China, India, Russia, USA All Planning Moon Missions In This Decade; UK, ESA, South Korea To Follow Post-2020; As Many As 3 GLXP Teams Could Also Land On Moon By 2015 Heralding Age Of Commercial Mining / Exploration; With Well-Funded Lunar Program, First Moon Lander In 37 Years (Chang’e-3 In Dec 2013) & Serious Study Of Human Moon Missions – China Is Leading Way & Compelling International Rivals / Partners To Keep Pace
Image Credit: Dreamstime, GLXP, History Channel
Gerry Griffin Of Golden Spike Company Says Emerging Entrepreneurial Commercial Sector Can Fill Gap Left By Governments Unwilling To Fund US$100-$500B Space Programs; Group Of 30 Distinguished Scientists, Engineers Note Vital Role Of Humans In Lunar Exploration: Can Deploy More Equipment / Return More Lunar Material Than Robots, Learn To Live Off In Situ Resources In Space, Provide Hope & Inspiration To Youth
Image Credit: Golden Spike Company
Golden Spike Company Lunar Workshop 2nd Day Includes Talks (L – R) On Lunar Exploration Orbiter To Study Environment & Mobile Payload Element To Assist Lander Missions (Ralf Jaumann), Lunar Lander Capabilities (Diego De Rosa), Multi-Mission Space Exploration Vehicle (Steven Chappell), Modular Heat Flow Probes To Understand Moon Interior, Origin & Structure (Seiichi Nagihara), Lunar Drills (Kris Zacny), Next Steps (Alan Stern)
Image Credit: GSC, TTU, DLR, ESA
3-4 Oct Golden Spike Company Workshop At LPI In Houston TX To Provide Overview Of Plans / Projected Capabilities For Human Lunar Missions, Seek Input Re: Science / Exploration Priorities, Desired Future Capabilities For More Advanced Missions – South Pole Destination, Long-Duration Missions; Day 1: Clive Neal (L) Explains Rationale For Human Lunar Missions, Alan Stern (R) Overviews Golden Spike Missions, Landing Site Priorities, Panel Discussion
Image Credit: GSC, LPI
International Lunar Observatory Association Presenting At IAC 2013 In Beijing, China, Today: Chang’e-3 – ILOA Galaxy Imaging Program, ILO-X Precursor Mission, ILO-1 Polar Mission, Human Service Mission; 24 Sep ILOA Board Of Directors Meeting To Build Upon Successful Pioneering Galaxy Forum Program, International Partnerships With China / International Space Agencies & Commercial NewSpace Enterprises To Realize Multifunctional ILO, Humans On The Moon Within Decade
Image Credit: ILOA, IAF
Indigenous Ingenuity, International Collaboration & Commercial Enterprise Opening Space / Lunar Exploration To Rising Space Powers; South Korea Working On 2020 Lunar Orbiter, 2025 Rover, In Talks With NASA About Lunar Missions; China Offering To Train / Provide Trips To Foreign Astronauts, Pakistan Hopes To Be 1st In Line; ILOA, Golden Spike Co Could Provide Affordable Human Lunar Access To Countries Such As Brazil & Malaysia; Galaxy Forum China 2013 – Beijing, 22 Sep: Human Moon Missions
Image Credit: KARI, GSC, ILOA, AEB, Angkasa
More Details Of Russia Lunar Exploration Plans To Emerge At 4th Moscow Solar System Symposium, 14-18 Oct; Updates On Luna-Glob (~2016) & Luna-Resource (~2017), Lunar Polar Sample Return Mission (~2019); RSC Energia Chief Designer Of Human Systems Nikolay Brukhanov To Speak On Russia Plans For Human Moon Missions; Successfully Finishing What It Started – Human Moon Mission – Will Strengthen Russia Credibility As Space Power
Image Credit: IKI, RussianSpaceWeb.com
ESA Astronaut Jean-François Clervoy & Astronaut Instructor Hervé Stevenin Reenact Apollo 11 Moonwalk In 2 Underwater Simulations In The Mediterranean Sea Off Marseille, France; Comex-Designed Gandolfi Spacewalk Training Suits Used – Based On Russia Orlan Suit; Test Was 1st Step Toward Developing Europe Expertise In Planetary Surface Spacewalk Simulations, Further Simulations Will Be Co-Financed By EU As Part Of Moonwalk Project
Image Credit: ESA, Comex
Canada Astronaut Jeremy Hansen & 5 International Crew Members Will Live / Work In Sa Grutta Caves In Sardinia, Italy For 6 Days For ESA CAVES Training To Simulate Space Exploration Challenges: Limited Privacy & Supplies, Multicultural Team Work, Technical Issues While Exploring Uncharted Areas; Hansen Spent Time In Canada High Arctic To Learn About Impact Formation & Geology For Future Moon Missions
Image Credit: CSA, ESA, S. Noguchi, NASA/GSFC/ASU
1000 VIPs Expected To Attend LADEE Launch This Fri, 6 Sep 23:27 EDT From Wallops VA; Scientists Enthusiastic To Learn More About Lunar Atmosphere, 1 / 100,000th The Density Of Earth’s, & How Atmosphere / Dust Will Affect Future Human & Robotic Explorers; Whether / When Any Of Those Explorers Will Be American Remains Unclear However As NASA Lacking Any Follow-Up Moon Missions On Current Schedule
Image Credit: NASA