Category Archives: Human Moon Missions

Thursday / 11 September 2014

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Canada Industry Minister Confirms Lunar Aspirations / Capabilities

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James Moore Says Canada Has Technological Capability & Political Will To  Send Humans To Moon & Mars; Industry Minister Comments Made In Televised Interview With Astronaut Chris Hadfield; Canada Is Participating With Other National Space Agencies In Global Exploration Roadmap Which Foresees Human Missions To Lunar Orbit & Surface In Mid-2020s; Banking On Its Expertise In Robotics & Mining, Canada Proposes To Send An Astronaut To Lunar Space To Control A Canadian Moon Rover, Assist In Developing Small Lunar Settlement To Learn To Live Away From Earth, Prepare For Further Solar System Exploration

Image Credit: cbc.ca, ESA

Tuesday / 9 September 2014

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Association Of Space Explorers Talk Cooperation In / With China

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International Organization Of 395+ Astronauts & Cosmonauts From 35 Nations Will Meet In Beijing, China On 10-15 September To Discuss ‘Cooperation: To Realize Humanity’s Space Dream Together’; China Officials – Including 1st China Astronaut Yang Liwei – Expected To Share Information On Current Human Space Mission Capacity / Future Plans, Opportunities For International Cooperation; Veteran Moonworker Buzz Aldrin Among The 30+ US Astronauts Participating In The Event; Aldrin Is Active Advocate For USA / International Cooperation With China On Moon / Mars Mission Development & Exploration

Image Credit: ASE, CNSA, MIT

Wednesday / 27 August 2014

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Russia Lunar Ambitions Could Limit ISS Support

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Russia Actions / Statements Indicate A Growing Seriousness About Finally Fulfilling Long-Standing Plans To Put Humans On Moon; Roscosmos Recent Budgetary Request For US$770M To Advance Robotic Moon Program Includes US$55M To Complete Technical Specifications For Human Lunar Base; Development Of Prospective Piloted Transport System (PPTS) (TR), Next Generation Russia Crew Capsule With 4-Person Capacity To Moon Orbit; Angara Rocket (BR) Emerging As Contender For PPTS Launches; Projected Launch Schedule Sees Lunar PPTS Launching in ~2024 – Last Year Of Current ISS Program

Image Credit: Roscosmos

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 15-18 August 2014

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Bigelow Aerospace Advancing Towards Goal Of Lunar Base

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Preparations Underway To Launch BEAM Module To ISS In 2015, First Step Towards Independent Space Stations & Lunar Bases; Robert Bigelow (L) Believes Company Will Be Ready To Land Functional Lunar Bases On Surface Of Moon In 10 Years; ‘Lunar Depot Ares’ Would Have 990 Cubic Meters Of Habitable Space, House 12-18 Astronauts; Plan Hinges On Success Of Its Space Habitats, Lunar Property Rights Recognition, Interest From Private Companies / Nations; Bigelow Aerospace Intends To Form Sizable Astronaut Corps, Already Hired 2 Former Shuttle Astronauts, Plans To Have 4 More On Team By End 2014

Pictured: Bigelow Astronauts Kenneth Ham (R) & George Zamka

Image Credit: Bigelow Aerospace, NASA

Wednesday / 13 August 2014

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Shuttle Astronauts Advocate For Human Moon Missions

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Moon Is Ideal Location To Train & Develop Equipment / Procedures For Mars / Deep Space Missions Says Former Shuttle Astronauts Frank Culbertson (C) & Daniel Brandenstein (R); Astronaut Robert Crippen (CR) Says More Focus On International Cooperation Needed, Especially With China Moon Program; Acknowledged NASA Current Trend Of Risk Aversion, Urged Support For Orion Development: “This Is Our System To Get To The Moon”; Remarks Were Made During AIAA Space 2014 Forum In San Diego CA

Image Credit: AIAA, NASA, ESA

Wednesday / 6 August 2014

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Russia Lunar Aspirations Persist
Though Missions Likely Delayed

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Director Of Space Research Institute IKI Lev Zeleny Confirms All Approved Lunar Missions Remain On Table; Domino Effect Of Mission Delays Pushes Luna-Glob / Luna-25 Mission To Test Landing Techniques From 2016 To 2019, Luna-Glob 2 / Lunar-26 Orbiter Mission Now Expected 2021, Luna-Resurs / Luna-27 Lander Mission With Drilling System & Scientific Payloads Pushed Back To 2023; Russia Also Working On ~US$2.8B-Project To Put Humans On Moon By 2031

Image Credit: Russiaspaceweb.com, RIA Novosti

Friday / 25 July 2014

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ILOA July Meeting Marks Mid-Point For SpaceWeek 2014 In Silicon Valley

ILOA BoD 2014-2015 SV CA

The International Lunar Observatory Association, Based In Hawai`i, Held Its 3rd Board Of Directors Meeting Of 2014 In Mountain View CA, 23 July The Day Before The Space Frontier Foundation NewSpace 2014 Conference & Immediately Following The NASA Solar System Exploration Science Forum; Anticipating A New Lunar / Culture Renaissance In The N Cal / San Francisco Bay Area Similar To That Of The 1960s & ‘70s, ILOA Expects Its 2015 Silicon Valley Board Meeting Again To Overview & Advance Its 4 Moon Missions & Its Galaxy Forum Program For 21st Century Education & Fundraising

Image Credit: ILOA, Canadesys Aerospace Corp., Moon Express Inc., Charles O’Rear

Thursday / 24 July 2014

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White House Commemorates First Moon Landing

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President Obama Received Apollo 11 Crew, Including Widow Of Neil Armstrong, At White House; Media Upset At Being Shut Out Of Meeting, Speculation That Administration Wanted To Avoid Coverage Of Armstrong Family Critique Of Obama Space Policy & Lack Of Moon Vision / Plan; Space Advocates & Policy Experts Note That USA Is Only Space Power Ignoring The Value Of Human Moon Exploration & Development; Next Wave Of Lunar Explorers Will Be Doing More Than Attaining Bragging Rights, They Will Tap Moon Resources, Establish Political / Social Paradigm Of Moon

Image Credit: Whitehouse.gov

Wednesday / 23 July 2014

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SSERVI Maintaining Strong Lunar Focus

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Day 3 At SSERVI NASA Exploration Science Forum To Feature Presentations On Human Exploration & Destination Drivers; (Pictured: L-R) Anthony Colaprete Will Preview Resource Prospector Mission To Lunar Pole; Paul Spudis To Discuss The Moon As An Enabling Asset For Spaceflight; Mark Robinson Demonstrates How LRO Data Could Support Human Lunar Exploration; Ben Bussey Overviews Illumination Conditions On Moon North Pole; Clive Neal Explains Why Lunar Exploration Should Not Be Ignored

Image Credit: NASA

Tuesday / 22 July 2014

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SSERVI Exploration Science Forum 2014 Kicks Off Space Week

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Around 250 Experts In Planetary Science & Engineering Meeting At NASA Ames To Advance Scientific & Human Exploration Of Solar System; SSERVI Currently Composed Of 9 Teams From 7 States, Along With 7 International Partners, Totaling 243 Investigators / Collaborators Addressing Important Questions And Engineering Challenges For Upcoming Deep Space Missions; Day 1 Focus On Mission Updates, Day 2: Volatiles & Geology, Day 3: Human Exploration / Destination Drivers & Regolith / Dust; Pictured: SSERVI Director Yvonne Pendleton

Image Credit: NASA