Category Archives: Human Moon Missions

Wednesday / 15 October 2014

Posted on by

Space Horizons 2015:
McMurdo On The Moon?

LED101514Brown University Hosts Annual NASA Sponsored Event Space Horizons 2015, 18-19 Feb; Antarctic McMurdo Station Inspires Asking “What Can 50+ Years Of Science In The Toughest Setting On Earth Tell Us About Working On The Moon?”; Workshops Examine Analog For Breakthrough Technologies To Realize Lunar Settlement; Brown’s 250-Year Anniversary Celebration Highlighted By Contributions In Planetary Science; Cutting Edge Virtual Reality Exhibit Allows Viewer To Fly Over Moon And Antarctica; Online Registration Now Open

 Image Credit: USAP, NASA, Brown University

Tuesday / 14 October 2014

Posted on by

Russia: Moon Is Core Of Space Program Russia Moon

Roscosmos Head Of Strategic Planning Department Yuri Makarov States Moon Is Central To Space Program & Will Enable Solar System Missions, Envisions International Cooperation; During This & Next Decade Focus On Automatic Spaceships & Stations, In 2030s Lunar Orbital Stations & Vehicles, 2040s Crewed Lunar Station Near Moon South Pole, 2050s Inhabited Bases & Optical Laboratories; Robotic Missions Luna-25 (Which May Cost Tens Of Billions Of Rubles ~US$250M) Through Luna-29 (2016-2021) To Be Followed By Human Moon Flyby 2025, Landing By 2030

 Image Credit: Roscosmos, Andrey Sokolov, Alexey Leonov, NASA

Thursday / 2 October 2014

Posted on by

International Moon South Pole Exploration Discussed At Galaxy Forum Canada 2014

GFCanada14LED

Galaxy Forum Canada 2014, In Conjunction With IAC In Toronto, Highlights Moon South Pole As New Frontier Of Lunar Exploration & Development, As Exciting & Enriching As Humans On Mars Or Trillion Dollar Asteroids; Representatives From CSA, NASA, JAXA, KARI, ESA Provided Snapshots Of Moon Mission Plans / Activities; Keynote By Author David Schrunk; Panel Discussion Moderated By Commercial Space Journalist Chuck Black On Advancing Moon Pole Missions Through National / International / Independent Consortia

Image Credit: Galaxyforum.org, ILOA, IAC, NASA

Wednesday / 1 October 2014

Posted on by

ISRO Chair Affirms Lunar Settlement Plans At IAC 2014

KRadIAC2014

While Speaking At International Astronautical Congress 2014 Heads Of Agencies Panel In Toronto, Canada, Top Space Official Of India K Radhakrishnan Affirms That ISRO Looks Forward To Explore & Settle The Habitable Worlds Of Solar System, Including Moon & Mars; Comments Come After India Became 1st Asia Nation To Reach Mars Orbit, & As Country Prepares For GSLV Mark 3 Launch In Coming Months Which Will Test Reentry Capsule For Future Crewed Missions

Image Credit: ISRO, IAC

Tuesday / 30 September 2014

Posted on by

India Mangalyaan Scientist Says Human Moon Mission On Horizon

Mangalaayaaaan

ISRO Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre Director K Sivan Discusses India Lunar Ambitions During Update Of Mangalyaan Mars Orbiter Mission Success / Possible Extended Lifespan; India “Developing Capability & Technology For [Crewed] Mission To Moon. We Have A Policy & We Will Do It When We Mature On It”; Capacity To Conduct Efficient, Cost-Effective Missions (First Country To Reach Mars Orbit On First Attempt, Mangalyaan Orbiter Cost Only US$74M) May Allow India To Advance Human Settlement Of Moon, Multi World Species Status

