Category Archives: Lunar Science

Thursday / 13 August 2015

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NASA Drones For Moon Prospecting: Paul Spudis Notes Challenges & Benefits

8132015Latest Advances In Autonomous Teleoperated Arial Craft (Drones) May Revolutionize Lunar & Other Planetary Explorations In Areas Too Difficult For Human Maneuvering & At Lower Cost; Drones Could Prospect Lunar Surface For Ice & Resources Further Promoting The Ability To Access Moon / Deep Space; Paul Spudis Comments On Drone Challenges Of Different Atmospheres & Adaptions Required And Advantages Of Prolonged Flight Viewing Ability For Geologic Data Collection, Prospecting & Mapping Lunar Polar Regions, Craters, Lava Tubes

Credit: NASA, NASA Swamp Works

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 7-10 August 2015

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A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Moon Vision Aids India Space Mission Accomplishments

8082015

Human Space Missions To Moon & Mars Proposed By The Late Former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam To ISRO Noted Future Economic Benefits; Kalam Moon Impact Probe As Part Of Chandrayaan-I Discovery Of Water On Moon South Pole Prompted Agencies To Further Investigations; India Second Lunar Mission Chandrayaan-II Moon Lander To Launch In 2017 By Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-MkII)

Credit: ISRO, S. Mahinsha, The Hindu

Wednesday / 29 July 2015

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Further Details Of ESA Director’s Lunar Vision

7292015Johann-Dietrich Wörner, Director General Of  European Space Agency Clarifies His Vision “To Establish An Infrastructure On The Moon… To Do First-Class Fundamental Research”; International Research Station On Lunar Surface NET 2024 Should Serve As Next Foothold Of Human Expansion Into Solar System After ISS; Moon Focus Increasing ESA Collaboration With China, Russia, Japan & U.S. On Moon / Mars / Space Missions

Credit:  ESA, Foster + Partners

Tuesday / 28 July 2015

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Hawai`i MoonRIDERS Receive US$35K Grant

 7282015. PISCES Receiving Grant For MoonRIDERS (Research Investigating Dust Expulsion Removal Systems) Project To Advance Space Exploration & Cultivate 21st Century Workforce STEM Skills For Hawaii Students; Kealakehe High, ‘Iolani High, NASA & PISCES Developing Lunar Experimental Electrodynamic Dust Shield (EDS) To Repel Particles Via Low Electric Current; Preparations In Process For Early 2017 Launch On GLXP Lander

Credit: PISCES, Kealakehe High School, ‘Iolani

Thursday / 23 July 2015

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Device On Lunar Lander To Simplify Techniques Of Moon Rock Dating

7232015 Future Design Of Miniature Laser Ablation Resonance Ionization Mass Spectrometer For Use In Moon Missions To Date Lunar Rocks And Surface; Instruments Placed On Lunar Lander / Rover Can Analyze Samples In Situ Without Complicated Preparations & Could Be Used On Proposed Moon Age & Regolith Explorer (MARE) NASA Mission; Team Led By Dr. F. Scott Anderson Of Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) Demonstrated Success Of Device On Duluth Gabbro Rock Sample Analogous To Rocks Found On Lunar Near Side

Credit: NASA, SwRI

Weekend Holiday Edition
Friday-Monday / 3-6 July 2015

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Moon South Pole Landers 2017-19
Point To 2020s Human Lunar Decade

July 4 Edition, Moon South Pole

International Fleet Of South Pole Lunar Landers Developing From India (Chandrayaan-2, 2017), China (Chang’e-4 & -5, 2017), Japan (SLIM, 2019), Russia (Luna-25, 2019), Korea (2020), As Well As Independent Enterprises Moon Express, ILOA, Canadensys, Golden Spike Company & Shackleton Energy Company; American Flags On Moon Commemorated 4 July As Pioneering Individuals Look Forward To Earth / International Flags & Multi World Species Endeavors

Credit: NASA, JAXA, CNSA, IIT-Kanpur, ISRO, ILOA, ME

Friday / 26 June 2015

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Lunar & Planetary Institute Hosting Dual Summer Intern Programs

2015 LPI Summer Intern Programs

 LPI 2015 Student Education Program ‘Exploration Science’ Running 26 May – 31 Jul Focusing On Orion EM-1 & EM-2 Moon Missions Planned For ~2018-2021 & Concepts For Human-Assisted Lunar Surface / Asteroid Sample Return Missions ~2028; Students In ‘Planetary Science’ Program 1 Jun – 7 Aug Working One-On-One With LPI Or Johnson Space Center Scientists On Cutting Edge Lunar & Planetary Research Projects; Experts Include (TL-R) Paul Spudis, Walter Kiefer, David Kring, Allan Treiman

Credit: LPI, NASA, SSERVI, CLSE, ISECG

Wednesday / 24 June 2015

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Harrison “Jack” Schmitt Participates At ISU Space Studies Program (SSP15)

6242015 NASA First Scientist-Astronaut Schmitt Has Busy Week At International Space University (ISU) Hosted By Ohio University; Recognized For His Apollo 17 Mission & Being The Second To Last Human To Step On The Moon His Work Continues On Lunar Exploration & Future Space Policy Issues; Advocate For Human Space Exploration & Author Of “Return To The Moon” Schmitt Describes Private Enterprise Approach & Business Proposition For Lunar Helium-3 Mining

Credit: NASA, IHMC

Friday / 19 June 2015

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LADEE Data Indicate Permanent Asymmetrical Dust Cloud Around Moon LADEE

Moon May Have Permanent Cloud Layer Formed By High-Speed Comet Dust Particles On Eccentric Orbits According To University Of Colorado Study Of NASA LADEE Mission Which Recorded 140,000 Impacts Over 80 Days; Lead Author Mihaly Horányi States Moon May Have 120kg Of Dust In Atmosphere At Any Given Time, Other Bodies With Thin Atmosphere Expected To Have Same Phenomenon; Evidence Also Recorded From Apollo Astronaut Observations From Surface & Of Lunar Terminator

Credit: NASA, University of Colorado – Boulder

Friday / 12 June 2015

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Lunar Terminator Distilleries May
Provide Water Supply

LRO Moon Terminator

LRO Data Study Conducted By Tim Livengood (Top) & Team From NASA GSFC States Frost Buildup At Lunar Terminator May Be ~1/5 MM Thick Yielding 190 ML Of H2O Per Square Meter Each Lunar Day – Much Less Than Quantities At Lunar Poles But Advanced Technologies Could Produce Continuous Water Supply; Andrew Jordan From Univ Of New Hampshire Says LRO Measurements Could Also Indicate Hydrogen Is Leaking From Local Sources

Image Credit: NASA, Univ of New Hampshire