Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 2-5 Feb 2018

SpaceX Falcon Heavy Demo Success Could Mean Human Occupied Lunar Base Soon To Come

Upcoming 6 Feb Falcon Heavy Launch With Reusable Rocket Components Will Increase Space Travel Sustainability And Possibility Of Permanent Lunar Base; CEO Elon Musk States Aspirations Of Sending Humans To Mars In 2024 At ~US$200K Per Person With Launch Seating Capability Of 100 People, Also Plans To Accommodate Commercial And Government Desire To Reach Moon First As Stepping Stone Into The Solar System; Musk Envisions His Interplanetary Transport System On Self-Proclaimed “Moon Base Alpha” Leading To Speculation Of Personal Interest In Lunar Settlement

Credits: NASA, SpaceX, Elon Musk

Friday / 2 Feb 2018

Human Exploration Research Analog HERAnauts To Begin 45-Day Space Simulation Mission

Group Of 4 Compensated Volunteers Out Of ~400 Applicants To Perform >18 Investigations During HERA XVI Mission (Campaign 4 Mission 4) At Johnson Space Center, Houston TX 3 Feb – 19 Mar; Closed Habitat Of 148.1 m3 Volume Consists Of 3-Story Core, Airlock & Hygiene Facilities; Research Will Focus On Behavioral Performance, Team Performance, Crew Medical, And Enabling Technologies Including Low Latency Teleoperations Study, Lighting Protocols for Exploration, ISS Food Intake Tracker, STARWatch™ Sleep Measures For Spaceflight; Results Will Support Future Human Moon, Mars, Solar System, SLS / Orion, Potential Deep Space Gateway Missions

Credits: JSC, NASA, HERA

Wednesday / 31 Jan 2018

ILOA Confirms 4-7 December For Galaxy Forum China 2018 Hainan

International Lunar Observatory Association Will Host A 3-Day Interglobal Conference On “International Human Moon Missions” & “Astronomy From The Moon” At Hilton Wenchang On Tropical Island Of Hainan – Home Of China Spaceport (19°N) At Wenchang Satellite Launch Center; Co-Sponsorship Already From International Astronautical Federation, Chinese Society Of Astronautics, National Astronomical Observatories / Chinese Academy Of Sciences; Feature Presentation By Andy Aldrin & Other World Space Leaders To See Humans On The Moon ASAP; Program & Registration Available Soon At ILOA Website

Credits: ILOA, CSA, NAOC, IAF, Google, NASA, SPC

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 26-29 Jan 2018

Emerging USA Policies Could Support Human Moon Missions Early 2020s

Upcoming 2018 Presidential State Of Union Address 30 January May Give Indication Of Future Lunar / Space Exploration, National Space Council, Space Policy Directive 1, ISS; 2019 Fiscal Budget Expected Release Early February; Possibility Of Public-Private Lunar Exploration Catalyzed By US$200M Allocation; NASA Budget Could End ISS Funding By 2024, Currently About $4B Out Of Total $19.65B, To Develop International Deep Space Gateway; National Focus Would Shift To Cislunar Space, Mars And Beyond Utilizing Space Launch System And Orion Crew Vehicle

Credits: NASA, Boeing, CNN

Wednesday / 10 Jan 2018

John Young, “Moon Worker”, Took Humankind’s First Star Photos From Luna

Commander John Young Traveled Twice To Moon On Apollo 10 & 16, Pioneer / Founder Of “Astronomy From The Moon” – April 1972, Imaged Earth & Stars Using Far-UV Spectroscope; Loved Moon’s Possibilities, Reminding Us That “Single-Planet Species Don’t Last”, That “The Moon Will Save Us”; Served As ILOA Director Emeritus Since Addressing The ILOA Founders Meeting In 2007; Awarded “Astronaut Of The Century” Memorial Plaque From ILOA In 2012; Ad Astra 2018 Jan 5

