Category Archives: Lunar Landers

Wednesday / 5 December 2012

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Lunar Dust-Tracking Laser Has Terrestrial Applications

KSC Physicist John Lane Working On Project To Track Lunar Dust / Protect Apollo Sites From Future Moon Landers; Lane Used Terrestrial Rain Drops As Analog To Calibrate Laser Sensor, Consequently Discovered System Could Improve Rainfall Measurements / Weather Forecasting; NASA Considering Placing Laser Sensor On GLXP Team Lander To Help Formulate Restrictions For Future Landers Concerning Safe Distance From Apollo Sites 

Image Credit: NASA, Popular Mechanics

Thursday / 29 November 2012

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Russia Lunar Stirrings

Top Russia Space Officials Indicating Country Moving Focus From ISS To Moon Exploration; ISS Is ‘Closed Chapter In Russia Science‘; 3 Russia Moon Missions Planned For 2015-2017: Polar Lander, Circumlunar Mission, Mission To L2; Russia Scientists At CIS Interparliamentary Assembly Seeking Assistance From Ukraine & Kazakh Colleagues In Moon Research Program

Image Credit: Roscosmos, NASA, flags.com

Wednesday / 28 November 2012

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China Chief Lunar Scientist Extols Benefits Of Solar System Exploration

Ziyuan Ouyang Says Previous Lunar Exploration Is Just “Small Step In Knowing The Whole Moon,” Emphasizes Need To Spread Scientific Knowledge To General Public: How Lunar / Solar System Exploration Provides Benefits In Technology / Economic Development; Lunar Helium-3 As Future Power Source; Cost Effectiveness Of China Chang’e Program; Hopes Chinese People Can “Set Their Footprints All Over Solar System”

Image Credit: cntv.cn

Wednesday / 21 November 2012

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Europe Role In Upcoming Lunar Missions To Be Determined At Ministerial Council

Representatives From 20 European Union Member States Meeting In Naples, Italy (20-21 Nov) To Refine & Approve Budget For Next 3 Years Of ESA Activity; Proposed US$15.3B Budget Includes Financing An ESA Contribution To NASA Orion Spacecraft Program Destined For Human Lunar Missions Around 2020; ESA Also Seeking Funding Of Robotic Lander To Explore South Pole Of Moon

Image Credit: ESA, NASA

Weekend Edition / Fri-Mon 16-19 Nov 2012

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International Lunar Observatory Association & Galaxy Forum Advancing

Annual ILOA Board Meeting 17-19 Nov; Leaders From Astronautics / Astronomy, Government / Commercial Space Meeting On Hawai`i Island To Review Progress, Chart Next Steps Of 4 Active ILO Moon Missions: ILO-1 South Pole Observatory, Chang’e-3 Galaxy Imaging Collaboration, ILO-X Precursor, Human Service Mission; Program Includes Galaxy Forum Hawaii 2012 On Sunday To Support 21st Century Galaxy Education In Hawaii Classrooms

Image Credit: ILOA, CNSA, Moon Express, Galaxyforum.org

Friday / 16 November 2012

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Chang’e-3 Looks To Launch 2013, May Cost GLXP Competitors US$5M

China National Space Administration Announced “Definitive” Plans To Launch Chang’e-3 In 2013; Model On Display At ‘Airshow China 2012’; Li Dong Deputy Director Of China Aerospace Science And Technology Corp. Says Lunar Chang’e-3 Is Key Step In China’s Deep Space Exploration; 3rd Phase Requires Ascent Vehicle, Return Module, More; Chang’e-3 Would Reduce Google Lunar X-Prize By US$5M If Successful

Image Credit: CNSA, CASC, China.org, Xinhua

Wednesday / 14 November 2012

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PISCES Program Advancing On Hawai`i Island

Annual PISCES Conference Underway In Waikoloa HI; Program Expanding With Recent US$2.34M Investment From State; New Director Rob Kelso Says New Vision For PISCES Includes Research Of: Basalt-Based ‘Lunar Concrete’, Lava Tube Exploration, Testing Habitation Modules & GLXP Lunar Rovers; Goal Is To Become ‘Aerospace Enterprise Zone’ Supporting Planetary Surface Exploration

Image Credit: PISCES, NASA, White Label Space

Weekend Edition / Fri – Mon 9-12 Nov 2012

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LRO Still Providing Valuable Data; Lander Mission Up Next

US$504M Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Has Already Gathered As Much Data As All Other Planetary Missions Combined; Recent LRO Images / Data Of 2.2-Km-Wide Linné Crater (27.7°N 11.8°E) Helping Scientists Understand Evolution Of Impact Craters On Earth, Other Rocky Bodies; RESOLVE Lunar Rover Likely To Be Launched In 2017 To Find Water / Other Resources Useful For Space Exploration 

Image Credit: NASA

Thursday / 8 November 2012

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India Moon And Beyond Missions

India Aiming For 2015 Human Spaceflight Program; Human Moon Mission Proposed By Indian Space Research Organisation For 2020; Chandrayaan-2 Lunar Orbiter, Lander, Rover Mission Delayed To At Least 2014; Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) Rocket Proven Success Of Chandrayaan-1 / Moon Impact Probe Will Be Used For India Mars Satellite Mission Planned Launch Nov 2013

Image Credit: ISRO, IITK

Wednesday / 7 November 2012

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Japan / SELENE Analyze Lunar Past, Look To Lunar Future

Japan Lunar Orbiter Kaguya / SELENE Data Reveals Low-Calcium Pyroxene Mineral In ‘Ocean Of Storms’ On Moon; Ryosuke Nakamura From National Institute Of Advanced Industrial Science And Technology Says This Suggests Giant Impact Caused 29,000-km Wide Magma Sea; Future Japan Missions Hope To Confirm With SELENE-2 Rover Launch In Mid 2010s / SELENE-X Advanced Lander / Human Lunar Outpost In 2020s

Image Credit: JAXA, NIAIST