Category Archives: Moon Exploration

Wednesday / 9 July 2014

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Buzz Aldrin Outlines Goals / Benefits Of Human Spaceflight

Buzz45th

Just Weeks Before World Observes 45th Anniversary Of First Human Moon Landing, 2nd Man On Moon Buzz Aldrin Steps Up Advocacy Of Human Space Travel; Proposes 4 Goals: Stronger USA-China Space Relations, Lunar Exploration, Asteroid / Mars Exploration, Settling Mars; Says 45th Observance Is Just 5-Year Lead Up To 50th Which Many Plan To Make Into A Big Event, Reflecting On All The Benefits That Come From Lunar Exploration & Human Space Travel

Image Credit: NASA

Tuesday / 8 July 2014

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China Moon Plans Hint At Human Circumlunar Mission

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Speculation Arising That China Human Lunar Mission Plans More Ambitious Than Previously Known; Morris Jones Notes That Low-Key Discussions About Mission, Lack Of Mission Name, Participation Of A Separate Branch Of Space Program (Presumably Astronaut Program) Indicate Possibility Of Ulterior Mission Motive; Most Glaring Evidence Is Photo Showing Return Probe Is Scaled Copy Of Bell-Shaped Shenzhou Descent Module; Late 2014 Mission Has Been Announced As Precursor To Chang’e-5 Sample Return, Both Crafts Will Reenter Earth Atmosphere At ~40,230km/hr

Image Credit: CNSA, CASC

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon 4-7 July 2014

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USA 21st Century Independence Revolution

IndependenceDay2014

The USA Independence Revolution In The 21st Century Will Continue To The Stars, For Freedom And Equality, Life, Liberty, Happiness, And Prosperity; Many Americans, Independent Of Republicans And Democrats, Will Support A USA Space Agency Funded At Parity With, Or Greater Than, The US Dept of Defense – For Peaceful Human Exploration And Development Of Solar System Worlds And Resources, Including The Moon And Mars

Image Credit: NASA, pdxmim.com

Thursday / 26 June 2014

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China Preparing Final Steps Of Uncrewed Lunar Exploration Phase, Eyeing Human Missions

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China Lunar Exploration Program Senior Adviser Ouyang Ziyuan Says Simulation Lunar Return Satellite Will Be Launched Later This Year In Preparation For Moon Sample Return Chang’e-5 Mission Which Is Scheduled To Launch In 2017 Via Long March 5 Rocket From New Hainan Launch Center, Return Up To 10kg Of Lunar Samples; Exploration Program Will Then Shift To Human Moon Missions, & Possible Building Of Lunar Base; China Then Intends To Conduct Systematic Exploration Of Solar System 

Image Credit: CNSA

Tuesday / 24 June 2014

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ESA Senior Exploration Officer Calls For Moon Mining Cooperation

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Bernard Foing Calls For International Cooperation / World Strategy For Exploration & Utilization Of Moon; Suggests Precursor Landers Should Be Operated In Coordinated Robotic Village, Utilize In-Situ Resources, To Prepare Sustainable Path Towards Humans Living Off The Land In International Bases; “Moon Is Like The 8th Continent Of Earth… Only Reasonable We Want To Mine It”; Comments Made At Ongoing EuroScience Open Forum Meeting In Copenhagen

Image Credit: Corbey Waste, esof2014.org, sg.hu

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 20-23 June 2014

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LRO Enters 6th Year In Good Health, Uncertain Future

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23 June Will Mark 5 Years In Lunar Orbit For LRO; All 7 Instruments Continue To Provide Valuable Scientific Moon Data & Craft Has Generous Reserve Of Fuel; Funding For 2-Year Mission Extension Dependent On Results Of Ongoing NASA Biannual Senior Review Of Ongoing Missions, Results Expected This Month; Mission Extension Would Cost ~US$8M Annually, Continued Operations Could Be Invaluable To Future Human / Robotic Moon Missions

Image Credit: NASA

Friday / 20 June 2014

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Smooth Sailing For China Lunar Program,
Next Moon Missions

Chang'e-5, CLEP

Chang’e-5 Flight Test Module Launching To Moon Later This Year To Verify Return & Re-Entry Technology, Successfully Passes Thermal Vacuum Test, Further Tests Upcoming; According To Lunar Program Chief Designer Weiren Wu Presenting At ISCOPS Conference In May, Chang’e-4 Lander / Rover Being Reconfigured For Advanced Science, Expected To Launch 2015-2017; Chang’e-5 Sample Return Able To Carry 2kg Of Rocks & Regolith Launching Late 2017

Image Credit: ILOA, spacechina.com, CNSA, NASA

Thursday / 19 June 2014

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Astrobotic Wants To Facilitate 1st Race On Moon

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Astrobotic Technology Offering To Carry At Least 4 GLXP Team Rovers To Lunar Surface On Its Inaugural Mission To Lacus Mortis Region; Rovers Would  Simultaneously Begin 500-Meter Race To Win GLXP After Landing; CEO John Thornton Says This Will Create More Exciting Race, 1st International Competition On Another World; New Astrobotic Website Features Innovative ‘Configure Your Mission’ Page For Potential Payload Customers; Charging US$1.2M/kg For Delivery To Lunar Surface

Image Credit: GLXP

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 13-16 June 2014

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LEAG & SSERVI Conferences Highlight Scientific Value Of Lunar Exploration

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1st Announcement Of 2014 Annual Meeting Of LEAG, 22-24 Oct In Maryland USA; Call For Abstracts Expected 24 June; 2 Main Focus Areas: Lunar Volatiles & The Global Exploration Roadmap (GER); SSERVI Releases Agenda For 1st Annual NASA Exploration Science Forum, 21-23 July At Ames RC, California USA; Event Also Includes Discussion Of GER, To Integrate Priority Science Objectives Into NASA / International Exploration Plans; Pictured: LEAG Program Chair Samuel Lawrence

Image Credit: LEAG, NASA

Friday / 13 June 2014

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SpaceMETA Becomes 3rd GLXP Team To Announce Official Launch Agreement

SpaceMETA

Brazil-Based SpaceMETA Signs MoU With Alcantara Cyclone Space Co To Deliver ‘Solitaire’ Payload To Orbit For Subsequent Translunar Orbit Injection; Cyclone Family Has 222 Successful Launches, Developing 3-Stage Cyclone 4 With Goal Of ~US$50M Launch Cost; Astrobotic & Barcelona Moon Announced Launches Earlier; Founder Of SpaceMETA Sergio Cabral Cavalcanti – Presenter At Inaugural 2013 Galaxy Forum Brazil – Wants To Create Ambitious Starting Point From Which Future Generations Can Expand

Image Credit: SpaceMETA, GLXP, ACS