Credits: NASA, SPC

Tuesday / 12 Dec 2017

Space Policy Directive 1 Orders Human Return To Moon, Then Beyond

U.S. President Signs SPD-1, Redirecting National Space Policy For Human Expansion Across Solar System, Starting With Landing Humans On The Moon; Plans For Sustainable Program With Commercial & International Partners; National Space Council Scott Pace States “We Want To Expand & Include More Countries In That Effort”; USA To Launch Astronauts With Space Launch System & Orion Crew Vehicle For Moon Flyby ~2021; NASA 2019 Budget Request To Reflect New Directive; Guests Attended Signing Include Buzz Aldrin, Jack Schmitt, Peggy Whitson, Astronaut Candidate Christina Koch, Robert Lightfoot & Eric Stallmer

Credits: NASA, Aubrey Gemignani, CNN, Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum

Thanksgiving Weekend Edition
Thu-Mon / 23-27 Nov 2017

Lunar Interests / Plans Accelerate Globally

Moon Village Association / ESA Records Progress At ISU In Strasbourg, France; US National Space Council Working Scenarios For 3-7 Year Human Moon Return; India Early 2018 Chandrayaan-2 Moon South Pole Touchdown Could Startle Global Space Communities; China Expanding Astronomy From The Moon Activities With Chang’e-4 VLF Payloads And Technology; India-Japan Announce Lunar Sample Return Collaboration; Canada Space Agency LEAD Project To Support International HERACLES Moon South Pole Mission Concept; Prospective Candidates For ‘First Woman On The Moon’ Rising

 Credits: ESA/ Foster + Partners, WH.gov, ISRO, CAST, JAXA, SPC / ILOA, CSA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 17-20 Nov 2017

ILOA Participating In Moon Village Association Workshop After Completing 10-Year Commemoration Of ILOA Organization

Moon Village Association 1st Workshop Being Hosted At ISU In Strasbourg, France 19-21 November Featuring ESA Director General Jan Woerner, Bernard Foing, Clive Neal, Experts From China, India, Japan, Russia, USA And Commercial Space Including International Lunar Observatory Association (ILOA);  10-Year Successful Observation Of ILOA Founding Celebrated This November With International Directors From Southeast Asia, Europe, Canada, China, Japan – And Specific Proposal Of ILOA Collaboration With Newly-Formed International Moonbase Alliance Of Hawaii Could Add Another Dimension To Global Goal Of Moon Village Advancement

Credits: ILOA, ESA, ISU

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 10-13 Nov 2017

Human Moon Missions Could Advance World Peace And Cosmopolitan Culture

Hawai`i Galaxy Forum 2017 – Kamuela 8 November Featuring Hawaii Mayor Harry Kim Speaking On Mauna Kea As A Living Monument For World Peace From A Truly Cosmopolitan And Aloha People, Joins Cultural Practitioner Kimo Pihana, International Lunar Observatory Association, A Panel Of Astronomical / Astronautical Experts From Canada, Japan, China, Europe And South East Asia, As Well As A Subaru Astronomer Focusing On Exoplanets – To Explore The Quest For Knowledge, Enhance Collaboration And Mutual Respect Needed To Face Challenges To Reach The Stars, And Highlight The Moon As A New Frontier To Fulfill Pledge “In Peace For All”

Credits: ILOA, CFHT, G. Mitchell

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 20-23 Oct 2017

Human Return To Moon Advancing
With NSC And Commercial Ventures

USA National Space Council Declaring America Will Return To The Moon, Plans To Establish Users’ Advisory Group Composed Of Commercial Space Industry Leaders; Major Questions To FY19 Funding NASA Return To Moon: Where Will It Come From And Who Will It Involve – Commercial Or International Partners? At LEAG Return To The Moon Workshop, Moon Express, Astrobotic, Blue Origin & Masten Present Their Plans To Return To Moon, Opportunities For Government Collaboration; Bigelow & ULA Announce B330 Habitat For Low Lunar Orbit; As To ‘Why’ We Return To Moon – Expert Paul Spudis States “We Go To The Moon To Learn How To Live & Work Productively On Another World… Arrive, Survive, Thrive”

Credits: NASA, Bill Ingalls, Moon Express, SpaceX, Bigelow, Astrobotic