Category Archives: Moon Exploration

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 16-19 Feb 2018

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NASA FY19 Proposal And Human / International Moon Missions

U.S. Space Policy Directive 1 Goal To Lead Sustainable Program Of Exploration With Commercial & International Partners Is Prioritized In US$19.892B NASA FY19 Budget Proposal Including $10.5B Campaign To Return Humans To Moon; Potential $200M May Be Allotted To Develop Commercial Robotic Landers 2020, Leading To Human-Rated Landers 2023; SLS / Orion To Be Fully Funded, Planning 2020 Uncrewed Launch, 2023 Crewed Lunar Flyby; SpaceX Falcon Heavy May Also Contribute To Commercial Lunar Launches, Deliver Humans To Moon & Mars; International Lunar Orbital Platform – Gateway In Cislunar Space Could Accelerate Human Moon Landings & First Women On The Moon

Credits: NASA, SPC, ILOA

Friday / 9 Feb 2018

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Deep Space Gateway To The Moon South Pole:
5 Landing Sites Being Explored

International Space Exploration Coordination Group Developing Navigation Routes For 5-Year Campaign Of 5 Human Moon Landing Missions From Envisioned Deep Space Gateway Starting 2028 At Malapert Massif, Shackleton Crater, Schrödinger Basin, Antoniadi Crater, South Pole-Aitken Basin; NASA NexGen ELA Study In 2015 Indicates Human Lunar Return 5-7 Years For US$10B Thru Public-Private Collaboration; Commercial Space At National Space Council Meeting 2017 Confirms Statement Adding Committed Funding & Political Support Necessary – Next Meeting 21 Feb; Reusable Moon Lander For Crew & Robots Would Be Most Essential For Moon, Deep Space Exploration States Clive Neal (R)

Credits: Leonard David, Scientific American; Image Credit: NASA, ISECG, Notre Dame

Wednesday / 7 Feb 2018

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JAXA To Hold Workshops On Lunar Polar Exploration & Global Exploration Roadmap

JAXA Announces 2nd Workshop On Exploration Of Moon Polar Region To Be Held Feb 19 To Deepen Discussion Toward International Collaboration On Instruments & Vehicles For Exploring Water Ice, In Conjunction With Workshop On International Space Exploration Coordination Group Global Exploration Roadmap Feb 18; Drawing On Results From 2-Day Workshop Dec 8-9, 2017; Both In Tokyo & Open To Public – Soliciting Participation From Private Sectors & Universities; Marks Rapid Growth Of Japan Interest In Moon, Including Human Exploration

Pictured: JAXA lunar scientist Makiko Ohtake (top left), JAXA workshop convener Hiroki Furihata; Credits: JAXA, Makoto Nakamura, SPC

Wednesday / 31 Jan 2018

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ILOA Confirms 4-7 December For Galaxy Forum China 2018 Hainan

International Lunar Observatory Association Will Host A 3-Day Interglobal Conference On “International Human Moon Missions” & “Astronomy From The Moon” At Hilton Wenchang On Tropical Island Of Hainan – Home Of China Spaceport (19°N) At Wenchang Satellite Launch Center; Co-Sponsorship Already From International Astronautical Federation, Chinese Society Of Astronautics, National Astronomical Observatories / Chinese Academy Of Sciences; Feature Presentation By Andy Aldrin & Other World Space Leaders To See Humans On The Moon ASAP; Program & Registration Available Soon At ILOA Website

Credits: ILOA, CSA, NAOC, IAF, Google, NASA, SPC

Friday / 26 Jan 2018

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New Views Of The Moon 2 – Asia To Contribute To Synthesized International Database On Lunar Research

Multinational Lunar Experts Will Share Cutting Edge Data And Research At 2018 New Views Of The Moon 2 Being Held At University of Aizu, Japan 18-20 April; Following Successful Meetings In Europe (Germany) And USA (Houston TX) The 2008-2018 NVM2 Initiative Consists Of Topical Workshops, Special Meeting Sessions And Web-based Resource Collections, Leading To A Published Book; Featured Speakers Include (L-R) Clive Neal, Makiko Ohtake, Chip Shearer, Lisa Gaddis, Sam Lawrence, Steve Mackwell, Naru Hirata

