Chandrayaan-2 Lander / Rover Moon Mission Set To Launch 2017-18; India Space Research Organization (ISRO) Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Demonstrates Reliability & Versatile Orbit Capacity To Enable Chandrayaan-2 Launch Into Lunar Orbit Insertion Via Earth Parking Orbit (EPO) Of 170 x 18,500 Km; Scientific Objective To Understand Origin / Evolution Of Moon & Perform In-Situ Analysis Of Lunar Samples
Credit: ISRO, NASA
Author Mark Whittington In Upcoming Interview 6 Sept With Dr. David Livingston On The Space Show Will Discuss His Latest 92 Page Book Published August 2015; Whittington Addressing The Questions Of Ceased Apollo Missions / American Leadership / Political Intrigue; Will Also Give Views On Political Blue Prints & Learning From The Past To Set A New Course For Future Crewed Lunar Missions
Credit: NASA, Mark Whittington, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
India GSLV Rocket With Indigenous Cryogenic 3rd Stage Will Be Declared Fully Operational After Recent Launch Of GSAT-6 Communication To Successful Orbit According To K Sivan, Director Of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre; GSLV Mk 2, Capable Of Carrying 2,500kg To GTO, Scheduled To Launch Chandrayaan-2 In 2017 & Subsequent Moon Missions; GSLV Mk 3, Capable Of Launching 4,000kg To GTO, First Flight Expected Dec 2016 With First Human Mission In 2021
Credit: ISRO, NASA, GSFC
Lunar Polar Hydrogen Mapper (LunaH-Map) CubeSat Is A Candidate To Launch On NASA SLS Exploration Mission-1, Would Be ASU First Interplanetary Mission; Lunar Water Exploration Objective Vital To NASA Strategy For Future Human Space Missions; ASU NewSpace Initiative Led By Scott Smas, Jim Bell & Craig Hardgrove (L-R) With Bell As Deputy Principal Investigator; Principal Investigator Hardgrove Reaffirms ASU Achievements / Commitments To NASA & “Abundance Of Hydrogen At Lunar Poles”
Credit: ASU, NASA
Letter To President Obama By Vid Beldavs, Founding Member Of International Lunar Decade Working Group, Requests U.S. Support For International Lunar Decade (ILD) Advocacy & UN-Sanction Activity / To Address Moon Mining & Property Rights / To Involve G20 Countries In International Collaboration; Operations In Space To Establish Permanent Infrastructure Vital For Long-Term Economic Growth Which Will Promote Commercial Business; Partnerships Will Reduce Cost To Each Organization, Key To Permanent & Sustainable Development
Credit: NASA, Vid Beldavs, ILD
CLEP Chief Engineer Wu Weiren (L-L) Notes “Moon Is Starting Point For China’s Future Space Exploration”; Success With Chang’e-1 Designer & Chang’e-2 / Chang’e-3 Chief Commander Ye Peijian (L-R) Affirms Chang’e-5 Launch For 2017 Is “Going As Planned”; Conference At Harbin With 200 Experts Leads Further Discussion On Crewed Moon, Mars, Jupiter, Space Missions Evolving China Space Ambitions
Credit: CNSA, CRI, Harbin Institute, CLEP, Xinhua, News.CN
Next-Generation Human Space Transportation Beyond Low Earth Orbit Progressing With Orion Spacecraft Designed For Deep Space Exploration; Contractor Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company (LMSSC) Working Closely With NASA In Constructing The Craft; Dr. Michael Hawes, LMSSC VP & Program Manager Discusses Goal Of Deep Space & “We’re Going To Do That Building From The Moon Out” Noting The Benefits Of A Station On Moon Far Side With Power & Communications
Credit: NASA, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company
A Preliminary Suggestion For International Cooperation Of Chang’e-4 Lunar Lander / Rover / Orbiter To Moon Far Side Presented By Chinese National Space Agency (CNSA); Relay Satellite (T-L) In Lunar Transfer Orbit NET 2018 To Assist With Lander – Earth Communication; Primary Goal To Gather Data For Subsequent Lunar Exploration, Including Ultimate Objective Of Chinese Lunar Exploration Program To Pave Way For Human Missions; International Cooperation Proposed By CNSA To ESA On Mission, Equipment & Other Areas Of Research
Credit: NASA, CNSA, CLEP, ESA
Comprehensive Gathering Of Organizations, Institutes & Science Leaders With Focus On Human Space Settlement To Be Held By NWI 16-17 Oct In Austin TX; Will Emphasize Return To Moon, Mars Settlement & Colonies In Free Space; NWI Chairman Of The Board & Co-Founder Of Space Frontier Foundation Rick Tumlinson Serving As Conference Host States NWI “Goal Is To Plant The Seeds Of A New And Dynamic Space Culture”; Tumlinson Named One Of World’s Top “Space Visionaries”
Credit: NASA, NWI, Palmer Events
Lunar Exploration Analysis Group Annual Meeting 20-22 Oct In Columbia MD; Chaired By (L-R) Clive Neil, Supported By Sam Lawrence (ASU), Jeff Plescia (JHU/APL), Steve Mackwell (LPI) & Representatives For LRO, ESA, ARTEMIS, Commercial Space, Next-Gen Lunar Scientists & Engineers; Recent Findings / Recommendations Include Resource Prospecting At Lunar Poles & Interior, Advancing Lunar CubeSats, Maintaining Moon Missions / Pace Of Discovery To Support International Partnerships, Technologies, Future Crewed Missions To Moon & Mars
Credit: NASA, LEAG, C. Neil, JPL/Caltech, ASU, LPI