Category Archives: Moon Exploration

Tuesday / 8 October 2013

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GSC Workshop Outlines Viability / Importance Of Human Moon Missions

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Gerry Griffin Of Golden Spike Company Says Emerging Entrepreneurial Commercial Sector Can Fill Gap Left By Governments Unwilling To Fund US$100-$500B Space Programs; Group Of 30 Distinguished Scientists, Engineers Note Vital Role Of Humans In Lunar Exploration: Can Deploy More Equipment / Return More Lunar Material Than Robots, Learn To Live Off In Situ Resources In Space, Provide Hope & Inspiration To Youth

Image Credit: Golden Spike Company

Weekend Edition / Fri-Mon 4-7 October 2013

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GLXP Teams Poised To Make Valuable Contributions To Lunar Exploration

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Astrobotic Conducts Full Deployment Field Test Of Moon Cave Exploration Robot ‘Tyrobot’, Producing 3D Model Of A Pit In PA; Barcelona Moon Provides Info About Their Launcher / Lander / Rover & Budget (US$73M); Omega Envoy Set To Debut Student-Designed ‘Artemis’ Rover At Mini Maker Faire In FL, 5 Oct; Futron Says Potential For Lunar Markets From 2011-2019 Is ~US$1.56B 

Image Credit: GLXP, Futron

Friday / 4 October 2013

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GSC: Enabled Opportunities & Robotic Mission Synergies

GSC Conference 3-4 Oct

Golden Spike Company Lunar Workshop 2nd Day Includes Talks (L – R) On Lunar Exploration Orbiter To Study Environment & Mobile Payload Element To Assist Lander Missions (Ralf Jaumann), Lunar Lander Capabilities (Diego De Rosa), Multi-Mission Space Exploration Vehicle (Steven Chappell), Modular Heat Flow Probes To Understand Moon Interior, Origin & Structure (Seiichi Nagihara), Lunar Drills (Kris Zacny), Next Steps (Alan Stern)

Image Credit: GSC, TTU, DLR, ESA

Thursday / 3 October 2013

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Golden Spike Co Presents Its Human Lunar Mission Capabilities / Opportunities

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3-4 Oct Golden Spike Company Workshop At LPI In Houston TX To Provide Overview Of Plans / Projected Capabilities For Human Lunar Missions, Seek Input Re: Science / Exploration Priorities, Desired Future Capabilities For More Advanced Missions – South Pole Destination, Long-Duration Missions; Day 1: Clive Neal (L) Explains Rationale For Human Lunar Missions, Alan Stern (R) Overviews Golden Spike Missions, Landing Site Priorities, Panel Discussion

Image Credit: GSC, LPI

Wednesday / 2 October 2013

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LADEE In Final Phase Of Moon Trek

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US$280M Probe Completes 2nd Burn Perfectly, No Longer Needs Additional Burn To Reach Desired High Elliptical Orbit; When LADEE Reaches Moon Gravitational Field On 6 Oct It Will Make 197-Second Retrograde Burn Reducing Velocity To 267 Meters Per Second For Lunar Orbit Capture; Craft Will Then Perform 40 Days Of High-Altitude Science Checkouts & LLCD Operations Before Dropping To 50-Km Altitude To Begin 100-Day Science Operations

Image Credit: NASA

Tuesday / 1 October 2013

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GLXP Forms Judging Panel

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8 International Experts In Astronautics & Robotics Announced As Judges For Google Lunar XPRIZE; Panel Includes (T-B) David Swanson Of OSC, Alan Wells Of NEREUS & John Zarnecki Of ISSI; Judges Will Verify Team Launch Agreements, Payload / Mobility Plans, Examine Data To Confirm Mission Completion; Judges May Also Aid In Awarding Proposed Early Milestone Prizes

Image Credit: GLXP, OSC, NEREUS, ISSI

Weekend Edition / Fri-Mon 27-30 September 2013

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Who Owns The Moon?
Space Law Rising In Importance

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Dawning Of New Space Exploration Era, Both Commercial And Public, Raising Questions / Issues Of Space Law; Journal Of Space Law Editor, Professor Joanne Gabrynowicz Addresses Issues Of Jurisdiction, Crime In Space; Notes Origin Of Space Law Comes From Philosophy Of Rocket / Astronautics Pioneers, Not Maritime Or Antarctic Law; Moon Seen As Most Likely Site Where Land Claim Or Criminal Disputes Could First Arise

Image Credit: NASA, tonybones.com, olemiss.edu

Thursday / 26 September 2013

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Give China Moon Rover A Name

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China Officials Will Collect Name Nominations For Chang’e-3 Lunar Rover; Domestic & Oversees Residents Can Submit Names Via The Internet, Official Name To Be Announced In Nov; Global Name-Collecting Campaign Initiated To Enhance Awareness / National Enthusiasm Of Mission; Lander / Rover Now At Xichang Satellite Launch Center In Preparation For Dec 2013 Launch

Image Credit: CCTV, CNSA

Tuesday / 24 September 2013

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ILOA 4 Moon Missions Update To Global Space Community

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International Lunar Observatory Association Presenting At IAC 2013 In Beijing, China, Today: Chang’e-3 – ILOA Galaxy Imaging Program, ILO-X Precursor Mission, ILO-1 Polar Mission, Human Service Mission; 24 Sep ILOA Board Of Directors Meeting To Build Upon Successful Pioneering Galaxy Forum Program, International Partnerships With China / International Space Agencies & Commercial NewSpace Enterprises To Realize Multifunctional ILO, Humans On The Moon Within Decade

Image Credit: ILOA, IAF

Weekend Edition / Fri-Mon 20-23 Sep 2013

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Lunar Ambitions & Opportunities For Emerging Space-Faring Nations

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Indigenous Ingenuity, International Collaboration & Commercial Enterprise Opening Space / Lunar Exploration To Rising Space Powers; South Korea Working On 2020 Lunar Orbiter, 2025 Rover, In Talks With NASA About Lunar Missions; China Offering To Train / Provide Trips To Foreign Astronauts, Pakistan Hopes To Be 1st In Line; ILOA, Golden Spike Co Could Provide Affordable Human Lunar Access To Countries Such As Brazil & Malaysia; Galaxy Forum China 2013 – Beijing, 22 Sep: Human Moon Missions

Image Credit: KARI, GSC, ILOA, AEB, Angkasa