Category Archives: Moon Exploration

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon 20-23 December 2013

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Russia Officials Foresee International Competition For Lunar Resources

RussiaMoonPriority1213

Russia Academy Of Sciences VP Lev Zelyony (B) Predicts International Rivalry Over Control Of Lunar Poles In Mid 21st Century Similar To That Of Arctic Shelf – Citing Increasing Value Of Extraterrestrial Water, Rare-Earth Metals; Vladislav Shevchenko (C) Of Moscow State University Says Cooperation Would Be Better Than A Race; Russia Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin (T) Feels Country Should Focus On Building Human Outpost On Moon

Image Credit: Komsomolskaya Pravda, Rianovosti, msu.ru

Friday / 20 December 2013

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Moon Mining May Be Game-Changer For Space Exploration

Moon Mining

Use Of Abundant Resources On Moon ‘Will Change Humanity’s Future’ Says Bob Richards Of Moon Express; Iron, Nickel, Titanium, Platinum For Fuel Cell & Clean Tech Development, Lithium For Batteries, Helium-3 Fuel For Future Nuclear Fusion Plants, Water For Life Support / Propellant; May Find Undiscovered Resources As Well; Depots On Moon & In Orbit Can Fuel Robotic & Human Missions, Lunar & Mars Habitats; Kg-Sized Samples Of Lunar Material May Be Valued At US$1B

Image Credit: Popular Mechanics, Shackleton Energy Co.

Thursday / 19 December 2013

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USA Moon Orbiters Gather Data
From Chang’e-3 Landing

USAOrbiterStudyChinaLanding

LADEE Measuring Changes In Lunar Atmosphere Caused By Chang’e-3-Released Dust & Exhaust, Comparing To Baseline Data Collected During Full 29.5-Day Lunar Cycle Prior To China Arrival; LRO Scans Landing Site With LAMP Instrument Looking For Exhaust Plume Signature, LROC Able To Image Lander / Rover At ~2m / Pixel, Will Attempt Image On 24 Dec; ARTEMIS Spacecraft Look For Plume Signatures In Plasma & Magnetic Field 

Image Credit: NASA, CCTV

Wednesday / 18 December 2013

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China Territorial Claim On Moon Might Speed Lunar Exploration / Development

ChinaLandClaimMoon1213

As Chang’e-3 & Yutu Activate Science Instruments, Space Law Experts Glenn Reynolds (Top) – In USA Today Opinion Piece – & Homer Hickam Posit That Mining / Territorial Claims May Follow; Reynolds Suggests Such An Act Could Stimulate Commercial / Government Lunar Development, Says 1967 Outer Space Treaty Is Main Culprit For 4 Decades Of Lunar Vacancy

Image Credit: ImagineChina, Twitter, NASA

Tuesday / 17 December 2013

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China Preparing For 2017 Lunar Sample Return

Chang'e-5Sched1213

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

Weekend Edition /
Fri-Mon 13-16 December 2013

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New Age For Humanity Dawning

ChinaMoonGalaxy3

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

Thursday / 12 December 2013

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Chang’e-3 Catalyzing Collaborative International Lunar Interests

ChinaMoonCollaboration1213

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

Wednesday / 11 December 2013

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Moon Express Unveils Innovative Lunar Lander

MX-1Lander1213

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

Weekend Edition / Fri-Mon 6-9 Dec 2013

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Nelson Mandela A Role Model For Peaceful Moon Collaboration

MandelaPeaceCrater

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

Friday / 6 December 2013

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Chang’e-3 To Enter Moon Orbit Today

Chang'e-3 LOI

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