Commercial Space Travelers Describe Transformative Overview Effect from LEO, Next Step is Lunar Orbit
First commercial orbital mission ‘Inspiration4’ on SpaceX Dragon capsule, sending humans furthest from Earth in 21st century, reaching 585km; Inspiration4 Commander Jared Isaacman reflects on “single most impactful moment” being Moonrise, urges space travelers push “little bit more and get out there [Moon]”; William Shatner, famous for Star Trek Captain Kirk portrayal, insists “everybody in the world needs to do this” after Blue Origin flight; Yusaku Maezawa and assistant Yozo Hirano launching to ISS 8 Dec via Soyuz; Maezawa organizing lunar orbit on Starship with 10-12 member crew NET 2023
Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) to provide communications spacecraft operating on S, X and UHF frequency bands from elliptical lunar orbit, ESA is first major customer under US$23.5M / 5 year agreement formalized at Royal Society in London as launch-for-service exchange with NASA being pursued; David Parker of ESA says “robust & fast communications… will be available to all” in signing release 
With CLPS robotic surface missions delayed into Q1 2022, the 25-kg, 12U Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment (CAPSTONE) is to kick off Artemis Moon program with Oct launch to 1,600 x 70,000km near rectilinear halo orbit via Rocketlab Electron, with goal of proving orbital stability ahead of Gateway by positioning relative to LRO; Artemis 1 launching NET Nov 26 to validate SLS / Orion while dispersing 13 cubesats from Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage in 4 batches following trans-lunar injection, allowing wide range of cislunar trajectories
Israel nonprofit prepares for Beresheet-2, an ambitious 3-craft mission; 2 landers (120kg wet) are to study Moon from Near and Far Sides, while “Mothership” will remain in orbit for nominal 2-year duration to facilitate science and student communication; US$70M of estimated total $100M cost being provided by philanthropists Patrick Drahi, Morris Kahn, Martin Moshal; SpaceIL now led by Shimon Sarid, formerly of IAF, and will again partner with state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries, Space Agency and Ministry of Science & Technology
A Leader Of SEA Astronomy With 2.4-m TNO Operated By NARIT And An Emerging Actor In Earth Observation With THEOS-1 And NAPA Cubesats Operated By GISTDA And RTAF, Thailand Is Broadening Space Aspirations To Lunar Orbit; Minister of Higher Education Anek Laothamatas (L) States At Chulalongkorn University Press Conference Moon Mission “Will Forever Change The Whole Perspective Of Thai People”; Announcement Comes On Heels Of Space Policy Committee Convened By Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon (R), Where National Space Act Calling For Fostering Of Indigenous Space / Launch Industry Drafted
Independent Organization SpaceIL, In Partnership With Israel Aerospace Industries And Israeli Space Agency, Plans Beresheet 2 Augmented Repeat Of 2019 Moon Landing Attempt – The Most Successful NGO Effort To Date, Winning US$1M Google Lunar X Prize Moonshot Award; New Mission To Occur First Half Of 2024, Will Include Orbiter With 2+ Year Lifespan And 2 Science Landers Weighing 118kg/ea; Expected ~$100M Cost; ISA Leader Izhar Shay Tells Times Of Israel That UAE, Which Plans 2024 Lunar Rover Rashid, Is Among “Seven Countries From Five Continents” Who Have Expressed Interest In Collaboration
Administrator Jim Bridenstine Says NASA Wants To Recreate “The Awe Of Apollo For A New Generation – The Artemis Generation” By Utilizing Contemporary And Innovative Visual Technologies Such As High Definition Recording, Wide Angle/Panoramic Lenses, Virtual Reality, Digital Compression, Selfie Sticks And Body Cameras During Artemis II, 2023; Media, Academia, Industry, Organizations And Individuals Are Encouraged To Submit Imagery Ideas NLT 11 Dec; Bridenstine Widely Praised Within Space Community For Deftly Steering Major Powers Toward Moon Exploration Coalition Despite Uncertain Political Realities, And Ought To Be Retained