Chinese National Space Agency (CNSA) Announces Plan For Chang’e-4 Lunar Lander / Rover / Orbiter To Moon Far Side Late 2018; Launch From Xichang Satellite Launch Center (XSLC) Via Long March 3B Rocket; First Soft-Landing & Surface Examination Of Far Side; Discussions With European Space Agency (ESA) For Potential Cooperation Ongoing; Crewed Lunar Landing Is Ultimate Objective Of Chinese Lunar Exploration Program (CLEP)
Credit: NASA, CNSA, ESA, CLEP
New Director General Of European Space Agency (ESA) Johann-Dietrich Woerner (TL) Proposes “Moon Village On The Far Side Of The Moon”; Collaborative Efforts Would Incorporate World Participation; Far Side Of Moon Long Supported By Dr. Jack Burns (TR) Of University Of Colorado Boulder; Motivation For Village Includes Telescopes For Deep Space Observation, Stepping Stone For Mars Missions / Training, 3D Printing Trials & Multi-Nation Astronaut Settlement / Expanded International Involvement
Credit: NASA, ESA, Foster + Partners
Richard Verma, U.S. Ambassador To India States Positive Relationship Of ISRO & NASA For Chandrayaan Mission / Moon Surface Exploration “From Outer Space To Cyberspace, We’re In It Together”; ISRO Charting Other Planetary Opportunities For Mars, Venus & Return To Moon With Chandrayaan-II Expected NET 2016; Recurring Successful ISRO PSLV Program Bolsters Future Launches Including GSLV-MKII
Credit: NASA, ISRO, United States Dept. of State
Cooperation With NASA For Lunar CATALYST Program Providing Confidence In Astrobotic Technology Inc Ability For Precise Future Lunar Landings; Astrobotic Software Tested With NASA Core Flight Software, Modeling & Simulation Technology; GLXP Contender Moon Launch On SpaceX Falcon 9 May Experience Delays, Astrobotic Awaiting Further Details From The Investigation; NASA Administrator Charles Bolden Reiterates Spaceflight Challenges & Success Of Previous Six SpaceX Launches
Credit: NASA, Astrobotic, SpaceX
Research Continues For Moon South Pole Shackleton Crater Terraforming For Future Robotic & Human Habitat / Exploration; Crater ~209 Square Kilometers With Peaks Over 4,267 Meters In Which Water Potential Has Been Identified; Technological Trans-Former Will Operate In Darkness / Low Temperatures, Reflect Sunlight & Convert Into Energy For Rover / Astronauts; NIAC Also Awarding Funds For PERISCOPE Orbiter To Shine Laser Pulses Into Crater / Caves & Gather Data
Credit: NASA
Team Synergy Moon Announces Developments With Launch Infrastructure, Vehicle & Lander; Team Puli Lunar Rover On Display For Participants To Operate In Budapest, Hungary At Exosphere Copernicus Series 13-31 July; Team Astrobotic Lunar Rover To Send Up “Moon Arts Ark” With Weight < 6oz Holding Earth Art / Led By Carnegie Mellon University’s Art Professor & Renowned Space Artist, Lowry Burgess (Top)
Credit: GLXP, Synergy Moon, Astrobotic, PresUniversity, Exosphere, Puli Space
International Fleet Of South Pole Lunar Landers Developing From India (Chandrayaan-2, 2017), China (Chang’e-4 & -5, 2017), Japan (SLIM, 2019), Russia (Luna-25, 2019), Korea (2020), As Well As Independent Enterprises Moon Express, ILOA, Canadensys, Golden Spike Company & Shackleton Energy Company; American Flags On Moon Commemorated 4 July As Pioneering Individuals Look Forward To Earth / International Flags & Multi World Species Endeavors
Credit: NASA, JAXA, CNSA, IIT-Kanpur, ISRO, ILOA, ME
Japan Google Lunar XPrize Team HAKUTO Enters Agreement With Marubeni Information Systems For “Technological Assistance As Technology Partner”, Announcement Made At 26th Design Engineering & Manufacturing Solutions Expo 24-26 June; New Technology Includes 3D Printing & Scanning, Wheels Of Lunar Exploration Rover Shaped By Stratasys 3D Printer Have Heat Resistance & Adaptability To Harsh Temperatures In Space Environment
Credit: Lunar XPrize, Marubeni Information Systems
India Moon Mission & Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Chandrayaan-II, Two Module Configuration Spacecraft (Orbiter & Lander) Orbital Bus Delivered To The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO); HAL Chairman T. Suvarna Raju States “The Orbiter Craft Module Structure Is A Three-Tonne Category Bus”; Chandrayaan-II Planning For Moon Launch In 2017 By Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-MkII)
Credit: ISRO, HAL
Russia Luna-25 Performing “Earth Trials” For Projected 2019 Landing At Moon South Pole To Study Moon Structure, Cosmic Ray Impact, Electromagnetic Radiation; Incoming ESA Director General (1 July), Johann-Dietrich Wörner (TR) Discussing International Partnerships & States “One Of My Ideas Is To Go To The Moon, To The Far Side Of The Moon. To Have Robots And Humans Really Be Present There, On A Permanent Station…”
Credit: NASA, Roscosmos Press Service, EuroNews, International Paris Air Show