Category Archives: Cislunar Space Development

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 6-9 March 2015

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China Chang’e-3, -4, -5 Aligning To Realize Full Potential Of Moon Program

Chang'e-3 - 5

Chang’e-4 Lander & Rover With Reconfigured Instruments To Follow Successful Chang’e-1, -2, -3 & 5-T1 Missions (2007-Present), Perhaps To Unexplored Destination Such As Moon South Pole; Chang’e-5 Sample Return Mission On Track For 2017 Launch From Developing Hainan Spaceport On Long March 5 Rocket According To Chang’e Chief Cmdr / Designer Ye Peijian; Chang’e-5-T1 In Moon Orbit Testing Technologies For Chang’e-5; Chang’e-3 At 44.12°N 19.51°W May Study Lunar Terminator / Dust Dynamics, Make Other Observations During Lunar Eclipse 4 Apr & 28 Sep

Image Credit: CNSA, NASA, CCTV, Chinese Academy of Sciences, D. Davis, Chinanews.com, K. Kremer, M. Di Lorenzo, Xinhuanet.com

Tuesday / 3 March 2015

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Shackleton Energy Company To Develop, Test New Technology At ISS

ShackletonECISS

In A Step Towards Ultimate Goal Of Providing More Affordable Access / Operations To / In Space, Shackleton Energy Corporation (SEC) Signs MOA With CASIS To Develop & Test Mini Space Brakes / Re-entry Vehicles Called ‘Oryx’; Technology Is Critical Enabler For Aerobraking Systems Needed To Economically Fly Water From Moon To Fuel Depots In LEO; SEC To Eventually Develop Larger Re-entry Vehicles / Orbital Lifeboats For Fuel Depot Crew

Image Credit: Shackleton Energy Company

Friday / 27 February 2015

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Russia Asserts Plans To Land Humans On
Moon By 2030

Russia Moon 2030

 Roscosmos Announces That It Expects To Begin Landing Humans On Moon By 2030, Continued Missions May Set Up Lunar Base Infrastructures; Plans To Launch Luna-26 Polar Orbiter 2018, Luna-27 Lander To Moon South Pole 2019, Luna-28 Sample Return Mission To Moon South Pole 2020, Luna-29 Lander 2021; Russia Independent Space Station May Serve As Transport Point For Moon Missions

Image Credit: Roscosmos, IKI, NASA

Friday / 20 February 2015

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India May Boost Space Spending
For Fiscal Year 2015-16 India ISRO

Increase In India Space Budget 2015-16, Similar To 50% Increase Of 2014-15, Could Help Program Continue Its Momentum, Build Upon Successes Of 2014; Planning & Budget Allocation Underway For India Fiscal Year Beginning 1 Apr; ISRO Developing Indigenously Built GSLV-Mk 3 – Key To Reducing Launch Cost & Launching Heavy Spacecraft Such As Lander & Rover Chandrayaan-2 To Moon In 2016-17 & Human CARE Capsule; Working On Astronomical Laboratory (Astrosat), Venus & Solar Missions, Potential 2nd Mars Mission, & Infrastructure / Construction At Sriharikota Launch Site

Image Credit: ISRO, NASA

Friday / 13 February 2015

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GLXP Team Indus “We Will Definitely
Land On The Moon”

India Team indus

India Team Indus Describes Support Received From Various ISRO Branches, Silicon Valley Entrepreneurs, General Public; Team Estimates It Will Need To Secure US$35M To Complete Lunar Lander ‘HHK1’ & Rover, And Launch To Moon On PSLV; Core Team Of 9 Plus 31 Other Young Engineers Continues To Overcome Technological / Financial Challenges, Inspire STEM Education, Encourage Technology Startups & Advance Space Exploration Activities In India; Hosting Reddit “Ask Me Anything”
On 14 Feb 11:00-12:30 IST