Credits: NVM2, LPI, University of Mexico, University of Aizu, JSC / NASA

Friday / 19 Jan 2018

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Blue Origin, Astrobotic and Moon Express Developing Lunar Landers

Blue Origin Near Seattle Designing “Blue Moon” Lander Capable Of Carrying 4,500 kg – Advanced Programs Manager A.C. Charania Says Aiming For 1st Mission In The Next Few Years; Astrobotic In Pittsburgh Developing “Peregrine” Lander Capable Of Delivering Up To 265 kg At US$1.2M/kg – 1st Moon Landing With 35-kg Payload Scheduled For 1st Half Of 2020; Moon Express At Cape Canaveral Planning To Launch “MX-1E” Landers With 10-20 kg Payloads, Including One With ILO-X Telescope & Possibly On Rocket Lab Electron From New Zealand For Google Lunar XPrize; Space.com Mike Wall Writes On Moon Rush

Pictured: Blue Origin Jeff Bezos & A.C. Charania, Astrobotic CEO John Thornton, ME CEO Bob Richards; Credits: Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos, A.C. Charania, Astrobotic, Moon Express, Bob Richards

Thursday / 18 Jan 2018

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Lava Tube Entrances May Exist In Moon Polar Regions

Planetary Scientist Pascal Lee Of SETI Institute & Mars Institute Discovers 3 Pits In Philolaus Crater Near Lunar North Pole – Candidate “Skylight” Entrances To Underground Lava Tubes; Permanently Shadowed Inside, These Pits May Give Access To Subsurface Water Ice; Polar Location Provides Solar Power & Direct Earth Communications For Easier Ice Extraction & Human Exploration; New Findings Made At NASA Ames Using Data From Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter

Credits: NASA, LRO, SETI Institute, Mars Institute, Pascal Lee

Friday / 12 Jan 2018

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Lunar Science For Landed Missions NASA Ames Workshop To Evaluate Target Sites Today

3rd & Final Day Of Workshop At NASA Ames Organized By NASA Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI) & Lunar Exploration Analysis Group (LEAG); 1st Presentation Today By Jack Burns On Lunar Farside Science Including Radio Observations Of Redshifted 21-cm Hydrogen Line For Cosmology; Final Panel Discussion With Jim Green, Sarah Noble, Ben Bussey, Clive Neal, Greg Schmidt; Ends With Discussion On Top Recommended Sites — Within Context Of Newly Reactivated USA Moon Goals; Remote Participation Possible Through Live Coverage

Pictured: NASA Planetary Science Division Director Jim Green, Professor Jack Burns; Credits: NASA, University of Colorado

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 5-8 Jan 2018

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New Year 2018 Likely To See Increased Lunar Activities Worldwide

Increasing Moon Efforts By USA, India, China, Europe, Japan, Russia, Canada, South Korea Reflected By Growing Number Of International Lunar Conferences: Lunar Science For Landed Missions Workshop At NASA Ames 10-12 Jan, New Views Of The Moon 2 – Asia In Japan 18-20 Apr, European Lunar Symposium In Toulouse 13-16 May, International MoonBase Summit In Hawai`i Oct, ILOA Galaxy Forum China In Hainan Nov With Themes “Astronomy From The Moon” & “International Human Moon Missions”

Credits: NASA, LPI, International MoonBase Alliance, ISRO

New Year 2018 Edition
Fri-Thur / 22 Dec 2017 – 4 Jan 2018

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2018 Could See Historic 1st Moon South Pole Landings, 1st Commercial Landings, While NASA LRO Continues FlagShip Mission

Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter With 7 Instruments Providing Highest Resolution Data Ever At A Rate Of ~440 Gigabits Image Data Per Day – Is Now 8.5 Years Into Mission In Eccentric Polar Mapping Orbit (20-km Altitude South Pole, 165-km North Pole), Planned To Operate Through 2018 – Which May Be Most Favorable Year For Lunar Landings Since 1972; Chandrayaan 2 Moon South Pole Lander / Rover By India Set To Launch During Q1 2018; China Planning Chang’e-4 Far-Side Orbiter Launch May 2018, Followed By Far-Side South Pole Lander / Rover Oct 2018; Five Independent International Enterprises Look To Win Google Lunar XPrize, Aiming To Launch / Land On Moon Before 31 Mar 2018

Credits: NASA, LRO, ISRO, CNSA, SPC