Category Archives: Lunar Landers

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 31 Jan – 3 Feb 2014

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Moon Astronomy Revolution

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Chang’e-3 LUT Operating Nominally, According To Jianyan Wei Of NAOC/CAS, After 2 Productive Lunar Days In Which It Observed 23 Stars Of Draco Constellation, Conducted Long-Duration Observation Of Variable Stars & Produced Mosaic Sky Survey; This Historic Precedent Of Viability Of & Opportunity For Astronomy From Lunar Surface Should Give Encouragement & Confidence To Global Astronomy, Space Exploration & NewSpace Communities Seeking To Advance Humanity As Multi World Species

Image Credit: NAOC/CAS, ILOA

Thursday / 30 January 2014

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Moon Mining – A Rising Priority

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Private Companies & Government Agencies See Moon Mining As Critical Step Towards Future Sustainability, Expansion Of Humans Through Solar System; China Eyeing Lunar Helium-3; Russia Planning Prospecting & Sample Return Missions By 2020; USA Likely To Collaborate With Japan, Korea, Canada, Private Companies To Achieve US$250M Resource Prospector Mission At Moon South Pole ~2018 To Advance ISRU Capabilities; Moon Mining Plans Lead Inevitably To Property Rights Considerations

Image Credit: NASA, Roscosmos

Wednesday / 29 January 2014

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Japan SELENE Symposium In March 2014

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2nd SELENE Symposium On 4-5 March At NAOJ, Mitaka, Tokyo, Japan; Regional & International Scientists Will Review New Lunar Mission Science Results, Discuss Opportunities For International Collaboration On Lunar Research & Future Missions; 1st Symposium (Jan 2013) Had Over 90 Participants From 7 Countries; SELENE-2 Orbiter / Lander / Rover Mission Expected 2017; Pictured: Science Organization Committee Chair Junichi Haruyama

Image Credit: JAXA, NAOJ

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 24-27 January 2014

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Chang’e-3 Producing Valuable Data On Moon

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China Moon-Based Telescope Carrying Out Continuous Observation In Near-Ultraviolet Spectrum, Already Captured Images Of 23 Astronomical Phenomena; Lunar Radar Acquiring Data In 2 Channels Exploring Structures 10m & 140m Below Lunar Surface, Identified 11 Chemical Elements In Regolith Including Magnesium, Aluminum, Titanium & Iron; Chang’e-3 Youth Team Receives Elite Youth Of China 2013 People Of Year Award

Image Credit: Chinese Academy of Sciences

Friday / 24 January 2014

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Golden Spike & Draper Lab Evaluate
Moon Landing Sites

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Draper To Examine GSC Lunar Lander Concepts / Enhancements, Landing Sites, And Recommend Guidance System Architecture; Study Lead John West Notes Draper Has Provided GNC & Flight Computers For All Crewed Lunar Landings; Moon South Pole Near-Eternal Peaks Of Illumination With Temperature Constant -50° ± 10°C Should Be Considered For Simplifying Thermal Design / Reducing Energy Required, Gathering Unique Science & Volatile Data; Ben Bussey Study Shows Peak Near Shackleton Crater Would Be Illuminated 86% Over Lunar Year In 2020

Image Size: GSC, NASA

Wednesday / 22 January 2014

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ESA Looking To Collaborate With Russia On Lunar Exploration

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European Space Agency Leaders Advancing Collaboration With Russia On Luna-27 / Luna- Resurs 1 Mission ~2019 To Research Frozen Volatiles Near Moon South Pole & ROSCOSMOS Lunar Polar Sample Return Mission Envisaged In Early 2020s; Meetings On 17-19 Feb 2014 At ESA ESTEC Will Explore Collaboration Possibilities, Evaluate Sample Return Science Proposals

Image Credit: ROSCOSMOS, ESA

Tuesday / 21 January 2014

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Morpheus Advancing USA Lunar Lander Capabilities

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Project Morpheus To Conduct Free Flight Test-6 Today At NASA KSC; Flight Test Last Week Performed Flawlessly Reaching 57m, Traversing 47m, Landing Within 28cm Of Target; New Autonomous Landing Hazard Avoidance Technology (ALHAT) Could Facilitate Lander Missions To More Challenging / Rewarding Sites Such As Moon South Pole; Current Lander Design Has Payload Capacity Of 500kg, Team Hopes To Scale Up To Accommodate Crew / Cargo

Image Credit: NASA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon 17-20 January 2014

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Partnership Opportunities For Commercial Lunar Landers Offered By NASA

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Lunar Cargo Transportation And Landing By Soft Touchdown (Lunar CATALYST) Initiative Announced By NASA Calls For Proposals From USA Private Sector, Will Lead To 1 Or More No-Funds Exchanged Space Act Agreements; NASA Will Offer Technical Expertise, Access To Test Facilities / Equipment & Software For Lander Development / Testing; Pre-Proposal Teleconference 27 Jan, Proposals Due 17 Mar, Selections Made In Apr

Image Credit: NASA

Thursday / 16 January 2014

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GLXP Teams Advancing To Moon As Penultimate Year Of Competition Commences

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Penn State Lunar Lion  Team Becomes 4th Team To Announce Launch Contract – Q4 2015 Via Team Phoenicia LLC, Lion Now Listed 3rd On Unofficial Contest Leaderboard; Team SpaceIL Of Israel Announces Successful Development Of Probe Propulsion System, Produced By Israel Aircraft Industries; Team Puli Of Hungary Completes Successful Simulation Of Lunar Rover Mission  Including ‘Maunacast’ At PISCES Center In Hawaii 

Image Credit: GLXP

Tuesday / 14 January 2014

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Chang’e-3 Lander & Yutu Rover Operational After Long, Cold Lunar Night

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China Moon Crafts Resuming Scientific Work After  Awakening From 2 Weeks Of Hibernation; Ground Penetrating Radar On Rover Expected To Gather New Information Related To Chemical Composition & Depth Of Lunar Soil, Aid Lunar Mining Preparations; Lunar Ultraviolet Telescopes Will Prove Value Of Moon-Based Observatories, Monitor Earth Plasmasphere, Observe Galaxies / Stars; Pictured (Inset): 1st Image Of Earth From Moon In 4 Decades

Image Credit: Chinese Academy Of Sciences