Twin ARTEMIS Crafts Reveal Unexpected Influence Of Complex Lunar Electric & Magnetic Fields On Solar Wind; NASA / GSFC Issues Sole-Source RFP To UCLA For Continuation Of Instrument / Science Management Of LRO Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment From March 2013 – March 2015; GRAIL Crafts Ebb & Flow Preparing For Extended Science Operations 30 Aug – 3 Dec 2012
Image Credit: NASA
Now In Hibernation, Ebb & Flow Survived Recent Lunar Eclipse; Extended Mission To Run From 30 Aug – 3 Dec; Spacecraft Performed Flawlessly During Primary Mission; GRAIL Will Halve Operating Altitude To 23km During Next Phase To Obtain Even Closer Look At Moon Gravity Field; MoonKAM Program Also Extended, Over 70,000 Student Images Have Thus Far Been Obtained
Image Credit: NASA
Continued Success / Progress Of India Moon Program Critical For Humanity’s Vital Expansion Into Solar System / Galaxy; Program Might Benefit From Reconsideration; GSLV Failures Have Put Ambitious Chandrayaan-2 Mission On Hold; Reconfigured Missions With A 2nd Orbiter And / Or Small Scale Lander / Rover Launched By Reliable PSLV Rocket Would Put Country Back On Track As ISRO Qualifies GSLV & Prepares For More Advanced Missions
Image Credit: ISRO, NASA
Image Credit: southtek.com, K. Pichumani, ISRO
ISRO Chairman Radhakrishnan Says Chandrayaan-2 Launch Will Follow 2 Successful Launches Of GSLV Rocket With Indigenous Cryogenic Engine; GSLV Systems To Undergo Series Of Tests & Modifications To Rectify Problems From 2 Failed Launches; Next Launches Scheduled For Fall 2012, Early 2013, Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter / Lander / Rover Launch NET 2014
Image Credit: NASA
2 4-Camera Color Video Systems Of GRAIL MoonKAM Begin Generating Video Views Of Moon Surface From Low Lunar Orbit; Thousands Of Students Have Opportunity To Capture Video / Images, Study Lunar Features & Learn About Past / Future Landing Sites; LRO Recently Provided Clearest View Yet Of Famous Apollo 11 Landing Site; Image (R) Snapped From 24-Km Altitude Displays Footprints, Lunar Module, Seismic Experiment, Lunar Ranging Reflector
Image Credit: NASA
US$496M Mission Extended 6 Months Allowing Scientists To Complete More Definitive Map Of Lunar Gravity Field From Lower Orbit; Twin Crafts Will Orbit Average Of 22.5km Above Moon During 2nd 3-Month Mapping Cycle, Sep-Dec; Mission Was Intended To End In June Before Lunar Eclipse, Mission Planners Now Hope To Crash Probes Into Lunar Surface In December, Ideally In LRO Field Of View
Image Credit: NASA, bu.edu
LRO Reaches 1000 Days In Orbit & NASA Releases 2 New LRO Videos Providing Tour Of Interesting Locations On Moon, Evolutionary History; Lead Scientist Harlan Spence (L), UNH Researchers Use LRO CRaTER Instrument To Quantify Levels Of Radiation On Lunar Surface From GCR Bombardment That Can Create Complex Carbon Chains From Water Ice, Process Also Causes Regolith To Darken Over Time
Image Credit: NASA
Twin GRAIL Probes ‘Ebb & Flow’ Begin Science Mission, Will Spend Next 3 Months Orbiting 56km Above Lunar Surface While Scientists Monitor Slight Variations In Distance To Map Gravitational Field; US$496M Mission May Support Or Debunk Various Theories Of Moon Origin; New Goddard Visualization Studio Applet Uses LRO Images To Show Phase & Libration Of Moon For Every Hour Of 2012
Image Credit: UCLA.edu
Department Of Earth & Space Sciences At UCLA Inviting Applicants For Postdoctoral Position To Produce Improved Mapped Data Products Of Moon Surface Using Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment Observations; 1-Year Appointment Beginning April 2012; Qualified Applicants Send CV To Professor David Paige
Image Credit: NASA, ASU
LRO Data Reveals Evidence Of Recent Seismic Activity On Moon; Graben (Small Ravines) Up To 500m Wide, 1.8km Long, Free Of Cratering – Formed Within Last 50M Years, Postdating Last Major Tectonic Activity (1.2B Years Ago); Recent Graben Formation Also Incompatible With Theory That Early Moon Had Fully Molten Interior; Further Data From LRO, GRAIL Will Shed More Light On These Mysteries