Category Archives: Lunar Landers

Weekend Edition / Fri-Tues 24-28 May 2013

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2013 Rising Lunar Tide

JFKandFriends0513

As USA / World Remembers 52nd Anniversary Of JFK Moon Declaration To Congress, New Generation Of Lunar Pioneers Proclaim Intentions / Outline Plans For Sustainable Return To Moon At Prestigious International Events; ISDC 2013 In San Diego CA, Lunar Track Focusing On Human Explorations Of Moon; Galaxy Forum Canada – Vancouver Featuring Alan Stern (CL) Of Golden Spike, Bob Richards (CR) Of Moon Express, Jim Keravala (R) Of Shackleton Energy Co, Steve Durst (L) Of ILOA, More

Image Credit: galaxyforum.org, isdc.nss.org

Thursday / 23 May 2013

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Space Act Agreement May Help Extend Commercial Activity To Cis-Lunar Space

Bigelunar513

‘Media Availability’ Event Today At 13:30 EDT, NASA Associate Administrator Bill Gerstenmaier & Robert Bigelow Discuss Recent Space Act Agreement; Unfunded Study Identifying Common Objectives Between NASA & Private Sector, Companies & Their Potential Contributions To Extend Commercial Activity To All Cis-Lunar Space; If Commercial Interests Demonstrate Capability To Reach / Operate On Moon May Help Cure NASA / Obama Selenophobia

Image Credit: Bigelow Aerospace, NASA

Wednesday / 22 May 2013

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South Korea Looking To Moon & Stars

SKorea2040

2020-2025 Lunar Orbiter & Return Mission Among South Korea Goals For Next Phase Of Space Program Development; KARI President Seung-Jo Kim Presents ‘South Korea 2040 Space Prospect’ To Congress; Plan Also Calls For Advancement Of Indigenous Rocket Technology, Development Of 10-Tonne Crewed Spacecraft, Robotic Mars (2026) & Asteroid (2032) Missions; Country Considering Sea Launch Technology For Equatorial Launches

Image Credit: KARI, JAXA

Thursday / 16 May 2013

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Chang’e-3 To Undergo Last Major Testing Before Launch

Chang'e-3 Update May 2013

China Chang’e-3 Moon Lander / Rover Being Prepared For 40 Days Of Thermal Testing; Will Be Tested Together, Then Separately & Exposed To Moon-Like Temperatures Of About -200°C To 150°C In Vacuum Thermal Simulation Tester At China Aerospace Science & Technology Corp. In Beijing; CNSA States Launch To Moon Sinus Iridum “Bay of Rainbows” Still Set For Q3-4 2013

Image Credit: China Space News

Tuesday / 14 May 2013

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Morpheus 1.5B Ready For Flight Test Program

Morpheus II

Morpheus 1.5 Bravo Moon Robotic Lander With Engine Capable Of 22,000 Newtons Of Thrust Is Now Ready For Flight Test Program At JSC; Completed 50-Second Static Hot Fire Of Main Engine With Thrust Vector Control Demonstration; Will Perform Dynamic Tethered Flights Soon In Preparation For Summer 2013 Return To KSC; 70 Vehicle Upgrades Include Advanced Engine Performance Capabilities, Increased Structural Margins, Mitigated Launch Vibroacoustic Environments

Image Credit: Kris Kehea, NASA

Thursday / 9 May 2013

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Golden Spike Co. Lunar Lander Concepts Advancing

Golden Spike

Northrop Grumman Confirms GSC Human Moon Lander Concepts; Evaluated 180 Lander Cases, Established Propulsion Requirements For Lunar Orbit Loiter, Descent / Ascent, Rendezvous; Also Proposes New Concept Called ‘Pumpkin’ Consisting Of Low-Mass Ascent Stage, Minimalistic Pressurized Ascent Pod With Surface Habitat & Storable Propellants Packaged In 5-m Diameter Payload Launch Envelope

Image Credit: Northrop Grumman, GSC, NASA

Weekend Edition / Fri-Mon 3-6 May 2013

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Lunar Mining Robot Prototype Advancing

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Regolith Advanced Surface Systems Operations Robot (RASSOR) Being Developed / Tested At NASA KSC; Team Estimates Robot Would Need To Work For 5 Years, 16 Hours Per Day To Mine Enough Regolith To Produce Useable Water / Oxygen From Extraction Device On The RASSOR Mission Lander; Current Prototype Is .75m Tall With Mining Drums Extended Above Body; Prototype Version 2 To Begin Testing 2014; Final Version Expected To Weigh About 45kg

Image Credit: NASA

Thursday / 2 May 2013

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LEAG Annual Meeting Set For October

LEAG2013_0513

2013 Meeting Of The Lunar Exploration Analysis Group Will Be Held 14-16 Oct 2013 At The Johns Hopkins University / APL In Laurel, MD; The Scientific Questions, Measurement Techniques & Options For Exploring The Moon With Discovery-Class Missions Or With Payloads Flown On International Or Commercial Missions Will Be Discussed And Evaluated At The Meeting; Abstract Deadline 31 July

Image Credit: LEAG, LPI, usra.edu

Tuesday / 23 April 2013

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Chang’e-3 Coming Into Focus

CLEP0413

Oct 2013 Launch Of Chang’e-3 Now Unlikely Despite History & Mission Goals; Service Module, Lander Vehicle & Rover, With Total Mass Of 3,800kg, To Launch Aboard Upgraded CZ-3B Rocket; Landing Vehicle Is First Nuclear-Powered China Spacecraft, Designed For Operational Life Of 12 Lunar Months; Solar-Powered Rover Designed For 90 Lunar Days

Image Credit: CLEP, CNSA

Weekend Edition / Fri-Mon 19-22 April 2013

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Increasing Collaboration For Moon Exploration, Development

LED-4-19-13

Bigelow Aerospace Signs Space Act Agreement With NASA To Develop Systems For Human Habitation Beyond LEO; Includes Bigelow Plans For Lunar Base: Integrated Inflatable Modules Capable Of Propulsive Lunar-Landing & Life Support; Official Alumni Club Stanford On The Moon Considers Expanding Stanford’s Bing Overseas Studies To Antarctica & Moon In 21st Century; Golden Spike Company Panning Commerical Human Moon Mission 2018-2020

Image Credit: Bigelow Aerospace, Anna Cobb, GSC