Category Archives: Human Moon Missions

Friday / 11 March 2022

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China Forging Ahead with Chang’e Lunar Exploration while Human Moon Landings with LM-5DY on Horizon

Chief Designer Wu Weiren (TL) proceeding with phase 4 of China Lunar Exploration Program including Chang’e-6 MSP 1-2kg sample return; Chang’e-7 polar exploration mission may involve relay satellite, orbiter, lander, rover, hopper and possible coordination with RSC Luna-Resource-1 orbiter (Luna-27); Chang’e-8 establishment of robotic lunar station with ISRU; LM-5DY development will make Human landings possible prior to 2030 possible per CALT Designer Jiang Jie (BL) speaking at National People’s Congress in Beijing; Jielong-3 / Smart Dragon-3 commercial-focused solid rocket to launch from Shandong China Eastern Seaport NET September

Credits: Xinhua, CGTN, People’s Daily Online, CNSA, MVA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 4-7 March 2022

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USA Policymakers Consider Firm Timeline, Cost Structure for Artemis III Human Moon Return — NLT 2026 July 4?

2026 is realistic goal for First Woman on the Moon near MSP, per NASA IG Paul Martin speaking to congressional Space and Aeronautics subcommittee hearing on Artemis Initiative crewed lunar landings; Originally slated for 2028, then accelerated to 2024 goal under previous administration, ‘technical risk’ now points to NLT 4 July 2026, which would appropriately coincide with USA Quarter-millennial; SLS launches anticipated to cost US$4.1B/ea, while total development spending to reach $93B through 2025 (total Apollo spending ~$257B inflation adjusted); Artemis organizational management, xEMU / flight suits, mobile SLS launchers, Orion, Astronaut Corps among areas of testimony focus; RFI for NASA Consolidated Applications and Platform Services cost reductions due 10 March

Credits: NASA

Friday / 25 February 2022

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Phase 2 of ‘Watts on the Moon’ Opens 3-Segment, 30-Month, US$4.5M Challenge to Enable Lunar Surface Power Transmission & Energy Storage

Running on HeroX crowdsourcing platform, NASA Centennial Challenges calls for USA team proposals for energy infrastructure concepts supporting long-term Moon operations; Open 23 Feb 2022 with competition end scheduled 11 Sep 2024, 285 teams with 3.3K innovators registered so far; Phase 1 winners (21 May 2021, totaling 500K) were Astrobotic, Astrolight, KC Space Pirates, Michigan Tech University, UC Santa Barbara, Skycorp, Team FuelPod; International missions planned near Boguslawsky, Nobile, Shackleton Rim, Malapert Mountain, Haworth Crater, Simpelius N to help determine solar illumination & resources for crew landing projected 2025 / Artemis 3

Credits: NASA, HeroX

Tuesday / 8 February 2022

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Shadowy Lunar South Pole Conditions Being Replicated for NASA Training Regimen in Texas

NASA Johnson Space Center shares Astronaut training exercise “simulating a Moonwalk” within specially outfitted 23,000,000-liter diving tank (62m X 31m x 12m) of Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory, located within Sonny Carter Training Facility near Ellington Field / Houston Spaceport; Light containment used to replicate low angle of Sun relative to horizon in polar Moon regions (same effect is likely cause of water accumulation in cold traps / PSRs); Conditions pose novel challenge to Artemis astronauts set to explore area starting NET 2025

 

Credits: NASA, ESA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 4-7 Feb 2022

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Elon Musk to Give Update on Starship, Variant of which is to Land Humans on Moon During Artemis 3

Artemis SLS / Orion rollout now expected mid-March, while progress update on Starship prototype ‘Serial No. 20’ / SN20 to be given 10 Feb at 20:00 CST from Starbase TX; Expected topics include Raptor 2 engines (~230t thrust vs ~185 of Raptor 1) recently subjected to destructive testing, Moonship HLS variant, and orbital test flight landing 100km from Kauaʻi; FAA environmental assessment, “the schedule driver” of launch per Musk; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service contention that launch activity is deleterious to Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge may trigger full EIS review

