Image Credit: NASA, CNSA
Lunar Plant Growth Habitat Team Of NASA Ames Research Center Will Try To Grow Arabidopsis, Basil, Sunflowers, Turnips In Coffee-Can-Sized Aluminum Cylinders On Moon; NASA Expects To Build / Launch For Under US$2M By Buying Space On Commercial Launch Of GLXP Team; Chief Biologist Dr. Robert Bowman (Center) Points Out Need To Understand Plant Ability To Overcome Stress Of Space Radiation, Moon Partial Gravity, Small / Controlled Environment For Use In Human Solar System Buildout
Image Credit: NASA, Hemil Modi
Prime National Objective Announced By S Korea President Park Geun-Hye To Send Lunar Lander, 10-20 Kg Rover To Look For Rare Minerals & Orbiter To Moon In 2020 Aboard Korea Space Launch Vehicle-2 Rockets; 15 Government-Funded Research Institutions Led By KARI To Begin Collaborating In 2014, Hope To Overcome Challenges With NASA Support; May Need ~$655M To Complete Project By 2020; Also Potential For KARI Associate Membership In SSERVI
Image Credit: KARI, K. Dietsch/UPI/Newscom
Report Prepared By Robert Bigelow Under NASA Space Act Agreement Recommends That NASA Pursue A Partnership With Industry To Develop Beyond LEO / Cislunar Space; Permanent, Semi-Commercial Lunar Base Achievable & Affordable In Next 10 Years; Private Companies / Individuals Would Need To Acquire Property Rights On Moon / Other Bodies If Plan Is To Be Viable; Bigelow Already Applying To FAA / AST For Review Of Lunar Property Rights Policy
Image Credit: Bigelow Aerospace, NASA
Dec Moon Landing Of China Chang’e-3 Could Provide NASA LADEE Orbital Mission Unique Opportunity To Collect Data On Ejected Dust From Descent Engines; Valuable For Planning Future Missions, Heritage Site Preservation, Lunar Base Development; Current USA Policy Impeding NASA From Arranging Such Collaboration With China; Apollo Moonwalkers Advocate For NASA To Begin Cooperation With China On Human Moon Return
Image Credit: NASA, CLEP, CNSA
Ad Astra Rocket Company Working To Raise US$100M To Build Prototype Of Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket For Testing At ISS; Founder & 7-Time Shuttle Astronaut Franklin Chang-Diaz Says Already Raised $30M From Private Investors; Cites Lunar Cargo Transport As One Of Many Potential Uses For The Technology, Working As Tug Boat Between LEO & LLO, VASIMR Could Deliver Twice As Much Payload To Lunar Surface As Chemical Propulsion
Image Credit: Ad Astra Rocket Co
Chang’e-3 Lander Is 42% Mass & Scale Of Apollo Lunar Descent Module (1200kg Unfueled), Apollo Veterans Aldrin (L) & Cernan Say Size & Design Indicate Craft / Mission Is Precursor To Human Descent Stage; Moonwalkers Encourage NASA / USA To Seek Cooperation With China On Human Moon Return, Form International Lunar Outpost Authority, South Pole Base For ISRU / Prepare For Mars Habitation
Image Credit: China Space News, NASA
Italia (Italy) Contractors Working On Final Refinement Of Lunar Lander Design With Special Attention On Propulsion Subsystem; AngelicvM (Chile) Planning Research Center In Curacavi, Will Sponsor 2014 Global Aerospace Summit In Abu Dhabi; Puli (Hungary) Hosting 2nd Campaign To Raise Funds To Test 1 of 2 Rovers On Slopes Of Mauna Kea, Hawai`i
Image Credit: Italia, AngelicvM, Puli
ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishnan Says Agency Is Awaiting Government Approval / Funds To Develop Lander For Chandrayaan-2 Mission; India To Proceed Independently On Mission, After Russia Delays / Plan Changes; Hopes Lander Could Be Developed By 2016, Acknowledges Lander More Complex Than Rover; Need 2 Successful GSLV Launches Before Attempting Moon Mission, Next Launch Set For 15 Dec 2013
Image Credit: ISRO, PTI
Changcheng 3B / Long March 3B Rocket En Route From Beijing To Xichang Space Center – Chang’e-3 Launch Site, Expected To Arrive 1 Nov; Carrier Rocket Equipped With A Number Of New Technologies To Further Its Reliability; Tests On Chang’e-3 Moon Probe Proceeding Smoothly As China Prepares To Conduct The 1st Soft Landing On Moon In 37 Years; Country Considering Human Moon Mission Between 2020-2025
Image Size: EPA / NG Hong, cntv.cn