Category Archives: ILOA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 13-16 Oct 2023

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Astronomy from the Moon is Increasing Focus of International Moon Missions

Unique vantage of lunar surface is attracting multitude of astronomy initiatives: ILO-X Galaxy imaging precursor instrument suite launching on Intuitive Machines Nova-C lander NET Nov 15; AstronetX Lunar-based Camera (L-CAM), led by Tabetha Boyajian of LSU, may launch on ispace Mission 2 NET 2024; Dipole antenna LuSEE-Lite heading to Schrödinger Basin aboard Draper / ispace APEX 1.0 lander NET 2025, while 4-monopole antenna LuSEE-Night expected to launch to Moon far side in late 2025 / early 2026 on Firefly Aerospace Blue Ghost lander; CNSA Chang’e-8 to conduct soft-x-ray (<3 KeV) observation NET 2028

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Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 29 Sep – 2 Oct 2023

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USA Enterprises Eager to Lead Return to Moon Surface, Make History with First Commercial Landings

Intuitive Machines, Astrobotic, Firefly, Draper, and ispace USA are working towards first United States Moon landings in over 50 years, with IM and Astrobotic aiming for launches before EOY; NASA financing IM-1 approximately US$116M and Peregrine Mission 1 $79.5; IM-1 carrying LN-1 navigation instrument, NDL Doppler lidar, SCALPSS plume cameras, and Laser Retroreflector Array produced by GSFC for NASA; Commercial customers include Columbia Sportswear, Embry–Riddle, Lunaprise, Jeff Koons, Lonestar Data Holdings; NASA / UC-Boulder and independent International Lunar Observatory Association to send Astronomy from the Moon precursors ROLSES and ILO-X

Pictured: Intuitive Machines CEO Steve Altemus, Astrobotic CEO John Thornton; Credits: IM, Astrobotic, Linkedin

Wednesday / 27 July 2022

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Galaxy Forum Southeast Asia (GFSEA), Singapore Considers Lunar Commercial Communications, Pan Asia Astro Cooperation

GFSEA engaging regional astronomical / astronautical space leaders in dialogue at iconic ArtScience Museum 27 July on 3 themes: Considerations for Southeast Asia Space Agency (SEASA), Asia Astronomy Organization (AAO) modeled on European Southern Observatories, and Lunar Commercial Communications (LCC) – expanding commercial communications by 1,240x; Moderated by Singapore Space and Technology Limited President Jon Hung, LCC panel includes International Lunar Observatory Association Hawaii Director Steve Durst, Qosmosys CEO Francois Dubrulle, Transcelestial Technologies Engineer Jan Smisek; ILOA ILO-X precursor NET 22 Dec 2022, ILO-1 flagship NET 2024 missions for astronomy, observations and communications from the Moon

Credits: ILOA, NASA, CSYS, Twitter, Linkedin

Tuesday / 24 May 2022

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International Lunar Observatory Association Gathers Support for ‘Mountain on the Moon’ ILO-1 Landing

National Space Agencies NASA, CNSA, Roscosmos, ISRO, JAXA and many commercial groups are targeting South Pole of Moon for near-term surface landings both robotic and human; Standing 4,990 meters, Malapert Mountain is clear site choice for line of sight to Earth, Shackleton, southern sky; NASA CLPS providers (Intuitive Machines, Astrobotic, Masten, Firefly), SpaceX, Blue Origin, ispace and/or major space faring agencies may facilitate ILOA flagship mission to ‘Point E’ on Malapert Mountain NET 2023

Credits: ILOA, NASA

Friday / 2 July 2021

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Galaxy Forum Bringing Space Education To Vi, Silicon Valley For July 4 Weekend

Artemis Moon Activity And Search For Extraterrestrial Intelligence Are Topics Of Galaxy Forum 2021 USA, Silicon Valley In-Person / Online Hybrid Event Streaming From Vi At Palo Alto, Adjacent To Stanford Campus; Presenters Include SETI Institute Co-Founder Jill Tarter (Searching For Aliens, Finding Ourselves), Berkeley SETI Research Center Director Andrew Siemion (SETI From The Moon), Paragon Space Development Corporation President Grant Anderson (Artemis / NASA Returns To The Moon), ILOA Director Steve Durst (Stanford On The Moon) And ILOA Board Member Joseph Sulla (ILOA 5 Moon Missions)

