Category Archives: Cislunar Space Development

Friday / 30 Aug 2019

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Moon-To-Lagrange Point Space Elevator Concept Deemed Feasible By Cambridge, Columbia Researchers

Dubbed ‘Spaceline’, Elevator Would Rely On Gravity Well 326,000 km Above Earth Surface To Maintain Rigidity Rather Than Centrifugal Force As In Conventional Space Elevator Concepts; Research Authors Emily Sandford (T) and Zephyr Penoyre Describe Mathematical And Physical Conditions As ‘Eminently Plausible’ For Construction Using Present Technology; Suggestion Of Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene Fiber Construction Material With 3600 MPa Tensile Strength Considering Cost And Manufacturing Scalability Constraints Of Exotics; Fuel Cost To Reach Lunar Surface Would Be Reduced By 2/3, Study Estimates; Paper Is To Be Submitted To IAA Journal Acta Astronautica

Credits: NASA, Cambridge University, Columbia University

Tuesday / 6 Aug 2019

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New Analysis Of Data Obtained From NASA Spacecraft Implies Presence Of Thick Ice On Mercury And Moon

Research Conducted At UCLA And Published In The Journal Nature Geoscience Compares Topographical Data Gathered By Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) And Mercury Surface, Space Environment, Geochemistry And Ranging (Messenger) Finds Simple Crater Depths Decrease By 10% Proximate To North And South Pole On Mercury / South Pole On Moon; Lead Study Author Lior Rubanenko (L) Says That Existence Of Thick, Buried Ice Deposits Can Be Inferred, LRO Scientist Noah Petro (R) Suggests “Potential Reservoir Of Frozen Water On The Moon May Be Sufficiently Massive To Sustain Long-Term Lunar Exploration”

Credits: NASA, UCLA, JHU APL

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 2-5 August 2019

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China Advancing International Collaboration With Chang’e-6 While Longjiang-2 Fulfills Its Mission

47-kg Micro Lunar Orbiter Longjiang-2 Makes Controlled Impact On Lunar Surface After 437 Days In Orbit Around Moon, Launched 20 May 2018 With Queqiao Communications Relay Satellite As Part Of Chang’e-4 Far Side Exploration; International Support From Japan, Germany And The Netherlands On Development; Payload Included Saudi Made Optical Camera; CNSA Offers 20 Kg Payload Space To Domestic and International Partners On Planned Chang’e-6 Sample Return Mission – Deadline To Apply Is 31 Aug 2019

Credits: CNSA / CLEP, NASA Scientific Visualization Studio

Tuesday / 30 July 2019

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We Could Land On The Moon In Less Than Two Years, Says SpaceX CEO Elon Musk

In Wide-Ranging Interview July 12 With TIME Magazine, Musk, Founder Of The Only Launch Provider To Innovate Reusable Rockets, Makes Bold Statements On Moon Exploration And Settlement Timeline, Indicating That SpaceX Could Send Crewed Lunar Mission Within 4 Years, Uncrewed Within 2; Musk Emphasizes The Need For Permanent Antarctica-Style Science Base; Says ‘Overarching Philosophy’ Depends On Expanding Consciousness, Enlightenment, Sustainability, And ‘Making Life Multi-Planetary’

Credits: NASA, SpaceX

Tuesday / 23 July 2019

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Purdue Engineering Initiative In Cislunar Space Launching 50 Years After Apollo 11

New Program Intended To Spur Economic Development In Space Around Earth And Moon; Initiative Will Focus On Infrastructure, Communication, Policy And Educational Requirements Of Commercial And Public Cislunar Space Activities; Purdue University Is Known As The “Cradle Of Astronauts”, Alma Mater To 25 Spacefarers Including First Moon Explorer Neil Armstrong; Engineering Dean Mung Chiang (C) Says Initiative Will “Contribute To Critical Dimensions Of The Next 50 Years Of Small Steps And Giant Leaps In Space”

Also Pictured: Program Chair Dan Dumbacher (R), Co-chair David Spencer(L); Credits: NASA, Purdue

Tuesday / 18 June 2019

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NASA Head Bridenstine At Paris Airshow To Discuss International Cooperation In Artemis Program

Following Public Comments Encouraging International Public And Independent / Commercial Lunar Efforts To ‘Plug Into Architecture’ Of Human Lunar Landing Program Artemis, Jim Bridenstine Has Indicated That He Will Be Speaking To Media; Meeting With Various Heads Of National Space Programs At 53rd International Paris Air Show To Discuss Partnerships To Further 2024 Moon Initiative

Credits: NASA, IPAS

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 14-17 June 2019

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Next Decade Of Space Weather Favorable For Exploration Of Moon And Beyond

Study Conducted By Irina Kitiashvili Of NASA Ames Research Center Indicates Upcoming 11 Year Solar Cycle Least Active In 2 Centuries, Solar Sunspots At 2025 Maximum Estimated 30-50% Less Frequent Than 2013 Solar Maximum, Reducing Risk Of Deleterious Solar Storm Radiation For Artemis Mission Instrumentation And Astronauts, Including First Women On The Moon

Credits: NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, ESA

Friday / 14 June 2019

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Moon Maps, Composition Analyses Advance With Future Artemis Payloads, Current LRO, Past Missions Data

In Support Of First Planned Human Moon Landings 2024 & Potential Lunar Base, Projected Late 2020 Uncrewed Artemis 1 First Flight Of SLS Will Carry 6 Secondary Payloads To Study Lunar Ice, Hydrogen, Radiation, Spectroscopy, Thermography, Test Cislunar Propulsion Methods; LRO Reaching 10 Full Years / Entering 11th Year At Moon Next Week, Remains In Polar Mapping Orbit Since 2015; LRO Combined Data With 2011-12 GRAIL Mission Shows Potential Metal Deposit 5x Size Of Hawai’i Island Beneath South Pole-Aitken Basin

Credits: NASA, LRO, GRAIL, JPL, SPC, ILOA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 7-10 June 2019

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New Form Of Public / Private Collaboration Key To Realization Of Artemis Program?

Wealthiest Individual Jeff Bezos Says ‘Civilization Needs Moon’ And Space Habitation Critical To ‘Save Earth’, Hours Before NASA Administrator Bridenstine Declares 2024 Lunar Landing ‘Off The Table’ If Additional US$1.6B Congressional Funding Fails To Materialize; Given Existential Motivation For Humanization Of Space, New Form Of Public / Private Partnership Could Realize Artemis Moon Mission If Political Will Falters

Credits: NASA, Twitter

Friday / 31 May 2019

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Artemis / NASA ‘Astronomy From The Moon’ Commitment Could Gain AAS Support

American Astronomical Society President Megan Donahue States Organization Decides Against Taking Official Position On Artemis So Far, And Voices Concerns Over Potential Budgetary Shifts, Transfer Authority & Undefined Science Program; Astronautic Return To Moon Should Include New Astronomy Opportunities From New Frontier Of Moon South Pole Such As That Of ILOA; Identifying Artemis Program 2024+ Astronomy & Science Instruments To Be Positioned, Enhanced By Humans On Stable Lunar Platform May Inspire Approval From More Communities

Credits: AAS, NASA, Bill Ingalls, International Lunar Observatory Association (ILOA)