Launch Contract By End Of Year Vital For GLXP Competition To Continue
Of Remaining 16 Google Lunar X Prize Teams, One Must Secure Launch Contract By 31 Dec To Extend Competition To 2017; Front Runners Are Moon Express & Astrobotic; Moon Express Developing Lunar Lander Test Facilities At Florida KSC; Astrobotic Technology Lunar Mission One Partnering On Campaign ‘Footsteps On The Moon’ To Place First Digital Archive Of Human Life On Moon
Credit: GLXP, Astrobotic, Moon Express, Lunar Mission One
Continued Developments Underway For Part-Time Scientists (PTS) GLXP Team Including Payload Potential, 3D Printer, Emerging Communications Link By PTS Karsten Becker To Control Audi Lunar Quattro On Lunar Surface; Audi Will Be Supporting Lunar Rover Lightweight Construction Development, Electric Mobility Development, Testing & Quality Assurance; Sturdy Lightweight Design To Be Made Of High-Strength Aluminum & Magnesium To Withstand Radiation On The Moon
Lunar Exploration Analysis Group Annual Meeting 20-22 Oct In Columbia MD; Chaired By (L-R) Clive Neil, Supported By Sam Lawrence (ASU), Jeff Plescia (JHU/APL), Steve Mackwell (LPI) & Representatives For LRO, ESA, ARTEMIS, Commercial Space, Next-Gen Lunar Scientists & Engineers; Recent Findings / Recommendations Include Resource Prospecting At Lunar Poles & Interior, Advancing Lunar CubeSats, Maintaining Moon Missions / Pace Of Discovery To Support International Partnerships, Technologies, Future Crewed Missions To Moon & Mars
Latest 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
