Chang’e-5 Moon Lander / Rover Will Mark Beginning Of 3rd Phase Of China Lunar Exploration Program; On Schedule For 2017, Uncrewed Vehicle Will Attempt To Collect & Return Moon Rocks To Earth, Requiring Several Breakthrough Technologies For China; Chang’e-4 Lander / Rover Mission, Possibly Destined For South Pole Moon, Will Checkout Technologies Needed For Sample Return Mission
Image Credit: CLEP, CNSA
Chang’e-3 Successful Landing At Sinus Iridum “Bay Of Rainbows” 44°N 31°W On 14 December 2013 Points To New Epoch For Humanity As Permanent Operations On Moon Are Precursor To Multi World Species Reality; ILOA Milky Way Galaxy Image By Chang’e-3 UV Telescope May Impact 21st Century As EarthRise Photo By Apollo Shaped 20th
Image Credit: chinanews.com
Pakistan Prime Minister Congratulates China On Moon Program Success; Turkey Expresses Desire To Work With China On Astronaut Program & Lunar Exploration; ESA Assisting With Chang’e-3 Communications, Additional Collaboration In Future Missions Likely; Deputy Commander-In-Chief Of China Lunar Program Li Benzheng Says China Interested In Space Cooperation With India, Open To Working With Other Countries
Image Credit: CNSA
MX-1 Lander Lacks Legs & Typical ‘Bus’ Structure, Instead Using Fuel Tanks For Structural Integrity And Landing Stability; Craft Weighs 600kg When Fully Fueled (75% Of Mass = Fuel), Capable Of Delivering 60kg To Lunar Surface; Moon Express Co-Founder & CEO Bob Richards Says Engineering Prototype May Be Ready For Testing By May 2014; 2015 Mission Will Deliver International Lunar Observatory Precursor Instrument (ILO-X) To Moon, Compete For GLXP
Image Credit: Moon Express
Iconic Leader, Strong Supporter Of Human Equality & Freedom / Science & Technology Advancement In Africa, Saw Education As Most Powerful Tool To Change World; Apollo 11 Moonwalker Buzz Aldrin Calls Mandela “True Inspiration & Role Model For Peace & International Collaboration“; Humanity More Likely To Succeed In Peacefully Developing Moon If World Leaders Follow His Example; Pictured: Nelson Mandela Peace Crater At Lacus Somniorum
Image Credit: lunasociety.org
China Spacecraft To Enter 100Km Circumlunar Orbit 09:30 UT After 112-Hour Cruise & Prepare For 14 Dec Landing At Sinus Iridum 44°N, 31°W Between 08:00-12:00; Chief Designer Sun Zezhou (L) States Mission Success Based On Safe Landing, Rover Functionality, Imaging Of Rover & Lander, Reception Of Data By Ground Control; Greg Kulacki (R) UCS China Project Manager Says China May Prefer International Collaboration On Human Moon Missions
Image Credit: CCTV, NASA GSFC, Beijing Institute of Spacecraft System Engineering, CNS
10-12 Apr 2014 Student Competition Held In Huntsville AL, Now Dubbed ‘NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge’; Rules / Format Of 20-Year Old Moonbuggy Race Remain Relatively Unchanged; New Name & Updated Course Are Consistent With Growing Solar System-Wide Focus Of NASA: Moon As 1st Enabling Step For Human Deep Space Exploration, Then On To Asteroids, Mars, Jupiter System & Beyond
Image Credit: NASA
With China Moon Landing Fast Approaching & Commercial Missions Soon To Follow, US Legislators Propose Bill To Qualify Apollo Sites As National Park; Space Law Experts Henry Hertzfeld (R) & Scott Pace Say This Action May Violate UN Outer Space Treaty, Suggest Government Officials Open Dialogue To Establish Ground Rules For Respecting Mission Sites / Equipment / Artifacts; May Also Help Ease Strained International Relations
Image Credit: NASA, CNSA
Aggressive Lunar Exploration Plan With USA Rovers / Landers On Moon To ID Resources, Advance ISRU Technologies, Construct Power Infrastructure Is Currently Feasible With Limited NASA Budget, & Needed To Reassert Leadership In Moon Exploration, Prepare For Human Moon Outposts – Says Nelson Bridwell In Aviation Week
Image Credit: NASA
‘Middle Country’ First Attempt To Land On Another World And First Attempted Moon Landing By Anyone In 37+ Years May Mark Start Of Permanent Lunar Operations, For Good; Weather Permitting Chang’e-3 / Yutu Will Launch On Long March 3B From Xichang Launch Site Into Direct Lunar Transfer Orbit, Moon Orbit Insertion After 5-Day Cruise, Entry Descent Landing EDL Phase To Commence After 10 Days In Lunar Orbit
Image Credit: CNSA, CLEP