Credits: SETI Institute, BSRC, Paragon, ILOA, Space Age Publishing Company

Friday / 19 Feb 2021

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Bevy Of Lunar Meetings In USA, UK, SEA And Online Slated For The Week Ahead

AIAA Huntsville Presents Challenges And Benefits Of Excavation And Construction On The Moon 24 February, Jennifer Edmunson Of NASA MSFC To Speak On Extraction Of Volatiles From Regolith / PSRs, In-Situ Construction; 24-26 Feb International Association For The Study Of The Commons, Open Lunar Foundation, Others To Discuss Property Rights On Moon / Beyond From Arizona; LPI Of Houston Hosts Lunar Surface Science Workshop On Science Support For Crewed Artemis Missions 24-25 Feb; IOP Manchester Looks Back On Apollo And Its Impression Via Media 24 Feb; Pre-Global Space & Technology Convention Includes ILOA Hawai’i 3rd Lunar Commercial Communications Workshop In Hybrid Format From Singapore 25 Feb

Credits: AIAA, IOP, LPI, IASC, GSTC

Friday / 13 Nov 2020

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Intuitive Machines Leads Missions Intent On Moon Race Long Game

USA Newspace Company Intuitive Machines Set For
Oct 2021 IM-1 Launch; 100-kg Payload Capacity Nova-C Built With US$77M CLPS Award Aims To Reach Vallis Schröteri Carrying 5 NASA Payloads: ROLSES, SCALPSS, LN-1, NDL, LRA; Multiple Independent Payloads: Embry-Riddle To Capture Landing With ‘Eagle Cam’ Deploying Prior To NOVA-C Touchdown; International Lunar Observatory Association (ILOA Hawai’i) To Place Precursor Instrument ILO-X, Catch First Light Image Of MWG Center; Spacebit UK Sending 0.5U Micro Rover; IM To Follow With $47M NASA PRIME-1 Suite, 4G Communications Build-out Via ‘Lunar Hopper’ With Nokia In Late 2022

 

Credits: IM

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 18-21 Sep 2020

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ILOA Hawai’i Successfully Conducts Antipodal Galaxy Forum Europe 2020 September 18 In Vienna

1st Hybrid ILOA Galaxy Forum Half-Way Around World On “Astronomy From The Moon”; 99th Galaxy Forum Overall Since July 2008 Start; Featuring IAF / DLR Leader Pascale Ehrenfreund, Lunar Scientist Ian Crawford; Co-Hosted With ESA Investigator / ILEWG Director Bernard Foing And University Of Vienna Extragalactic Astrophysics Professor Bodo Ziegler; Projection Of Forum Across Vast Distance A Precursor For Earth-Moon Communication; Possible IAF / IAU Working Collaboration May Advance International Lunar Observatories; ILOA Director Steve Durst Closing Comments Invoke Apollo 11 Plaque “In Peace For All” And Truism “Single Planet Species Don’t Last”

Credits: ILOA, Galaxy Forum, Puli Space, SARAO

Tuesday / 3 March 2020

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  Galaxy Forum Southeast Asia 2020 In Chiang Mai Leading Towards SEA Regional Presence On Moon

International Lunar Observatory Association And National Astronomical Research Institute Of Thailand Hosts Galaxy Forum Southeast Asia 2020 With Theme Of Astronomy From The Moon At Princess Sirindhorn AstroPark In Chiang Mai – Support Base For Largest Thailand Observatory At Doi Inthanon; Opening Remarks Will Be Given By Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chaki Sirindhorn, Known As “Princess Of Astronomy” For Her Contributions; Southeast Asia Could Become One Of First Regions To Conduct Astronomy From The Moon Via Potential Principal Operating Partnership Constructs

Credits: Princess Sirindhorn AstroPark, ILOA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 14-17 Feb 2020

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New Race To Moon South Pole – Malapert Mountain

Multiple Nations And Commercial Enterprises Aiming For Lunar South Polar Region; Following CNSA Chang’e-5 Sample Return In 2020, Chang’e-6 And Chang’e-7 Will Explore South Pole; ISRO Chandrayaan-3, -4 and -5 Will Continue Polar Landing Goal Of Chandrayaan-2; SpaceX Promises Lunar Landings By 2022; NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services May Carry Payloads Such As The International Lunar Observatory ILO-1 For Galaxy Imaging And Broadcasting From Malapert Mountain, One Of The Most Important And Valuable Sites In Solar System

Credits: NASA, CNSA, ISRO, SpaceX, ILOA