Category Archives: Lunar Landers

Friday / 6 December 2013

Posted on by

Chang’e-3 To Enter Moon Orbit Today

Chang'e-3 LOI

China Spacecraft To Enter 100Km Circumlunar Orbit 09:30 UT After 112-Hour Cruise & Prepare For 14 Dec Landing At Sinus Iridum 44°N, 31°W Between 08:00-12:00; Chief Designer Sun Zezhou (L) States Mission Success Based On Safe Landing, Rover Functionality, Imaging Of Rover & Lander, Reception Of Data By Ground Control; Greg Kulacki (R) UCS China Project Manager Says China May Prefer International Collaboration On Human Moon Missions

Image Credit: CCTV, NASA GSFC, Beijing Institute of Spacecraft System Engineering, CNS

Wednesday / 4 December 2013

Posted on by

Preserving Historic Lunar Sites From Rising Tide Of Moon Exploration

PreserveMoonSites1213

With China Moon Landing Fast Approaching & Commercial  Missions Soon To Follow, US Legislators Propose Bill To Qualify Apollo Sites As National Park; Space Law Experts Henry Hertzfeld (R) & Scott Pace Say This Action May Violate UN Outer Space Treaty, Suggest Government Officials Open Dialogue To Establish Ground Rules For Respecting Mission Sites / Equipment / Artifacts; May Also Help Ease Strained International Relations

Image Credit: NASA, CNSA

Tuesday / 3 December 2013

Posted on by

Robotic Precursor Missions May Get USA Lunar Program Back On Track

MoonInsitu1213

Aggressive Lunar Exploration Plan With USA Rovers / Landers On Moon To ID Resources, Advance ISRU Technologies, Construct Power Infrastructure Is Currently Feasible With Limited NASA Budget, & Needed To Reassert Leadership In Moon Exploration, Prepare For Human Moon Outposts – Says Nelson Bridwell In Aviation Week

Image Credit: NASA

Thanksgiving Edition / Thu-Mon
28 Nov – 2 Dec 2013

Posted on by

Chang’e-3 Moon Launch Expected NET Mon 2 Dec 01:00 China Time

Chang'e-3TotheMoon

‘Middle Country’ First Attempt To Land On Another World And First Attempted Moon Landing By Anyone In 37+ Years May Mark Start Of Permanent Lunar Operations, For Good; Weather Permitting Chang’e-3 / Yutu Will Launch On Long March 3B From Xichang Launch Site Into Direct Lunar Transfer Orbit, Moon Orbit Insertion After 5-Day Cruise, Entry Descent Landing EDL Phase To Commence After 10 Days In Lunar Orbit

Image Credit: CNSA, CLEP

Wednesday / 27 November 2013

Posted on by

China LUT To Take Advantage Of Moon As Ideal Venue For Astronomy

LUT1113

LUT – Lunar Ultraviolet Telescope To Land On Moon Mid Dec Aboard Chang’e-3; Scientific Goals Include Continuous Monitoring Of Variable Stars & Galaxies, Low Galactic Latitude Sky Survey; Instrument Will Observe During Lunar Daytime; Flat Mirror With Gimbal Mount Provides Over 1200 Square Degrees Of Visible Sky For 150mm-Diameter Aperture Telescope; Stable Platform, Tenuous Atmosphere Of Moon Ideal For Long-Duration Low-Frequency Observations; Pictured: LUT Lead Scientist Jianyan Wei

Image Credit: phys.scichina.com, ILOA, CNSA

Weekend Edition / Fri-Mon 15-18 Nov 2013

Posted on by

Moon Express Mission Advancing

moonXtest1113

Silicon Valley-Based GLXP Team Analyzing Data From Successful Tethered Hover Flight Test Of Its Guidance, Navigation & Control Software Aboard NASA Mighty Eagle Prototype Lander; Team Will Determine If It Is Ready To Proceed With Closed Loop Free Flight Test; Philanthropist Klee Irwin (L) Announces 6-Figure Investment In Moon Express; Pictured (R): ME Principal GNC Engineer Jim Kaidy 

Image Credit: Moon Express

Friday / 15 November 2013

Posted on by

South Korea Commits To
2020 Moon Mission

KARI 2020 Moon Mission

Prime National Objective Announced By S Korea President Park Geun-Hye To Send Lunar Lander, 10-20 Kg Rover To Look For Rare Minerals & Orbiter To Moon In 2020 Aboard Korea Space Launch Vehicle-2 Rockets; 15 Government-Funded Research Institutions Led By KARI To Begin Collaborating In 2014, Hope To Overcome Challenges With NASA Support; May Need ~$655M To Complete Project By 2020; Also Potential For KARI Associate Membership In SSERVI

Image Credit: KARI, K. Dietsch/UPI/Newscom

Weekend Edition / Fri-Mon 8-11 Nov 2013

Posted on by

LADEE / Chang’e-3 Conjunction: Opportunity For International Cooperation

MissionConjunction1113

Dec Moon Landing Of China Chang’e-3 Could Provide NASA LADEE Orbital Mission Unique Opportunity To Collect Data On Ejected Dust From Descent Engines; Valuable For Planning Future Missions, Heritage Site Preservation, Lunar Base Development; Current USA Policy Impeding NASA From Arranging Such Collaboration With China; Apollo Moonwalkers Advocate For NASA To Begin Cooperation With China On Human Moon Return

Image Credit: NASA, CLEP, CNSA

Wednesday / 6 November 2013

Posted on by

Morpheus Set To Resume Lunar Landing Technology Demonstrations

MorpheusKSC1113

New Morpheus Vehicle To Arrive KSC 12 Nov; Will Conduct Dry Run, Wet Run & Test Readiness Review In Early Dec; 3 Free Flight Operations & First Flight Campaign In Mid Dec; Craft Will Then Help Test Key Technologies Such As In-Space Propellant Transfer; Team Hopes To Scale Up 500-kg Payload Lander So It Is Able To Land Habitat With Crew On Moon

Image Credit: NASA

Tuesday / 5 November 2013

Posted on by

Huge China Moon Lander A Precursor To Human Module

chinaLander1113

Chang’e-3 Lander Is 42% Mass & Scale Of Apollo Lunar Descent Module (1200kg Unfueled), Apollo Veterans Aldrin (L) & Cernan Say Size & Design Indicate Craft / Mission Is Precursor To Human Descent Stage; Moonwalkers Encourage NASA / USA To Seek Cooperation With China On Human Moon Return, Form International Lunar Outpost Authority, South Pole Base For ISRU / Prepare For Mars Habitation

Image Credit: China Space News, NASA