Rovers: 4-Wheeled 8kg Moonraker Would Lower 2-Wheeled 2kg Tetris Into Holes Using Tether

Image Credit: Penn State Lunar Lion, Team Hakuto

Thursday / 21 August 2014

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Moon Mining Featured On Science Channel Premier

MEmanVuniverse

GLXP Teams Moon Express & Astrobotic Featured In Premier Of ‘Man vs The Universe’ On Science Channel; Episode Entitled ‘Mining The Moon’ Relates How Private Enterprises Are Utilizing Efficient Low-Cost Designs & Youthful Ingenuity To Reassert USA Leadership In Moon Exploration; GLXP Winner Will Be Well Positioned To Develop Moon Mining Technology, Leading Edge Of Potential $Trillion Industry; Moon Express Confirms South Pole Moon As Ideal Destination

Image Credit: Moon Express, Science Channel, NASA

Tuesday / 1 July 2014

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Astrobotic Demonstrates Autonomous Moon Landing System

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Astrobotic Teams With Masten Space Systems To Successfully Demonstrate Astrobotic Autolanding System (AAS); Xombie Suborbital Rocket Was Boosted To 250m, Simulated Lunar Trajectory, Achieved Soft Landing Intuitively Avoiding Simulated Moon Debris On Mojave Desert Landing Field; AAS Uses Only Cameras & Inertial Measurement Unit, Necessary For Environments Like Moon Where GPS Not Available; Astrobotic Chief Tech Guru Kevin Peterson Says System Can Track Craft Location To Within 3m

Image Credit: Astrobotic Technology Inc.

Thursday / 19 June 2014

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Astrobotic Wants To Facilitate 1st Race On Moon

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Astrobotic Technology Offering To Carry At Least 4 GLXP Team Rovers To Lunar Surface On Its Inaugural Mission To Lacus Mortis Region; Rovers Would  Simultaneously Begin 500-Meter Race To Win GLXP After Landing; CEO John Thornton Says This Will Create More Exciting Race, 1st International Competition On Another World; New Astrobotic Website Features Innovative ‘Configure Your Mission’ Page For Potential Payload Customers; Charging US$1.2M/kg For Delivery To Lunar Surface

Image Credit: GLXP

Friday / 2 May 2014

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Lunar CATALYST Partnerships Begin

Lunar CATALYST

Astrobotic, Moon Express & Masten Negotiating No-Funds-Exchanged Space Act Agreements With NASA For Lunar Cargo Transportation And Landing By Soft Touchdown (Lunar CATALYST) Initiative To Advance Lunar Lander Capabilities; NASA To Provide Technical Expertise, Equipment / Software Loans, Access To Test Facilities For 3 Years; Astrobotic (Griffin Lander) & Moon Express (MX-1) Plan To Launch To Moon 2015 / Win GLXP; Masten Refining / Testing Xombie & Xaero, Designing Xeus

Image Credit: ME, Astrobotic, Masten, NASA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 25-28 April 2014

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Friends Of The Moon Campaign: USA Scientists Call For Human Moon Exploration

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Clive Neal Urging Scientific Community To Write Letters To Congress & Obama Administration Stating Priority / Importance Of USA Human Moon Missions; Campaign Is In Response To Recent NASA Blunt Anti-Moon Exploration Statements; Neal Notes Administration Consistently Claims That It Listens To & Integrates Advice O f Scientists In Policy Making; GLXP Teams Using Lunar Exploration Opportunities To Inspire Next Generation Of Scientists

Image Credit: NASA, GLXP, nd.edu

Tuesday / 1 April 2014

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Astrobotic Technology Inc Successfully Tests Autolanding System

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GLXP Team Tests New Landing Sensor At Mojave Air & Space Port In CA; Astrobotic Autolanding System (AAS) Utilizes 2 Cameras, Scanning Laser, Inertial Measurement Unit; Low-Power Lightweight System Relies On Hi-Res LRO Lunar Surface Imagery, Makes Decisions Without Human Input; Flawless Flight Test Utilized Masten Aerospace Xombie Rocket, Descended From 250m, Used AAS To Detect Hazards & Select Landing Site; Pictured Astrobotic CEO John Thornton

Image Credit: Astrobotic Technology Inc

Friday / 28 March 2014

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18 GLXP Teams Working Toward
2015 Moon Missions

GLXP Teams Mar 2014

Weekly GLXP Teams Virtual Hangouts To Occur Every Tuesday; Astrobotic Announces Other Teams Will Join Its Mission Soon; 5 Competing For US$6M Terrestrial Prizes: Team Indus, Hakuto, Part-Time Scientists, Astrobotic, Moon Express (Latter 2 Are Only Teams To Advance To Accomplishment Round In All 3 Categories – Landing, Mobility, Imaging); Synergy Moon Building NEPTUNE L-1000 Launch Vehicle With Partner Company Interorbital Systems; SpaceIL Raises $21M, SpaceMETA $10M

Image Credit: GLXP, ME, Indus, Hakuto, PT Scientists, Astrobotic, IOS, Synergy Moon

Friday / 7 March 2014

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Japan Diverse Interests In Moon Missions

Japan Moon

Japan Scientists Preparing For 2nd SELenological and ENgineering Explorer (SELENE-2) Moon Mission Consisting Of Orbiter, Lander, Rover To Launch NET 2018; SELENE-3 Sample Return To Follow, Eventually Human Moon Missions & Outpost; Japan Team Hakuto Strong Contender For GLXP / Selected To Compete For Terrestrial Milestone Prizes; Commercial Interest & Advertising From Moon Highlighted By Japan Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Planning To Send ‘Pocari Sweat’ Sports Drink To Moon Surface On Astrobotic Lunar Lander

Image Credit: JAXA, GLXP, Hakuto