UC Structural Engineer Yu Qiao Receives US$135,000 Award From NASA To Continue Research On ‘Lunar Cement’; Qiao & Team Developed Polymer Intercalation / Exfoliation (PIE) Cements That Mix Organic Nanointerphases (Prepared On & Transported From Earth) With Lunar Regolith; Processing Is Water Free, Straightforward, Great Potential In Building Large-Scale Structures On Moon
Image Credit: Contour Crafting, ucsd.edu
Abstracts For 11-15 Nov 2012 PISCES Conference On Hawaii Island Due 21 Sep; International Scientists, Government Leaders, Entrepreneurs Will Evaluate Recent Developments In PISCES Vision To Establish Terrestrial Prototype For International, Extraterrestrial Research Park On Hawaii Island; Breakout Sessions To Discuss Revolutionary Surface Technologies, Establish Strategic Partnerships To Enable / Expedite Robotic & Human Missions To Moon, Mars, Beyond
Image Credit: PISCES, usgs.gov
Life In Space? Exhibit Presents Prototypes Of How Lunar Settlers May Grow Food On Moon; Designed By Arizona Controlled Environment Agriculture Center (CEAC), 5.5m X 2m Cylindrical Structure Has Potential To Provide Half The Daily Amount Of Food For Single Person To Survive; CEAC Has Successfully Tested Greenhouses At Earth South Pole; Lunar Greenhouse At MSI Chicago Through Jan 2013
Image Credit: CEAC, MSI Chicago, NASA
In Space Show Interview Dennis Wingo (TL) Proposes “Mindset Change” To Stimulate Lunar Development: See Moon First For Economic Development, Science As Secondary Objective; Discusses How Emerging Technologies (Orbiting Fuel Depots, IRSU, 3D Printers, Etc.) Make Heavy Lift Rockets Unnecessary; Humans On Moon By 2020; Andrew Rush (BL) Outlines Means Of Enforcing Space Property Rights With Existing Customs Agencies
Image Credit: IPinSpace, Moonandback.com, Mark Maxwell / Dennis Wingo
Lunar Exploration Analysis Group Annual Meeting, 22-24 Oct 2012, To Highlight How Moon Is Necessary Stepping Stone For Mars, Jupiter, Rest Of Solar System, Presentations On Science Objectives, Robotic Human Exploration Strategies / Technologies, Commercial Opportunities, Education & Outreach; Contributed Abstracts Should Be Centered On Plans For Next Decade Of Lunar Exploration
Image Credit: LPI, LEAG, NASA
LROC PI Mark Robinson Speculates Vast Lava Tubes May Be Present Under Lunar Surface Based On Kaguya, LRO Data; Such Caves Could Be Suitable Interim Shelters For Explorers; Scientists At Rutherford Appleton Laboratory Studying ‘Mini-Magnetospheres’, Magnetic Anomalies That Protect Areas Of Moon From Solar Wind; Data May Lead To Artificially Manipulated ‘Deflector Shields’
Image Credit: NASA, RAL
James Fincannon & NASA Glenn Research Center Engineers Provide Evidence That USA Flags Persevering In Harsh Lunar Environment; By Combining LROC Images Of Each Apollo Site Taken At Same Orientation But With Different Sun Angles, Team Produced Video To Show Movement Of Shadow Caused By Flags; All Flags Except Apollo 11 Still Standing
Image Credit: NASA
Scientific Objectives / Payload Design For ESA Lunar Lander Mission (~2018) In Paper By James Carpenter, et al, Accepted For Publication In Planetary & Space Sciences; Mission To Emphasize Human Exploration Preparatory Science; Payloads To Study Effects Of Plasma / Dust / Radiation Environment On Systems & Humans, Distribution / Application Of In Situ Resources For Future Exploration; Moon South Pole Likely Landing Site
Image Credit: ESA
Sally Ride: 26 May 1951 – 23 July 2012
Respectful / Honorable Achievements Extend Beyond Her Being The First American Woman In Space (On 18 June 1983) & Her Efforts To Inspire Women To Consider Careers In Science; Ride Was Also Current PI For GRAIL MoonKAM Initiative, ‘Outpost On Moon’ (With Crew Of 30 By 2010) Was 1 Of 4 Main Initiatives In The 1987 ‘Ride Report’
Speaking At Lunar Science Forum, NASA Planetary Sciences Division Director Jim Green Says Science & Human Exploration Sectors Will Get Closer As Exploration Moves Out From Earth Orbit; Rechartered Lunar Science Institute Will Have ‘Flexible Path’ Focus On Moon, Mars, NEOs; Human Spaceflight Architecture Team Outlines Importance Of Cis-Lunar Space In Future Global Space Exploration
Image Credit: NASA