Category Archives: ESA / Europe

Wednesday / 7 August 2013

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LADEE Missions To Demonstrate Revolutionary New Communication System

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Lunar Laser Communication Demonstration (LLCD) System Ready For Launch On LADEE Mission After Series Of Successful Ground Tests; ESA Observatory In Spain & 2 US Ground Terminals Will Relay Data To The Moon Orbiter At Unprecedented Rates (622 Mbps); Laser Wavelengths 10,000 Times Shorter Than Radio, Allowing For Reduction In Antenna Size – Lowering Mass, Volume, Power Requirements Of Future Space Missions; LADEE Launching 6 Sep 2013

Image Credit: NASA

Tuesday / 18 June 2013

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International – Commercial Partnering For Moon Exploration

ILDC - Buzz

International Lunar Development Corp. Proposed By Buzz Aldrin To Facilitate Unified International, Commercial & Academic Partnerships To Advance Moon Exploration & Settlement; China, India, Russia, Japan, Europe, USA, NewSpace Companies Such As Bigelow, Shackleton Energy, Golden Spike Urged To Implement Step-By-Step Space Plan; Humans Need To Become Multi-World Species For Long-Term Survival, Will & Should Settle On Moon Long Before Mars, Europa, Etc

Image Credit: Bigelow Aerospace, PISCES, Shackleton Energy Co., GSC

Weekend Edition / Fri-Mon 15-18 Mar 2013

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Lunar Laser Communications Demonstration Ready For Launch

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Rigorous Testing & Integration Of LLCD System On LADEE Spacecraft Complete; Technology Demonstration Will See Data Sent From Lunar Orbit To Earth At Up To 622 Mbps – 6 Times The Rate Of Advanced Radio Communication Systems; Hundreds Of Millions Of Short Infrared Pulses Sent Precisely Every Second To Any One Of 3 Ground Telescopes In New Mexico, California & Spain; LADEE To Launch In Aug 2013

Image Credit: NASA

Tuesday / 5 February 2013

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3D-Printed Moon Base

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ESA Plans For 3D Printing Of Lunar Base Gaining Attention In Space Media: Doug Messier, Bruce Cordell, Larry Kellogg, Keith Cowing, WIRED; ESA Working With Architects Foster + Partners To Develop Lunar Habitat Design With Cellular Structured Wall, Incorporating Pressurized Inflatable To Shelter Astronauts; Next-Generation 3-D Printer Will Be Able To Build Entire Structure In 1 Week 

Image Credit: ESA, Foster + Partners

Tuesday / 22 January 2013

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Strong Lunar Exploration Advocacy From Canada

CanadaLovesMoon

Ottawa Citizen Editorial Commends Recent ESA – NASA Partnership Agreement For Orion / MPCV Lunar Exploration Missions, Elaborates On Importance & Benefits Of Human Solar System Exploration: Technology Advances, Potential For Poverty Eradication, Innate Human Need To Explore; Canada, With Expertise In Mining & Robotics, Is Set To Be Important Contributor To USA / Europe Exploration Goals 

Image Credit: CSA, NASA, NORCAT, Ottawa Citizen

Friday / 18 January 2013

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ESA / NASA To Cooperate On Human Moon, Deep Space Exploration

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Europe ATV Propulsion Hardware And Solar Arrays Will Make Up Large Part Of NASA Orion Service Module For EM-1 (NET 2017) 7-Day, Uncrewed Circumlunar Cruise & EM-2 (~2021); Agreement May Also Entail Participation Of ESA Astronaut In EM-2; Current Plan For EM-2 Is To Send 4 Crew Members To Orbit Moon For 3-4 Days; Academics, Engineers, Industry Arguing For More Ambitious Mission, Possibly To L2, 65,000km Beyond Lunar Far Side 

Image Credit: NASA, ESA

Wednesday / 21 November 2012

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Europe Role In Upcoming Lunar Missions To Be Determined At Ministerial Council

Representatives From 20 European Union Member States Meeting In Naples, Italy (20-21 Nov) To Refine & Approve Budget For Next 3 Years Of ESA Activity; Proposed US$15.3B Budget Includes Financing An ESA Contribution To NASA Orion Spacecraft Program Destined For Human Lunar Missions Around 2020; ESA Also Seeking Funding Of Robotic Lander To Explore South Pole Of Moon

Image Credit: ESA, NASA

Tuesday / 30 October 2012

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ESA Mulls Herschel Telescope Crash To Search For Lunar Ice

 ESA To Decide By End Of 2012 If 2.8 Metric Ton Herschel Telescope Will Crash Into Lunar Surface In Search Of Permafrost; $1.4B Infrared Astronomy Mission Ends March 2013 Due To Depletion Of Cryogenic Superfluid Helium; Spacecraft Currently At L2; Earliest Arrival At Moon Would Be June 2013; Alternate Plan To Place In Solar Orbit, Away From Earth For 100s Of Years

Image Credit: ESA, NASA

Wednesday / 24 October 2012

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ESA Eyes 2019 Lunar South Pole Robotic Mission As Astrium Develops Lander / Assesses Cost

ESA Preliminary System Requirement Review Puts €500M Price On 6 Month Mission To Place Rover / Other Experiments At Moon’s South Pole; Astrium Lunar Lander Study Phase B1 Major Results Include Precision Autonomous Soft Landing Test Results From TRON (Testbed For Robotic Optical Navigation) & LAMA (Landing And Mobility Test Facility); Nov ESA Ministerial Conference Decides Whether To Proceed With Study Phase B2 Leading To Preliminary Design Review

Image Credit: Astrium, ESA

Wednesday / 12 September 2012

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Russia Officials Talking MoonBase Plans

Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin Says Russia Should Set ‘Super Goal’ Of Building Large Base On Moon To Refocus Space Industry; Base Could Facilitate Leaps Of Science & Future Deep Space Projects; Possible Collaboration With USA / ESA; Moon Is Seen As Logical Next Step For Russia Exploration As Mars Is “Too Far And Too Expensive”

Image Credit: Roscosmos, wn.com