Category Archives: Human Moon Missions

Wednesday / 18 February 2015

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McMurdo On Moon Conference:
Analog For Moon Settlement

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Space Horizons 2015: McMurdo On The Moon Conference On 18-19 February At Brown University, Providence RI; Experts In Planetary Science & Antarctica Research Come Together To Examine How Antarctica Facilities Can Be Utilized As A Fully Operational Model For Sustainable Human Exploration Of Moon & Mars; Speakers Include (L-R) Pete Worden Of NASA Ames, Marco Lisi Of ESA, David Marchant Of Boston University & James Head Of Brown University; Event Will Feature 3D CAVE Tour Of Moon; Between 1,000-4,500 Researchers Live & Work In Antarctica At Any Given Time

Image Credit: Space Horizons, NASA, ESA, Boston University, Brown University

 

 

Tuesday / 10 February 2015

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Lunar Sample Research Requests Due This Week

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110,000 Individually Cataloged Samples Totaling 382 Kg Of Lunar Material Returned By Apollo Lunar Surface Exploration Are Currently Preserved At NASA Johnson Space Center; Curation & Analysis Planning Team For Extraterrestrial Materials (CAPTUM) Is Accepting Research Proposals / Lunar Sample Requests For Spring 2015 CAPTEM Meeting Until Friday, 13 Feb Deadline; Samples Can Be Used For Planetary Science Studies Or Engineering & Resource Utilization Studies

Image Credit: NASA

 

Wednesday / 4 February 2015

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US Government Takes Step To Support Commercial Development Of Moon

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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

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 30 Jan – 2 Feb 2015

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Russia & ESA Advancing Plans For Human Exploration / Development Of Moon

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RSC Energia Deputy General Nikolai Bryukhanov Says Russia Aerospace Enterprise Is Working On Creating New Crewed Spacecraft For Missions To The Moon; European Space Agency Releases New Video Outlining Plans For Possible Human Mission To Far Side Moon; Agency Sees South Pole-Aitken Basin As Promising Location For Human Habitation & Development, Moon Place Where All Nations Can Come Together To Understand Common Origins, Build Common Future

Image Credit: RSC Energia, ESA

Tuesday / 20 January 2015

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State Of The Union, USA:
The Moon, Mars, Stars, Beyond

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21st Century Pioneering Americans Work To See Multi World Citizens Once Again, This Time For Good; New Frontier At Moon South Pole Has Resources, Energy To Enrich And Empower, Perspective To Solve Earth’s Most Intractable Conflict – In Peace For All; Nothing Gained By Presiding Over Greatest Retreat In US History

Image Credit: Sol Loeb, pdxmim.com, NASA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 9-12 January 2015

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China Advancing Space Program With New Launch Center / ‘Moonport’

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Launching Of Space Station Capsules & Crewed Moon Missions From New Wenchang Satellite Launch Center “Just A Matter Of Time” According To China Officials; 19-Degree Latitude Will Increase Carrying Capacity Of Rockets By 10% & Island Location Will Allow For Easier Transport / Delivery Of The Larger Rockets / Payloads Needed For Country To Achieve Next Phase Of Ambitious Lunar Exploration Program; Site Will Host Huge Long March 9 Rocket, Expected To Be Ready By 2030; Chang’e-5 T1 Service Module Currently Returning To Lunar Orbit To Collect Data In Preparation For 2017 Chang’e-5 Sample Return 

Image Credit: Digital Globe, astronomy.wiki.com

Wednesday / 7 January 2015

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Astronaut Hoffman: Human Moon Missions Logical Next Step

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Former NASA Astronaut Jeffrey Hoffman Says It Makes More Sense To Revisit Moon Before Attempting Mars Missions; Moon On Average  Is ~600 Times Closer, Mission Would Be Cheaper, Shorter & Safer; Human Explorers Could Confirm Extent Of Water Ice Deposits, Potentially Begin Transforming Those Resources Into Rocket Fuel, Air, Drinking Water, Thereby Transforming Economics Of Space Travel; Hoffman Says, After 43 Years, USA / Humanity Needs To Get Used To Planetary Exploration Again, Practice / Test Systems & Prepare To Expand Society Into Solar System

Image Credit: ESA, ISU

New Year / Holiday Edition
Thurs / 25 Dec 2014 – Mon / 5 Jan 2015

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50 Years After Humans Return To Moon,
50,000 Lunar Visitors Per Year?

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Antarctica, A Valuable Analog Site For Testing Lunar Base Systems, May Also Be A Prophetic Model Of What Is To Come On The 8th Continent- Luna; Race To Earth South Pole Won In 1912, No Human Returned Until UN IGY 1957, Now About 50 Years Later The Site Receives About 50,000 Visitors / Year (90% Tourists), With 30+ Countries Maintaining Permanent Research Stations; Human Return To Moon Similarly Delayed, Now Expected ~2020; 50 Years Of Development Could Manifest A Situation Similar To Today’s Antarctica; International Space Powers – India, China, USA, Japan, Russia & NewSpace Enterprises Should Take Note: Those Making 1st Pioneering Steps To Settle / Develop Energy & Resource-Rich South Pole Moon Will Reap The Benefits & Be Well Positioned For 21st Century Solar System Leadership

Image Credit: JAXA / Michael Carroll, Amundsen South Pole Station

Wednesday / 24 December 2014

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Angara-5 Test Key Step For Russia Ambitious Moon Program

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Angara-5, Largest Rocket Developed By Russia, Achieves Successful Test Flight To GTO; 1st Launch To GEO From Domestic Plesetsk Cosmodrome As Country Moves To Become More Self-Sufficient In Launch Capacities; Largest Of New Generation Of Modular Launch Vehicles Capable Of Carrying 3.8-35 Metric Tons; 1st Crewed Voyage With Heavy Angara Currently Scheduled For 2018; Rocket Capable Of Facilitating Moon Missions, Yet Super-Heavy Launcher Needed To Accomplish Stated Moon Base Goals; President Putin Recently Approved Development Of Super-Heavy Angara With Payload Capacity Of 120-150 Metric Tons

Image Credit: NASASpaceflight, NASA

 

Tuesday / 23 December 2014

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Space Horizons Workshop Focuses On Antarctica Moon Base Analogs

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Brown University Hosting ‘Space Horizons 2015’ On 18-19 Feb, With Theme ‘McMurdo On The Moon’; 50 Paid Participants & 10 Invited Students Will Examine How McMurdo & Other Antarctica Stations Can Be Studied As Models For Human Bases On Moon & Mars; Day 1 Will Include Participation In CAVE (BL) Virtual Reality Tour Of Dry Antarctic Valleys & Surface Of Moon & Mars; Day 2 Engineering Workshop Will Feature Examination Of Architecture & Technologies To Facilitate Functional Moon Base; Featured Speakers Include (L-R) Marco Lisi Of ESA, James Head Of Brown U, Brent Sherwood Of JPL

Image Credit: Brown University, NASA JPL, ESA