Category Archives: Lunar Landers

Tuesday / 1 April 2014

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Astrobotic Technology Inc Successfully Tests Autolanding System

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GLXP Team Tests New Landing Sensor At Mojave Air & Space Port In CA; Astrobotic Autolanding System (AAS) Utilizes 2 Cameras, Scanning Laser, Inertial Measurement Unit; Low-Power Lightweight System Relies On Hi-Res LRO Lunar Surface Imagery, Makes Decisions Without Human Input; Flawless Flight Test Utilized Masten Aerospace Xombie Rocket, Descended From 250m, Used AAS To Detect Hazards & Select Landing Site; Pictured Astrobotic CEO John Thornton

Image Credit: Astrobotic Technology Inc

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 28-31 March 2014

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Moon South Pole 2016 Missions
An Emerging Priority For Space Powers

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Japan / JAXA & Russia / Roscosmos Both Considering 2016 South Pole Lander; China May Be Evaluating South Pole Landing Of Chang’e-4; India Chandrayaan-2 South Pole Lander Could Be Ready For 2016 If GSLV 2nd Test Launch Successful; Europe Advancing South Pole Mission Concept; NASA Recognizes South Pole As Ideal Lunar Destination For Resource Prospecting / Utilization & Human Moon Base, USA Might Advance Lunar Lander Mission Development To Avoid Being Left Behind  

Image Credit: JAXA, ISRO, ROSCOSMOS, ESA, CNSA

Friday / 21 March 2014

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Hawai`i Student Lander Experiment Aims To Fly To Moon On 2015 GLXP Mission

Hawaii Student Moon GLXP

Hawaii STEM Initiative Headed By Rob Kelso Of PISCES (Hilo HI) To Send High School-Built Laser-Based Imaging System To Moon On Undisclosed GLXP Team And / Or Moon Express Lander In 2015; Instrument To Collect Data On Engine & Regolith Interaction; NASA KSC To Provide Mentoring, Engineering Assistance, Equipment Testing; Hawaii Schools Raising ~US$300K To Develop Hardware / Software, Conduct Analog Field Testing; NanoRacks Providing Final Flight Fabrication, Testing & Certification Of Flight Hardware

Image Credit: NASA, PISCES, ME, NanoRacks

Wednesday / 19 March 2014

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Andrew Aldrin To Pilot Moon Express, Inc. To Moon

AldrinME

Moon Express Names Andrew Aldrin, Son Of Apollo 11 Pilot Buzz Aldrin, As President; Company Has Grown To Over 40 Employees Making It Largest Dedicated Staff Focused On Returning American Craft To Moon Surface; First Moon Mission (MX-1) Expected In 2015 To Compete For GLXP & To Deploy Precursor Instrument (ILO-X) Of Joint Venture Partner International Lunar Observatory Association; Dr Aldrin Has Previously Worked As Director Of Business Development And Advanced Systems For Both ULA & Boeing

Image Credit: Moon Express, Inc.

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 14-17 March 2014

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45th LPSC This Week In Texas

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Future Moon Missions & Exciting Results Of Current Missions Will Be Examined By Nearly 2000 Planetary Scientists At 45th Lunar Planetary Science Conference At The Woodlands TX On 17-21 Mar; Moon South Pole Will Be Featured As Ideal Site For Future Robotic / Human Missions In Presentations By Brad Jolliff, Debra Hurwitz (BL), Others; Importance Of This Annual Event Would Be Significantly Boosted With Clear Imminent Plan For USA Presence On Moon; Pictured (BR) Conference Co-Chairs: Steve Mackwell, Eileen Stansbery

Image Credit: NASA, LPI

Friday / 14 March 2014

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Lunar CATALYST Proposals Due On Monday

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Monday 17 March Is Deadline To Submit Business Plans For NASA Lunar CATALYST Program; Resulting Unfunded 3-Year NASA Space Act Agreements Will Provide Free Technical Expertise, Equipment & Facilities For Lunar Lander Development; Major Aerospace Firms Such As Boeing & Alliant Techsystems Have Indicated Interest; GLXP Teams Like Moon Express (ME) May Benefit From Program, ME Has Been Paying For Use Of Mighty Eagle Lander (L) & Has Paid ~US$550,000 To Study / Adapt NASA Common Spacecraft Bus At Ames

Image Credit: NASA, Moon Express

Friday / 7 March 2014

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Japan Diverse Interests In Moon Missions

Japan Moon

Japan Scientists Preparing For 2nd SELenological and ENgineering Explorer (SELENE-2) Moon Mission Consisting Of Orbiter, Lander, Rover To Launch NET 2018; SELENE-3 Sample Return To Follow, Eventually Human Moon Missions & Outpost; Japan Team Hakuto Strong Contender For GLXP / Selected To Compete For Terrestrial Milestone Prizes; Commercial Interest & Advertising From Moon Highlighted By Japan Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Planning To Send ‘Pocari Sweat’ Sports Drink To Moon Surface On Astrobotic Lunar Lander

Image Credit: JAXA, GLXP, Hakuto

Thursday / 6 March 2014

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China Moon Program Might Benefit From
Mid-Course Correction To South Pole

ChinaMoonSouthPole0314Ideal Time For Leaders Of China Lunar Exploration Program To Reconsider Future Chang’e Missions To Moon South Pole; Future Problems Similar To Yutu Rover Control Circuit Malfunction Might Be Mitigated By More Thermally Stable Polar Environment; Chang’e Chief Scientist Ye Peijian Says Chang’e-4 Mission Should Be “More Innovative And Meaningful,” Achieving 1st-Ever Polar Landing Would Be Just That; Russia, India, USA, Private Enterprises All Advancing South Pole Missions

Image Credit: NASA, cnsphoto

Wednesday / 5 March 2014

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Russia Preparing For Robotic Moon Missions

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Roscosmos Head Oleg Ostapenko Says Agency Boosting Efforts In Space Probe Development In Preparation For 3  Upcoming Moon Missions; 2016 Luna-25 Lander Destined For Moon South Pole, 2018 Orbiter, 2019 Polar Mission To Prospect For Water; Subsequent Missions Planned To Return Samples To Earth, Deploy Robotic Base On Moon

Image Credit: Roscosmos

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 28 Feb – 3 Mar 2014

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Who Owns The Moon?
International Missions, Commercial Aspirations

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Successful China Moon Mission Indicates Property Rights / Mining Claims Not Far Off Says Richard Holdaway (R) Of UK Rutherford Appleton Lab; Several Commercial Enterprises Also Making Business Cases For Moon Mining; Richard Bilder (L) Of University Of Wisconsin-Madison Says Process Of Setting Up Legal Regime Should Be Started Soon Before 1 or More Countries / Companies Have Special Stake / Interest; Holdaway Notes Nations Likely To Become Partners & Lunar Resources Will Further Space Exploration, Improve Life On Earth

Image Credit: NASA, CNSA, law.wisc.edu, stfc.ac.uk