Image Credit: GLXP, Team Indus, NASA

Thursday / 5 February 2015

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FAA Commercial Space Conference Evaluating Future Direction Of Commercial Space

FAAHuerta2

US Gov Officials, NASA & Industry Leaders, Space Entrepreneurs, Astronauts And Space Enthusiasts Meeting On 4-5 Feb In Washington DC For 18th Annual FAA Commercial Space Transportation Conference; Event Comes On Heels Of Announcement That FAA Will Ensure Commercial Activities On Moon / Celestial Bodies Can Be Conducted On Non-Interference Basis; On Day 1 Of Conference FAA Administrator Michael Huerta Says It Is Not Too Early For Industry & Government To Plan For Future Of Regulations

Image Credit: Astrobotic, faa.gov

Wednesday / 4 February 2015

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US Government Takes Step To Support Commercial Development Of Moon

FAABigelow0215

Federal Aviation Administration Supports Request From Bigelow Aerospace To Recognize Private Sector’s Need To Protect Assets & Personnel On Moon, Expanding Scope From Launch Licensing To Lunar Activities Of US Companies; More Legal & Diplomatic Work Still Needed As Issues Regarding Lunar Property & Mineral Rights Pending; Bigelow To Test Inflatable Habitat At ISS This Year, Moon Habitats Around 2025; Moon Express Intends To Return Moon Rocks / Regolith In 3rd Mission

Pictured: TR- FAA Associate Administrator George Nield, BL- Robert Bigelow

Image Credit: Bigelow Aerospace, faa.gov

Thursday / 29 January 2015

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Africa2Moon Mission Funding Campaign Closes In 2 Days

Africa2Moon

Africa2Moon Wants To Send Robotic Craft To Moon Orbit Or Surface To Provide Live Images For Africa Classrooms Thereby Raising Space Awareness, Providing High-Tech Project To Keep Graduates In Country, Bringing Investment Opportunities & Skills Training To Africa; Partnered With UN Foundation #GivingTuesday Initiative, Seeking Private Funding For US$150,000 For Phase 1 Mission Concept & Feasibility Study; Fundraising Campaign Ends 31 Jan

Pictured: Mission Administrator Professor Peter Martinez (L); Project Administrator Jonathan Weltman

Image Credit: Africa2Moon, Rueters, Foundation for Space Development of South Africa, NASA

Wednesday / 28 January 2015

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India Advancing Moon & Mars Missions, GSLV, Human CARE Capsule

India ISRO Moon

ISRO Focusing On Chandrayaan-2 Moon Mission & Considering Second Mars Mission; Working On GSLV Mk 3 & Human-Rated CARE Capsule After Successful Launch Last Month; US President Obama Meeting With India Prime Minister Modi Says “Together, We Unlock New Discoveries – From The Particles Of Creation To Outer Space – Two Nations To Have Gone To Both The Moon & To Mars”; GLXP Team Indus Awarded US$1M Milestone Prize, Needs $35M For Completing / Launching Spacecraft

Pictured: Mahatma Gandhi Crater On Moon At Sinus Iridum 43.7°N 26.8°W – Also Known As Laplace A

Image Credit: ISRO, NASA, Team Indus, GLXP, Vinod Singh/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Friday / 23 January 2015

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Moon Express, Space Florida, NASA
Advancing Florida Moon Missions Legacy

ME FL

ME Testing & Developing MTV-1X Lunar Lander At KSC Shuttle Landing Facility, Will Begin Operations By End Of Q2 2015 At Space Launch Complex 36, Which Was Used To Launch Surveyors To Moon, Mariners To Mars, Pioneers To Jupiter / Saturn / Beyond; Bob Richards (CEO) Says Agreement With Space Florida, & ME Initial Investment Of US$500K Will Allow For “Immediate” Infrastructure Improvements To Make Site Operational; Likely To Build Own “Moonscape”; Block House & Engineering Building To Be Dubbed “Moon Mountain” 

Image Credit: ME, NASA