USA Historic Accomplishments On 20 July Make This Month Opportune Time To Advance Next Giant Leaps Into Galaxy; 1st Humans On Moon (Apollo 11 – 1969), 1st Spacecraft To Land On Another Planet (Viking 1 – 1976); To Reassert USA Leadership In Lunar / Solar System Exploration NASA Can Use Inspiration Of Space Month 2013 To Complement Bold Activities / Plans Of NewSpace Companies
Image Credit: NASA
Scientists Using LROC To Identify / Image Lost Moon Probes Notes Leonard David Of Space.com; LROC PI Mark Robinson & Johns Hopkins APL Professor Jeff Plescia (Inset) Searching For Soviet & NASA Luna Probes; Detection Could Help Determine Fate Of Failed Spacecraft Such As Luna 23 & Surveyor 4, Aid In Design Of Heritage Protection Plan
Image Credit: NASA
Celebrity Theoretical Physicist Michio Kaku To Host CBS Feature Via Google Hangout To Showcase The 2 GLXP Teams With The Most Google+ Influence; Support Teams By Adding To ‘Circles’ Or Commenting On Their Google+ Posts; Penn State Lunar Lion Team Seeks Google+ Support, Team Leader Michael Paul Featured In Latest ‘Newt University‘ Interview With Newt Gingrich
Image Credit: Google+, Penn State Lunar Lion
Preparations Accelerating For China Chang’e-3 Moon Lander (End 2013); LROC PI Mark Robinson Says It Is “Gratifying To Finally See An Exploration Vehicle Landing On The Moon”, Looks Forward To Imaging China Lander From 100km Above, Notes Moon Is 1st Step For Human Off-World Journey, Hopes NASA Will Also Have Lunar Surface Vehicles Soon; China To Begin Prototype Phase Of Chang’e-5 Sample Return Mission This Year
Image Credit: CNSA, NASA, CLEP
ILO-X 180 X 70mm Telescope Built For ILOA Of Hawaii USA By Moon Express Launching To Moon 2015; Will Observe Galaxies, Stars, Planets, Moon, Earth; ILOA MoU With National Astronomical Observatories of China Enables Exchange Of ILO-X Observing Time With Lunar Telescope On Chang’e-3 Launching Late 2013; Also Collaborating With Golden Spike Co For Human Moon Missions (2018-2020); Learn More At Galaxy Forum China 22 Sep ‘Human Moon Missions: Giant Steps Into The Galaxy’
Image Credit: ILOA, NAOC
Morpheus Vertical Takeoff & Landing Vehicle Performs Successful 74-Second Tethered Test Flight At JSC In Houston, TX; Next Test Within 1 Week; Mighty Eagle Moon Lander Prototype Undergoing Heat Shield Inspections & System Leak Checks At MSFC In Huntsville, AL; Flight Tests Planned For July To Include Optical Hazard Avoidance – About 200 Tons Of Dirt Will Simulate Lunar Landing Situation, Vehicle To Demonstrate Ability To Detect Hazards
Image Credit: NASA
Roscosmos Director Vladimir Popovkin Announces Decision To Increase Russia Space Budget To Surpass That Of China, Equal ESA; Russia Traditionally Spends 40% Of ROSCOSMOS Budget On Human Spaceflight, Now Seeking To Revamp Applications Satellite Investment; Lunar Exploration Remains High Priority As Country Seeks To Get Back On Track / Finish What They Started By Landing Humans On Moon
Image Credit: Roscosmos
29th International Symposium On Space Technology & Science In Nagoya Japan 2-9 June; Features 3 Sessions On ‘Missions To The Moon’; Sho Sasaki (Inset) Of NAOJ To Present ‘Sciences Of Human Exploration Of Lunar Polar Regions’; Mitsubishi Electric Corp To Present On Lunar Transfer Vehicle Proposal; JAXA Planing Selene-2 Lunar Lander NET 2018 As A Precursor / Technology Demonstrator For Human Moon Exploration
Image Credit: JAXA, ISTS, NAOJ
Golden Spike Company Conducts Design Reviews In Denver CO With ULA, Paragon, Masten, ILOA, SwRI, Zero Point Frontiers & SpaceX For Human Lunar Lander Systems Studies; Team Considering Benefits Of Human South Pole Landing; Follow Up Lander Study Expected Later This Year, Aug-Sep
Image Credit: GSC, B. Campbell
Chandrayaan-2, Slated For 2014-15 Launch Aboard GSLV Rocket, Will Include Seismometer To Study Causes Of Shallow Moonquakes & Regions Of Their Occurrence; Seismometer Sensors Currently Undergoing Calibration At The National Geophysical Research Institute In Hyderabad, India By Research Team Headed By H V S Satyanarayana; Chandrayaan-2 To Include Orbiter, Lander & Solar-Powered Rover
Image Credit: ISRO, NASA