Image Credit: ISRO

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 26-29 September 2014

Posted on by

IAC 2014 To Provide Extensive Overview Of International Lunar Missions

IACtoronto

Premier Astronautical Event – 28 Sep To 3 Oct In Toronto – To Feature 3 Sessions On Robotic Lunar Exploration 30 Sep: Review Of Past / Present Missions (Including SMART-1, Chang’e-1 & 3 / Yutu, LADEE), Prospective Missions From USA, China, Canada, ESA, Russia, India, Korea, Japan, GLXP Teams, Update On Technology Developments For South Pole Moon Prospector Mission By Nadeen Ghafoor Of Canadensys Aerospace Corp; Human Exploration Of Moon / Cislunar Space 1 Oct: Lockheed & Boeing To Present Ideas For Cis-Lunar / L2 Outpost, Lunar Skylights / Lavatube Exploration, Concepts For Lunar Greenhouse

Image Credit: IAC, NASA

Wednesday / 24 September 2014

Posted on by

LEAG To Meet In Oct,
SRR Planetary Mining Symposium May 2015

LEAGptmss0914

Annual Meeting Of Lunar Exploration Analysis Group 22-24 Oct 2014; Focus On Lunar Volatiles & Their Potential To Support Extended Human Stays On Moon, Potential Scientific Objectives Of Human Moon Missions For Global Exploration Roadmap, Discussion Of Upcoming Lunar Robotic Missions; Planetary & Terrestrial Mining Sciences Symposium / Space Resources Roundtable To Be Held In Conjunction With Canadian Institute Of Mining (CIM) Convention In Montreal, Canada, 9-13 May 2015; Abstracts Due By 31 Oct

Image Credit: LEAG, PTMSS, MGM

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 19-22 September 2014

Posted on by

India & China Initiate Space Cooperation,
Joint Moon Mission Next?

IndiaChinaMoon0914

Top CNSA Representatives Accompany China President Xi Jinping On First Official Visit To India; ISRO Chair K Radhakrishnan (RF) CNSA Deputy Director Zhang Jianhua (LF) Sign MoU For Cooperation In Peaceful Uses Of Outer Space; Initial Focus Expected To Be On Space Science / Exploration, Remote Sensing & Disaster Management; China Has Asserted That It Is Open In Its Lunar Program For Cooperation With Other Nations; An India / China Partnership Could Facilitate Rapid Advancement Of Robotic & Human Moon Exploration

Image Credit: CNSA, sarkaritel.com

Thursday / 18 September 2014

Posted on by

Commercial Crew Enterprises Advancing
Lunar Aspirations

SpacePeople Commercial Crew Selection Allows NASA To Focus On Deep Space Exploration; Commercial Space Enterprises Not Content With Taxi Service To LEO: Space Adventures (2017) & Excalibur Almaz (by 2025) Planning Circumlunar Tourism Missions, Golden Spike Company Advancing Human Surface Mission Architecture; While At ASE In Beijing Buzz Aldrin Says He Is Supportive Of China & International Human Moon Exploration, Thinks USA Should Advance Robotic Lunar Exploration, Build Permanent Station On Moon As Staging Post To Mars / Beyond

Image Credit: NASA, Golden Spike Company, Space Adventures

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon 12-15 September 2014

Posted on by

Orion Spacecraft Taking First Steps To Lunar / Solar System Exploration

OrionTest0914

Test Version Of New NASA Flagship Crew Vehicle Moved To Fueling Depot In Preparation For 4 Dec Exploration Test Flight-1; 4.5-Hour, US$375M Mission Will Mimic Return From Moon As Delta 4 Rocket Will Launch Orion ~5,800km Above Earth, Craft Will Return At 32,000 Km/hr; Orion Will Launch Aboard New SLS For 2nd Test Flight In 2018; First Crewed Flight Expected In 2021, Taking 4 Astronauts On Circumlunar Cruise; NASA Expects To Spend US$15B On Orion Through 1st Crewed Flight; Increase In NASA Budget, Prioritization Of Human Lunar / Solar System Exploration Could Hasten Orion Flight Pace

Image Credit: NASA