Category Archives: Moon Exploration

Tuesday / 2 June 2015

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China Showcasing Lunar Exploration Program Successes, Eyeing Next Steps

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China Lunar Exploration Exhibit Open At Museum On Hainan – Site Of Wenchang Launch Center / Future Moon Program Launches Including Chang’e-5 Sample Return In 2017; Additional Exhibit To Be Featured In Kunming, Yunnan Province 12-16 June; Exhibits Feature Objects From CLEP, Models Of Chang’e-3 Lander / Yutu Rover, Presentations By Lunar Experts; Chief Lunar Exploration Engineer Wu Weiren Says Chang’e-4 Mission May Be Destined For Far Side Of Moon, Likely South Pole-Aitken Basin Region

Image Credit: CLEP, Huang Benqiang, Li Peng

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 29 May – 1 June 2015

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International Lunar Decade Initiative
Gaining Momentum

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Initiative Of NSS, ILEWG, & FOTONIKA-LV Garnering Increased Attention After Being Featured At Several Conferences Including ISDC2015; ILD 2017-2029 Seeks To Foster International Collaboration Leading To Industrial Development Of Moon & Cislunar Space Enabling Self-Sustaining Space Economy; Next Step Is To Achieve Support Of COPUOS & UN General Assembly – 58th COPUOS Session 10-19 June In Vienna; Architects Of Initiative Seeking Aggregate 10-Year Investment Of US$150B From Main Spacefaring Powers

Image Credit: NASA, FOTONIKA-LV, cislunarnext.org

Thursday / 28 May 2015

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GLXP Planning To Extend Deadline To 2017

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XPRIZE & Google Providing Teams Competing For US$30M GLXP Extra Time To Secure Launch; At Least 1 Team Must Confirm Launch Contract By Dec 2015 For Extension To Go Into Effect; If Prize Extended, All Other Teams Will Have Until End Of 2016 To Confirm Launch Contract To Continue In Competition; Deadline For Landing On Moon & Completing Objectives Is End 2017

Image Credit: GLXP

Wednesday / 27 May 2015

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Lunar Initiatives Newsletter LunarCube Mission Opportunities, Upcoming Events

LunarInitiatives

Deep Space CubeSat Missions – Including LunarCubes – Is One Of The Fastest-Growing Elements In Space Exploration, The Lunar Initiatives / Workshops Continue To Organize Events To Support The Growth Of This Field; Its Latest Newsletter Includes Updates Of Upcoming LunarCubes Workshop On 6-9 Oct In San Jose CA, The 2nd International Workshop On Scientific Opportunities In Cislunar Space On 8 Nov, & News From Recent LSA 5 Workshop

Image Credit: lunar-cubes.com, Flexure Engineering

Tuesday / 26 May 2015

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China Advancing Human Moon Mission Preparations, Russia Collaboration

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China Lunar Exploration Program Chief Designer Wu Weiren Says Researchers Working To Develop Life Support, Escape & Rescue Systems, Larger Carrier Rocket To Facilitate Human Lunar Surface Missions, Continued Development Of New Launch Center In Hainan; Russia & China Devising Unified Standards For Space Technologies To Soon Begin Cooperation Beyond LEO, Including Human Lunar Program; Plans Include Standardizing Docking Units, Electrical Connectors & Spacecraft Atmosphere

Image Credit: Phil Smith, RIA Novosty

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 22-25 May 2015

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LEAG Releases 1st Announcement Of
2015 Annual Meeting

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2015 LEAG Annual Meeting 20-22 Oct In Columbia MD; Abstract Deadline 11 Aug, Registration Deadline 6 Oct; Leaders In Science, Engineering, Government, & Private Sector To Explore Common Goals Regarding Identification, Evaluation, Extraction & Use Of Lunar Resources; Evaluate Data From Recent & Ongoing Missions, Speculate On Future Mission Objectives; Meeting Findings Will Be Published & Forwarded To NASA HQ

Pictured: LEAG Conveners: Stephen Mackwell (L), Clive Neal (R)

Image Credit: USRA, LEAG, LPI, University Of Notre Dame

Thursday / 21 May 2015

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ISDC 2015 Focusing On Breakthrough Technologies For Lunar / Space Exploration

ISDC2015

Over 1,000 Attendees Meeting At NSS International Space Development Conference In Toronto, Canada 20-24 May; Robert Richards Of Moon Express To Speak Today On ‘Breakthrough Technologies Shaping Our Future’; Friday To Feature Presentations On The International Lunar Decade By Dave Dunlop & Vid Beldavs, Plus A Keynote Presentation By Apollo 11 Moonwalker Buzz Aldrin; Lunar Workshop To Include Presentations On Lunar Surface Solar Power / Power Beaming, Supporting A Cislunar Econosphere, Mapping Lunar Lava Tubes

Image Credit: National Space Society, Canadian Space Commerce Association, Moon Express, LinkedIn

Wednesday / 20 May 2015

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India & Korea To Collaborate On Lunar Exploration

IndiaKoreaMoon

ISRO & KARI Issue Joint Statement Committing To Cooperation In Areas Of Lunar Exploration, Satellite Navigation & Space Science; Two Organizations Will Work On Deep Space Cross Tracking / Communication Support For Deep Space Missions, Sharing Of Chandrayaan-1 Lunar Surface / Radiation Data, & Technological Cooperation; India Planning Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter / Lander Rover In 2017, South Korea Advancing 2020 Moon Lander Mission

Image Credit: ISRO, KARI, Yonhap

Tuesday / 19 May 2015

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Moon Express To Deploy Lunar Laser Ranging Array On Moon

MEDCurrie

4-Mission Agreement Signed With National Laboratories Of Frascati (Italy) & University Of Maryland To Deliver Series Of Laser Range Finding Arrays On Moon Surface; Total Cost Of Agreement Is US$24M, Half Of Which Will Be Paid By Moon Express; Payload Will Continue Successful Experiment Deployed By Apollo 11, 14 & 15 Astronauts, Allowing Scientists Such As Doug Currie (L) Of UMD To Test General Relativity & Advance Understanding Of Gravity

Pictured (R): Bob Richards, Co-Founder Of Moon Express

Image Credit: Moon Express, NASA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 15-18 May 2015

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Persuasive Reasons For Japan To Fulfill Lunar Aspirations

JAXALanderPersuasion

Japan Proposal For 2018 Lunar Lander Mission, Expected To Cost Between US$83M – $125M, Still Awaiting Final Approval; Public & Political Recognition Of Importance / Benefits Of Mission Needed To Garner Required Support; Standing As Global Leader In Space Would Be Enhanced If Japan Becomes 4th Or 5th (India 2017) Country To Soft Land On Moon; Could Stimulate Global Partners Like USA To Collaborate On Moon Surface Missions, Including Human Lunar Base; Resource Identification On Moon & ISRU Technology Demonstrations Could Ensure Permanent Sustainable Human Presence In Solar System

Image Credit: JAXA