 

Credits: SpaceX, NASA

Friday / 21 January 2022

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USSF Eyes Cislunar Space — Moon Usage May Follow 7th Continent Antarctica

Air Force Magazine reports USSF Chief of Space Operations John Raymond (T) references need for “safe, secure, stable” cislunar space at Center for Strategic and International Studies online meeting; Military leader urges USA “compete in all areas of the domain, not just in LEO, MEO, GEO” with China; Outer Space Institute co-founders Aaron Boley (L), Michael Byers (R) writing in Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists counter that Air Force Research Laboratory’s Cislunar Highway Patrol System and Defense Deep Space Sentinel may contravene Outer Space Treaty Article IV, similar to Antarctic Treaty limiting exploration to peaceful means

Credits: NASA, Advanced Space, AFRL, OSI

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 14-17 Jan 2022

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SLS ‘Mega Moon Rocket’ with Integrated Orion Spacecraft Prepares for Rollout / Wet Dress Rehearsal

Simulated countdown sequencing software / hardware test is last step before highly anticipated (12th year of $23B+ program) rollout of USA flagship Space Launch System from KSC Vehicle Assembly Building to historic Launch Pad 39B, as problematic RS-25 engine controller replaced and checked; Fueled dress rehearsal set to occur NET mid-Feb followed by hot fire and inaugural Artemis 1 uncrewed lunar flyby NET March; Elements of Artemis 2-4 crafts currently being manufactured with ULA Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (Decatur AL) and Aerojet Rocketdyne RS-25 engines (New Orleans LA) being readied for KSC shipment

Credits: NASA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 3-6 Dec 2021

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Artemis Features Prominently in Revamped Space Policy, NASA Administrators Evaluate Progress in Huntsville & Order New SLS SRBs

NASA Deputy Administrator Melroy declares “We are so ready for Artemis” during MSFC facility tour with Administrator Nelson, days prior to first meeting of revamped National Space Council led by VP Harris 1 Dec with focus on climate change mitigation, space conduct standards, STEM education; Space Priorities Framework specifies “landing the first woman and person of color on the Moon, advancing a robust cislunar ecosystem” as official goals of Biden administration; Northrop Grumman to build composite solid rocket boosters for Artemis 4-9 under US$3.19B / 10-year contract

Credits: NASA, Boeing

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 12-15 Nov 2021

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Artemis coalition and International Lunar Research Station project court European participation

VP Harris (L) utilizes space diplomacy with oldest USA ally France, possible 15th member state joining Artemis Accords agreement on lunar exploration / extraction planning Human Moon landings NET 2025; In turn VP Harris commits USA to France-led climate sat interoperability / data exchange Space Climate Observatory with 35 signatories including UNOOSA, Brazil, China, Israel, Russia, Sweden, UK Space Agencies; Roscosmos Director Rogozin (R) declares Luna-27 NET 2025 will be truly international; China neighbors in SE Asia including Thailand may join ILRS and/or Artemis

Credits: NASA, Roscosmos, Wikipedia, ILRS

Tuesday / 9 November 2021

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NASA Set to Update on Artemis Mission Progress, Space Launch System Celebration in ‘Rocket City’

Progress update on Artemis / First Woman on the Moon / First Person of Color on the Moon coming via live webcast 9 Nov 1500 EST; Huntsville AL celebrates ‘Artemis on the Square’ tradition with Apollo 11 roots in the home of Marshall Space Flight Center – Director Jody Singer (L) proudly declares “Huntsville is at the heart of Artemis” while Human Landing System Program Manager Lisa Watson-Morgan mentions “sustained services”, referencing Lunar Exploration Transportation Services RFI solicitation and long-term lander contracts expected in 2022.

Credits: NASA, Twitter