Lori Garver, NASA Deputy Administrator, Confirms Ambitious USA Plans To Return To Moon During Speech At AIAA Conference In Pasadena, CA; Uncrewed Mission Scheduled For 2017, Human Orbital Mission By 2021; NASA Report To US Congress Outlines Plan For “Nearly Self-Sustaining Surface Habitat” On Moon For Long-Duration Astronaut Missions, Capable Of Extracting Oxygen, Water, Silicon, Etc In Situ
Image Credit: NASA, Stephan Wlodarczyk
Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin Says Russia Should Set ‘Super Goal’ Of Building Large Base On Moon To Refocus Space Industry; Base Could Facilitate Leaps Of Science & Future Deep Space Projects; Possible Collaboration With USA / ESA; Moon Is Seen As Logical Next Step For Russia Exploration As Mars Is “Too Far And Too Expensive”
Image Credit: Roscosmos, wn.com
Program & Abstracts Now Available For 22-24 Oct 2012 LEAG Annual Meeting In Greenbelt Maryland; Presentations / Discussions On Science Objectives, Robotic Human Exploration Strategies & Technologies, Moon As Necessary Stepping Stone To Rest Of Solar System; Organizers Plan To Celebrate Apollo Legacy 40 Years After Apollo 17, Look Forward To Next Generation Of Lunar Missions; Pictured (BC): LEAG Chair Charles Shearer
Image Credit: LPI, NASA, University of New Mexico
Extended Science Phase Of GRAIL Mission From 30 Aug – 3 Dec; Spacecraft Will Take Even Closer Look At Lunar Gravity Field By Dropping To Average Orbit Of 23km (Compared To 55-km Orbit On Primary Mission); Objective Of NASA Mission Is To Generate The Most Accurate Gravity Map Of Moon & From That Derive Its Internal Structure / Evolution
Image Credit: NASA
Researchers From University Of Bern Switzerland Make Breakthrough That May Lead To Answer For ‘Lunar Paradox’: Dominant Theory Of Moon Formation Does Not Explain Identical Isotropic Properties Of Moon & Earth; By Utilizing Different Geometry Of Collisions Than Previously Simulated, Considering New Impact Configurations / ‘Hit & Run Theory’, Researchers Coming Close To Matching Constraints From Earth-Moon System
Image Credit: University Of Bern Switzerland
Miniaturized Spacecraft Have Been Successful In LEO Missions Costing +- US$300,000, Lunar Missions Could Be Accomplished For +-US$3M With Upgrades In Power, Protection From Extreme Radiation / Thermal Environment; UC Berkeley / UCSC Prposing CubeSat Probes For Impact Mission Into Lunar Swirls; GLXP Missions Will Provide Ample Opportunity For LunarCube Missions For Student / Faculty Teams
Image Credit: KARI, GLXP, Vermont Tech
UC Structural Engineer Yu Qiao Receives US$135,000 Award From NASA To Continue Research On ‘Lunar Cement’; Qiao & Team Developed Polymer Intercalation / Exfoliation (PIE) Cements That Mix Organic Nanointerphases (Prepared On & Transported From Earth) With Lunar Regolith; Processing Is Water Free, Straightforward, Great Potential In Building Large-Scale Structures On Moon
Image Credit: Contour Crafting, ucsd.edu
Abstracts For 11-15 Nov 2012 PISCES Conference On Hawaii Island Due 21 Sep; International Scientists, Government Leaders, Entrepreneurs Will Evaluate Recent Developments In PISCES Vision To Establish Terrestrial Prototype For International, Extraterrestrial Research Park On Hawaii Island; Breakout Sessions To Discuss Revolutionary Surface Technologies, Establish Strategic Partnerships To Enable / Expedite Robotic & Human Missions To Moon, Mars, Beyond
Image Credit: PISCES, usgs.gov
Lyman Alpha Mapping Project (LAMP) Spectrometer Aboard LRO Makes 1st Spectroscopic Observations Of Helium In Tenuous Lunar Atmosphere; LAMP Examined Ultraviolet Emissions In An Observation Campaign Spanning Over 50 Orbits; Measurements Confirmed Data From 1972 LACE Experiment Deployed By Apollo 17 (L); Next Question: Does Helium Originate From Inside Moon, Or External Sources?
Image Credit: NASA
Scientists From China, USA & Europe Focusing On Theme ‘Changing Perspectives & New Questions’, 6-10 Aug In Beijing China ; Organized By Chinese Academy Of Sciences, Workshop Will Encompass All Aspects Of Moon / Mars Science From Geophysics / Geology To Aeronomy & Solar Wind Interactions; Discussions On Science Questions That Motivate Missions, Rather Than Details Of Spacecraft Investigations
Image Credit: CNSA, CSA, NASA