Tuesday / 4 March 2014

Moon Exploration Advocates Look For Clear Vision In White House Budget Proposal

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White House To Release Proposed USA Budget For Fiscal Year 2015 Today, Should Indicate Specific Space Initiatives To Be Pursued; Space Policy Institute Director Scott Pace Says There Is International Consensus Behind Human Space Operations In Cislunar Space As Next Step Beyond ISS; House Science Committee Chair Lamar Smith (Inset) Says NASA Asteroid Retrieval Mission Inspires Little Public & Scientific Support; Human Moon Missions Could Inspire Nation, Facilitate International Cooperation & Exploration Of Mars, Beyond

Image Credit: NASA, slate.com

Wednesday / 19 February 2014

Bigelow Trailblazing Path For Commercial Lunar Development

BigelowGold0214

Bigelow Aerospace Request To FAA Office Of Commercial Space Transportation Is Attempt To Start Discussion On Space / Lunar Property Rights Says Director Of DC Operations Mike Gold; Company Seeking Organic Zone Of Operation Around Future Lunar Habitat In Which No Other USA Entities Would Be Able To Enter; Robert Bigelow Says Moon Mining More Sensible Than Asteroid Harvesting; Commends NASA For Moving From COTS Model To SAA / BAA Customer Model To Support Commercial Space

Image Credit: Bigelow Aerospace

Friday / 24 January 2014

Golden Spike & Draper Lab Evaluate
Moon Landing Sites

GSC MSP

Draper To Examine GSC Lunar Lander Concepts / Enhancements, Landing Sites, And Recommend Guidance System Architecture; Study Lead John West Notes Draper Has Provided GNC & Flight Computers For All Crewed Lunar Landings; Moon South Pole Near-Eternal Peaks Of Illumination With Temperature Constant -50° ± 10°C Should Be Considered For Simplifying Thermal Design / Reducing Energy Required, Gathering Unique Science & Volatile Data; Ben Bussey Study Shows Peak Near Shackleton Crater Would Be Illuminated 86% Over Lunar Year In 2020

Image Size: GSC, NASA

Thursday / 23 January 2014

Clementine Mission Pivotal In Illuminating Importance Of Lunar Destination

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Advocating For Strong USA Initiative To Realize Robotic & Human Missions To Lunar Poles ASAP, Paul Spudis Reviews Impact Of 1994 Clementine Moon Orbiter On America / World Space Policy; Over 71 Days Mission Collected >2M Images, 1st Global Topographic Map Of Moon, Revealed Aitken Basin / South Pole Features That Could Sustain Human Outpost: Peaks Of Near Permanent Sun Illumination, Evidence Of Water Ice / Hydrogen; Spudis On The Space Show Sunday 26 Jan

Image Size: NASA

Friday / 10 January 2014

Wanted: International Human Moon Mission By 2020

International Moon Mission

More Than 30 Heads Of Space Agencies Gather For IAA Summit On Space Exploration 9-10 Jan, Held In Conjunction With U.S. Department Of State International Space Exploration Forum; Will Highlight Importance / Benefits Of Global Public-Private Cooperation, Ways To Engage Emerging Countries; Moon Is 1st Logical Destination For Continued Discoveries, Refining Technologies & Sustaining Human Exploration Of Solar System & Beyond

Image Credit: ESA / Foster

Thursday / 9 January 2014

Veteran Canada Astronaut Calls For Cooperation With China Moon Program

HadfieldChinaMoonbase

Canada Astronaut Chris Hadfield, Veteran Of 3 Spaceflights, Says International Efforts To Return To Moon Should Include Collaboration With As Many Spacefaring Nations As Possible; Cooperation With China Especially Important For Exploration / Development Of Moon As “Next Natural Waypoint Out To Space;” China Lunar Exploration Program Officials Confirm They Are Working On Human Moon Landing, Preparation For Lunar Base Construction  

Image Credit: Lauren Crawford, engadget.com

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon 3-6 January 2014

India Launch May Reinvigorate Moon Program

IndiaonMoon0114

GSLV Rocket Is Essential For India Moon Plans; Successful Launch On Sunday 5 Jan (16:18 IST) Will Be Important Step In Refocussing Lunar Aspirations, Help Get Chandrayaan-2 Moon Lander / Rover Mission Back On Track; Top Indian Air Force (IAF) Officials Announce MoU Between ISRO & IAF To Work Out Parameters / Select Crew For India Human Moon Mission; ISRO Chairman Radhakrishnan Claims Report Is False

Image Credit: defense.pk, Pratik Joshi

New Year / Holiday Edition
Wed 25 Dec 2013 – Fri 3 Jan 2014

2020 Vision: Humanity A Multi World Species

LED-12-12-13Multi Nation Science And Commerce Human Lunar Expeditions 2019-2020 Preceded By Moon South Pole International Traffic Jam 2015-2016 With Robotic Landings From USA, PRC, Japan, India, Russia, as well as Moon Express / ILOA, Golden Spike, Shackleton Energy, Astrobotic, Lunar Lions, Others; NEOs, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn Next

Ad Astra — Happy New Year / Holidays To All

 Image Credit: NASA, ILOA, ME, Penn State Lunar Lions, Astrobotic Technology

Tuesday / 24 December 2013

USA Return-To-Moon Advocacy Picks Up Momentum

USAMoonAdvocacy1213

Chris McKay (T) Of NASA Ames Affirms That USA Should ‘Boldly Stay’ On The Moon To Maintain Space Leadership, Pave Way For Competent Multi-Planet Species Status; USA Rep Frank Wolf (R-VA) (C) Calls On President Obama To Hold Early-2014 White House Conference To Develop International Plan To Return Humans To Moon Within Next Decade; GWU Space Policy Institute Director Scott Pace (B) Notes Moon Offers Advantage Of Varying Levels Of Mission Complexity / Cost

Image Credit: NASA, usa.gov, George Washington University

Weekend Edition / Fri-Mon 6-9 Dec 2013

Nelson Mandela A Role Model For Peaceful Moon Collaboration

MandelaPeaceCrater

Iconic Leader, Strong Supporter Of Human Equality & Freedom / Science & Technology Advancement In Africa, Saw Education As Most Powerful Tool To Change World; Apollo 11 Moonwalker Buzz Aldrin Calls Mandela “True Inspiration & Role Model For Peace & International Collaboration; Humanity More Likely To Succeed In Peacefully Developing Moon If World Leaders Follow His Example; Pictured: Nelson Mandela Peace Crater At Lacus Somniorum

Image Credit: lunasociety.org