Category Archives: Moon Exploration

Wednesday / 26 March 2014

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LRO 2-Year Extension Hinges On Senior Review, US Congress

LROshowmethe$

US$504M Moon-Mapping Orbiter Is 1 Of 7 Planetary Science Missions NASA Is Reviewing For Potential Mission Extension; LRO Extended Mission Not Included In US$17.5B Budget Proposal NASA Sent To Congress; Mission Will Require Approval Of Both Independent Biannual Senior Review Of Operating Missions – To Conclude In June – & Congress; LRO Mission Extension Would Cost ~US$8M Annually, Would Be Only NASA Spacecraft Exploring Moon Over Next 2 Years; Funding Currently Set To Expire Sep 2014

Image Credit: NASA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 21-24 March 2014

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Scientists / Experts Expound Imminent Need & Means To Realize Human Moon Base

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Panel Of Experts: (L-R) Paul Spudis, Mike Gold, Haym Benaroya, Will Discuss Pressing Scientific, Technological & Economic Issues Involved In Human Moon Settlement, 25 March In Arlington VA, Hosted By Marshall Institute, TechAmerica; Gene Grush Publishes 5-Part Series Of Articles Outlining How USA Can Put Humans Back On The Moon Within The Decade; Stephen Hawking Warns Of Humanity’s Need For Plan B, Predicts Human Moon Base / Multi World Species Status Vital To Long-Term Survival

Image Credit: NASA, Rutgers University, Bigelow Aerospace, dailymail.co.uk

Thursday / 20 March 2014

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LRO Data Produces Interactive Mosaic Of Lunar North Pole

LRONpoleMoonMap

Largest High-Resolution Map Of Moon Ever Made Released By NASA; 10,581 Pictures From LRO Narrow-Angle Cameras Were Stitched Together To Create North Pole Map; Entire Image Measures 931,070 Pixels Square, Nearly 867B Pixels Total; Complete Printout Would Be ~100 Square Meters; Creation Of Mosaic Took 4 Years, Huge Team Effort Across LRO Project; Map Will Be Useful Identifying Landing Sites / Planning Robotic & Human Moon Missions

Image Credit: NASA

Wednesday / 19 March 2014

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Andrew Aldrin To Pilot Moon Express, Inc. To Moon

AldrinME

Moon Express Names Andrew Aldrin, Son Of Apollo 11 Pilot Buzz Aldrin, As President; Company Has Grown To Over 40 Employees Making It Largest Dedicated Staff Focused On Returning American Craft To Moon Surface; First Moon Mission (MX-1) Expected In 2015 To Compete For GLXP & To Deploy Precursor Instrument (ILO-X) Of Joint Venture Partner International Lunar Observatory Association; Dr Aldrin Has Previously Worked As Director Of Business Development And Advanced Systems For Both ULA & Boeing

Image Credit: Moon Express, Inc.

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 14-17 March 2014

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45th LPSC This Week In Texas

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Future Moon Missions & Exciting Results Of Current Missions Will Be Examined By Nearly 2000 Planetary Scientists At 45th Lunar Planetary Science Conference At The Woodlands TX On 17-21 Mar; Moon South Pole Will Be Featured As Ideal Site For Future Robotic / Human Missions In Presentations By Brad Jolliff, Debra Hurwitz (BL), Others; Importance Of This Annual Event Would Be Significantly Boosted With Clear Imminent Plan For USA Presence On Moon; Pictured (BR) Conference Co-Chairs: Steve Mackwell, Eileen Stansbery

Image Credit: NASA, LPI

Friday / 14 March 2014

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Lunar CATALYST Proposals Due On Monday

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Monday 17 March Is Deadline To Submit Business Plans For NASA Lunar CATALYST Program; Resulting Unfunded 3-Year NASA Space Act Agreements Will Provide Free Technical Expertise, Equipment & Facilities For Lunar Lander Development; Major Aerospace Firms Such As Boeing & Alliant Techsystems Have Indicated Interest; GLXP Teams Like Moon Express (ME) May Benefit From Program, ME Has Been Paying For Use Of Mighty Eagle Lander (L) & Has Paid ~US$550,000 To Study / Adapt NASA Common Spacecraft Bus At Ames

Image Credit: NASA, Moon Express

Thursday / 13 March 2014

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Apollo Marketing Success: Lessons For Modern Human Space Endeavors

MarketingTheMoon

New Book By David Meerman Scott (L) & Richard Jurek (R) Examines How NASA Successfully Marketed Apollo Program; Authors Then Evaluate Applicable Lessons For 21st Century Space Exploration: NASA Needs Unified Theme / Powerful Story To Focus Highly Fractured Global Audience, Work With Contractors Such As SpaceX On Human Mission Marketing, Allow Contractors To Take PR Lead; Challenge For Commercial Space Entrepreneurs Is Identifying Demand, Not Marketing Strategy

Image Credit: marketingthemoon.com

Wednesday / 12 March 2014

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5th Joint Meeting Of SRR / PTMSS In June

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Space Resources Roundtable And The Planetary & Terrestrial Mining Sciences Symposium Release 2nd Announcement Of Their 5th Joint Meeting At Colorado School Of Mines (CSM) On 9-12 June; Held In Collaboration With The Lunar & Planetary Institute The Event Will Provide A Forum To Discuss Near & Long-Term Strategies For Taking Advantage Of Emerging Opportunities For Space / Lunar Resource Utilization Activities On Planned National & Private Missions; Pictured: Angel Abbud-Madrid Of CSM

Image Credit: CSM, NASA

Friday / 7 March 2014

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Japan Diverse Interests In Moon Missions

Japan Moon

Japan Scientists Preparing For 2nd SELenological and ENgineering Explorer (SELENE-2) Moon Mission Consisting Of Orbiter, Lander, Rover To Launch NET 2018; SELENE-3 Sample Return To Follow, Eventually Human Moon Missions & Outpost; Japan Team Hakuto Strong Contender For GLXP / Selected To Compete For Terrestrial Milestone Prizes; Commercial Interest & Advertising From Moon Highlighted By Japan Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Planning To Send ‘Pocari Sweat’ Sports Drink To Moon Surface On Astrobotic Lunar Lander

Image Credit: JAXA, GLXP, Hakuto

Thursday / 6 March 2014

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China Moon Program Might Benefit From
Mid-Course Correction To South Pole

ChinaMoonSouthPole0314Ideal Time For Leaders Of China Lunar Exploration Program To Reconsider Future Chang’e Missions To Moon South Pole; Future Problems Similar To Yutu Rover Control Circuit Malfunction Might Be Mitigated By More Thermally Stable Polar Environment; Chang’e Chief Scientist Ye Peijian Says Chang’e-4 Mission Should Be “More Innovative And Meaningful,” Achieving 1st-Ever Polar Landing Would Be Just That; Russia, India, USA, Private Enterprises All Advancing South Pole Missions

Image Credit: NASA, cnsphoto