Friday / 6 Jun 2025

2026 Lunar and Planetary Science Conference Will Be Hosted by USRA / LPI; ISS 2026 Conference Is in Discussion, 2025 “Canceled”

Universities Space Research Association / Lunar & Planetary Institute (USRA / LPI) will mount LSPC 2026, its 57th year, after NASA bow-out; USRA / LPI has been in the forefront of ISS human health research; International Space Station Research & Development Conference long scheduled for 28-31 Jul in Seattle WA suddenly has website notice current regulatory and budget reform does not support holding it; 850+ participants expected, hotel would not reveal whether refunds will be given; next year may be rolled into AIAA ASCEND

Credits: USRA / LPI, ISSRDC, AIAA

Wednesday / 3 Apr 2019

NASA Considering Human Lunar Options Including SLS And Falcon Heavy

USA Urgently Pursuing Goal Of Human Lunar Landing At South Pole In 2024; Orion And Space Launch System Flights Will Be Accelerated; At NASA Town Hall Administrator Jim Bridenstine Says “Nothing Is Off The Table” And Suggests SpaceX Falcon Heavy With ULA Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage Could Carry Orion To Lunar Orbit; International Space Station Astronauts Nick Hague, Anne McLain And Christina Koch Are “Super Excited” About USA Reaching The Moon By 2024

Credits: NASA, SpaceX

Tuesday / 5 Mar 2019

SpaceX Elon Musk Agrees With NASA On Need For Lunar Base

 

After Successful Uncrewed Launch Of Crew Dragon To ISS, Elon Musk States, “We Should Have A Base On The Moon” Agreeing With NASA Jim Bridenstine About SPD-1 Mandate; SpaceX Crew Dragon And Boeing Starliner Projected To Return Astronauts On American Vehicle In 2019; Musk Already Planning To Send Yusaku Maezawa And Artists Around Moon On SpaceX ‘Starship’ In 2023; SpaceX Supporters Believe Starship Can Provide Lunar Transportation For Less Than Cost Of Space Launch System

Credits: NASA, SpaceX

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 26-29 Jan 2018

Emerging USA Policies Could Support Human Moon Missions Early 2020s

Upcoming 2018 Presidential State Of Union Address 30 January May Give Indication Of Future Lunar / Space Exploration, National Space Council, Space Policy Directive 1, ISS; 2019 Fiscal Budget Expected Release Early February; Possibility Of Public-Private Lunar Exploration Catalyzed By US$200M Allocation; NASA Budget Could End ISS Funding By 2024, Currently About $4B Out Of Total $19.65B, To Develop International Deep Space Gateway; National Focus Would Shift To Cislunar Space, Mars And Beyond Utilizing Space Launch System And Orion Crew Vehicle

Credits: NASA, Boeing, CNN

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 7-10 April 2017

Canada Prioritizes Technologies For International Lunar Deep Space Habitat And Lunar Surface Mobility (LSM) Concept Study

Canadian Space Agency Asking For Innovative Proposals For Detailed LSM Concepts & Feasibility Assessment Of Two Main Assets: Precursor To Human & Scientific Rover And Lunar Pressurized Rover Core; Planning To Select Up To 2 Six-Month Contracts; Canada Government Commits To CSA US$80.9M Over 5 Years To Accelerate Canada Leadership In Space Post-ISS Era Including Technology To Support International Human Missions On And Around Moon Such As Robotics, Rovers, Software, And Mars Surface Observation

Credits: CSA, NASA

Wednesday / 29 June 2016

Russia Industry To Prepare Lunar Orbital Station Proposal For ISS Partners

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RSC Energia Working On Configurations, Elements, Interfaces Of International Habitable Periodically-Tended Circumlunar Platform; Proposals To Be Submitted To Heads Of ISS Partner Agencies 1st Half Of 2017, Working Group Signed Into Existence Late 2014; Scenarios In Line With National Interests Of Partners Including Human Exploration Of Lunar Surface, Mars, Asteroids; Sergei Krikalyov, Director For Human Spaceflight At Roscosmos, Notes Logic In Establishing Permanent Human Moonbase Using Circumlunar Station For Temporary Visits & Transfers

Credit: NASA, RSC Energia