Image Credit: GLXP
Barcelona Moon Team Signs Agreement With China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) For NET 2014 Launch; Agreement Allows Spanish Team Led By Galactic Suite Moonrace, ALTRAN, Consortium Of Spain’s Leading Space Companies To Focus On Lunar Landings, GLXP Objectives, Securing Sponsorships; CGWIC Is Sole Commercial Organization Authorized By China Government To Provide Commercial Launch Services
Image Credit: GLXP, Team Phoenicia
Team JURBAN Selects Rocket Engines Developed By Team Phoenicia For Their Lunar Lander; Single 526-Second Burn Of 2 Z150 Rocket Engines (R) Will Slow JURBAN Airbag Landing System From 5760kph To Gentle 96.5kph Landing; Teams Working On Mutual Data & Hardware Exchange Partnership; Pictured: JURBAN Technical Manager Blaze Sanders
Image Credit: CLEP, china.org.cn
China Chang’e-3 Lunar Lander Enters Flight Model Phase From Prototype Phase, Manufacturing Of Flight Model Entity Has Begun; 2013 Probe Will Carry Lunar Rover & Instruments To Conduct Land Surveys, Living Conditions Assessment, Astrophysical Observations; China Congressional Deputy Hu Hao Says Chang’e-2 Exceeded Mission Goals Laying Solid Foundation For Landing Of Its Successor
Image Credit: GLXP, NASA
GLXP Teams Moon Express, FREDNET, Along With Astrobotic Receive Additional Task In NASA US$10M ILDD Program Contract; Teams Must Provide NASA With Data About Progress In Spacecraft Development, Payload Accommodations & Planetary Protection Plans To Fulfill US$100K Task Order; Astrobotic Joins Team Phoenicia In Confirming Intention To Conduct Prospecting Mission To Moon South Pole
Image Credit: CCTV, CNSA
Chang’e-3 Moon Lander / Rover On Schedule For 2013 Confirms Mission Chief Commander Ye Peijian; 100-Kg Rover Designed To Operate 3 Months On Lunar Surface; Will Include Navigation / Telecommunication Systems For Hazard Avoidance / Remote Control, Scientific Equipment To Collect & Analyze Moon Samples; China Also Developing Heavy-Thrust Carrier Rocket That Could Propel Human Moon Mission
Image Credit: NASA
Tethered ‘Hot Fire’ Tests Of New Project Morpheus Engine Continue; Spacecraft Designed To Be Fully Integrated, Capable Of Transporting 500kg To Lunar Surface, Able To Make Entire Trip Autonomously Including Lunar Descent & Landing; NASA JSC / Armadillo Aerospace-Designed Craft Uses Cheaper & Safer Methane Fuel Which Can Be Harvested On Moon
Image Credit: ILOA, MDA
International Lunar Observatory Association Advances NET 2014 ILO-1 Mission To Lunar South Pole By Signing New Contract With MDA Of Canada; Study Will Establish Development Schedule, Assess Functionality Of 2m Dish For Both Astronomical Observation & Commercial Communication; ILO-X Precursor Mission Phase 2 Rapid Development Program Recently Completed By Moon Express
Image Credit: Astrobotic Technology Inc
Astrobotic Receives Additional Task In US$10M Innovative Lunar Demonstrations Data (ILDD) Contract With NASA; Company Will Present NASA With Summary Of Progress Designing New Model Rover For Lunar Polar Prospecting; $100K Task Order Brings Astrobotic ILDD Contract Funding Total To $610K; Astrobotic Planning Prospecting Mission To Moon South Pole In May 2015
Image Credit: ESA, IAC
ESA Lunar Lander Mission ‘MoonNext’ Will Be Prominent Focus When Europe (Naples, Italy) Hosts IAC On 1-5 Oct 2012; Scheduled To Launch Aboard Ariane 5 Rocket From Kourou, French Guiana In 2018; Destined For Moon South Pole, Mission To Demonstrate Hazard Avoidance Technology, Characterize Location For Potential Human Outpost; Landing Mass Of Craft Between 650-800kg
Image Credit: ESA, NASA
ESA Working To Advance 3D Lidar Technology For Deep Space Exploration; Potential Applications Include Guidance / Navigation / Control Of Planetary Landers & Selection Of Safe Landing Site, Steering Rovers On Planetary Surface, Docking In Planetary Orbit; New Class Of Imaging Lidar Much Smaller, Needing Less Power; Landing Lidar Instrument Being Designed For ESA Lunar Lander, NET 2019