LADEE Passes Series Of Qualification Tests Conducted By National Technical Systems Inc At NASA Ames In CA; Spacecraft Subjected To High Levels Of Acoustics, Vibration & Shock Mimicking Launch / Space Travel, Is Now One Step Closer To 5 Sep 2013 Launch; Mission Will Utilize 3 Science Instruments To Gather Data On Lunar Atmosphere / Dust Environment From 50-Km Retrograde Equatorial Orbit
Image Credit: NASA, NTS
LRO LEND Instrument Provides Definitive Map Of Water Ice Deposits Across Moon Surface, Including South Pole (L) – Likely Destination Of Future Missions / Human Lunar Build-Out; Data From GRAIL Probes Explain Cause Of Lunar Mascons: Ancient Asteroid Impacts Melted Mantle, Caused It To Collapse Inward Creating Denser More Concentrated Areas, Subsequently Causing Gravitational Anomalies
Image Credit: NASA, FIAAA
29th International Symposium On Space Technology & Science In Nagoya Japan 2-9 June; Features 3 Sessions On ‘Missions To The Moon’; Sho Sasaki (Inset) Of NAOJ To Present ‘Sciences Of Human Exploration Of Lunar Polar Regions’; Mitsubishi Electric Corp To Present On Lunar Transfer Vehicle Proposal; JAXA Planing Selene-2 Lunar Lander NET 2018 As A Precursor / Technology Demonstrator For Human Moon Exploration
Image Credit: JAXA, ISTS, NAOJ
Golden Spike Company Conducts Design Reviews In Denver CO With ULA, Paragon, Masten, ILOA, SwRI, Zero Point Frontiers & SpaceX For Human Lunar Lander Systems Studies; Team Considering Benefits Of Human South Pole Landing; Follow Up Lander Study Expected Later This Year, Aug-Sep
Image Credit: GSC, B. Campbell
Chandrayaan-2, Slated For 2014-15 Launch Aboard GSLV Rocket, Will Include Seismometer To Study Causes Of Shallow Moonquakes & Regions Of Their Occurrence; Seismometer Sensors Currently Undergoing Calibration At The National Geophysical Research Institute In Hyderabad, India By Research Team Headed By H V S Satyanarayana; Chandrayaan-2 To Include Orbiter, Lander & Solar-Powered Rover
Image Credit: ISRO, NASA
As USA / World Remembers 52nd Anniversary Of JFK Moon Declaration To Congress, New Generation Of Lunar Pioneers Proclaim Intentions / Outline Plans For Sustainable Return To Moon At Prestigious International Events; ISDC 2013 In San Diego CA, Lunar Track Focusing On Human Explorations Of Moon; Galaxy Forum Canada – Vancouver Featuring Alan Stern (CL) Of Golden Spike, Bob Richards (CR) Of Moon Express, Jim Keravala (R) Of Shackleton Energy Co, Steve Durst (L) Of ILOA, More
Image Credit: galaxyforum.org, isdc.nss.org
‘Media Availability’ Event Today At 13:30 EDT, NASA Associate Administrator Bill Gerstenmaier & