Category Archives: Lunar Orbiters

Thursday / 16 October 2014

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China To Launch Reentry Test Orbiter
To Moon 23 October

Chang'e Test Orbiter, 4M OHB

Moon Orbiter To Test Reentry Technologies For 2017 Chang’e-5 Sample Return Mission Set To Launch 23 Oct On Long March 3C/E From Xichang Satellite Launch Center; 14-Kg Manfred Memorial Moon Mission Designed By OHB To Measure Radiation & Transmit Radio Signals Is Attached To 3rd Stage Booster; Chang’e Capsule Carrying Cameras (Perhaps Other Science Instruments) Filled With Samples, To Separate From 3rd Stage 20 Mins After Launch, Closest Approach 28 Oct At 00:33 UT ~13,000 Km Altitude, Return To Earth Oct 31/Nov 1 At 11 Km/s, Parachute-Assist Landing

Image Credit: CASC, CNSA, CCTV, OHB, LuxSpace

Tuesday / 14 October 2014

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Russia: Moon Is Core Of Space Program Russia Moon

Roscosmos Head Of Strategic Planning Department Yuri Makarov States Moon Is Central To Space Program & Will Enable Solar System Missions, Envisions International Cooperation; During This & Next Decade Focus On Automatic Spaceships & Stations, In 2030s Lunar Orbital Stations & Vehicles, 2040s Crewed Lunar Station Near Moon South Pole, 2050s Inhabited Bases & Optical Laboratories; Robotic Missions Luna-25 (Which May Cost Tens Of Billions Of Rubles ~US$250M) Through Luna-29 (2016-2021) To Be Followed By Human Moon Flyby 2025, Landing By 2030

 Image Credit: Roscosmos, Andrey Sokolov, Alexey Leonov, NASA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 10-13 October 2014

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Moon Orbiter Research, Data Findings & Awards Continue

Orbiters

LRO In Its 6th Year At Moon Traveling In Elliptical 30 X 180-Km Altitude Orbit Passing Over Lunar South Pole, 20th Data Set Release Upcoming – Collecting Data On Moon Radiation (CRaTER), Cold Traps (Diviner), Permanently Shadowed Regions (LAMP), Landing Sites (LOLA), Radio Images (Mini-RF), B&W Optical Images (LROC), Color & Ultraviolet Images (WAC), Hydrogen Distribution & Radiation Neutron Component (LEND), Imaging Chang’e-3; LADEE Receives Popular Mechanics 2014 Breakthrough Award; GRAIL Data Reveals Ocean Of Storms Rift Valleys

 

Image Credit: NASA, Colorado School of Mines

Friday / 10 October 2014

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Moon Spacecraft Lunar Eclipse Observations

Spacecraft Lunar Eclipse

China Chang’e-3 Moon Lander At Sinus Iridum / Mare Imbrium, 44.12°N 19.51°W Operating In Lunar Day 11, Observations / Images Expected From 8 Oct Total Eclipse Of Sun By Earth As Seen From Moon; Through MoU With NAOC, ILOA Encouraging These & Other Types Of Innovative Lunar Astronomy Observations; NASA LRO In Moon Orbit Will Transmit Data Collected On Effects Of Lunar Eclipse On Moon Surface Temperatures; Next Eclipse 4 Apr 2015

Image Credit: CCTV, CNSA, Stellarium, K. Kremer, M. Lorenzo, B. King, NASA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 3-6 October 2014

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International Lunar Geophysical Year Campaign May Help Advance Cislunar Development

ILGY1014

National Space Society International Committee Chair David Dunlop Proposes 2017 Be Labeled International Lunar Geophysical Year; Several Initiatives Such As Organizing New Lunar-Focused Conferences & Highlighting International Lunar Initiatives At Major Conferences Will Aim To Expand Human Econosphere To Moon / Cislunar Space; Campaign Will Broaden & Compliment Lunar Science Mission Initiatives By National Space Agencies, GLXP Teams, Lunar CubeSat Missions & Independent Missions Like Those Of International Lunar Observatory Association

Image Credit: NSS, ILOA

Friday / 19 September 2014

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OHB Spacecraft 4M To Launch On China Rocket, Fly By Moon 28 October

OHB 4M

Manfred Memorial Moon Mission (4M), Dedicated To OHB Founder Manfred Fuchs, Developed By LuxSpace Of Luxembourg, To Travel 196 Hours To Moon, Fly By Surface 28 Oct 00:28:00 UT At 13,000 Km, Return To Earth; Will Measure Radiation During Flight & Around Moon, Transmit Radio Signals On Amateur Beacon; OHB Planning Moon Missions Including Landing Within Next Few Years; Likely Part Of China Technology Test Orbiter Moon Mission

Image Credit: OHB, LuxSpace

Friday / 5 September 2014

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Planetary Senior Review Panel Gives Green Light To LRO Extended Mission

LROseniorReview0914

Evaluating Proposed New Science & Previous Productivity LRO Received Grade Of Very Good / Good From NASA Planetary Senior Review Panel Chaired By Clive Neal; Panel Suggested Descoping Some LRO Instruments: Mini-RF Operations To End, CRaTER Instrument May Continue With Cost-Sharing With Helio / Astrophysics Programs; After Accepting Descoping Proposal LRO Grade Raised To Very Good / Excellent; 2nd 2-Year LRO Extended Science Mission Will Characterize Changes In Lunar Surface, Interior & Exosphere; LRO Expected 2015 Operations Cost Was US$8.1M Pre-Descoping

Image Credit: NASA

Tuesday / 2 September 2014

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Vision For Space Access May Be Difference In Tight Hawai`i Governor Race

HAwaiiSpaceAcessGov914

Pacific Space Access Could Become A Key Issue As Hawai’i Gubernatorial Race Heats Up; Sen David Ige (D), Duke Aiona (R), Mufi Hannemann (I) All Could Benefit From Supporting Pioneering Initiative To Develop Hawaii-Based Sea Launching Enterprise, Which Would Bring Economic And Scientific Opportunities To Islands; With NASA Missions LRO & Mars Opportunity Rover Receiving Funding For Extended Missions, Hawaii Island Role As Analog Test Site For Robotic / Human Planetary Missions Should Continue To Advance

Image Credit: PISCES, Sea Launch, KHON2

Tuesday / 26 August 2014

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Chandrayaan-2 On Schedule For 2017 Launch

Chandrayaan2Annadurai

M Annadurai Of ISRO, Project Manager For Chandrayaan-1 and 2, Confirms India Still Planning To Launch Its 2nd Moon Mission In 2017; GSLV Rocket Expected To Boost Probe Into Earth-Parking Orbit Of 170km X 18,500km; Mission Includes Orbiter With Scientific Payloads To Confirm Presence Of Water / Resources & Lander That Will Soft Land Then Deploy Rover To Conduct Mineralogical & Elemental Analysis Of Surrounding Area With 2 Spectroscope Payloads; Next GSLV Launch Expected Later This Year After Successful Launch In Jan 2014

Image Credit: ISRO

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 22-25 August 2014

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LRO / CRaTER Continue To Uncover Mysteries Of Lunar Poles

CRaTERsparking0814

Solar Storms May Cause ‘Sparking’ In Permanently Shadowed Craters On Moon Poles Says Team Of Researchers From UNH & NASA Led By Andrew Jordan; Data From CRaTER Instrument Aboard LRO Indicates Solar Energetic Particles Build Up Electric Charges In Lunar Surface That Likely Disintegrate Regolith Into Distinct Minerals; Polar Craters Maintain Temperatures ~Minus 240 Degrees C, Known To Contain Water Ice; Team Now Investigating If Other LRO Instruments Can Detect Sparking

Image Credit: NASA, UNH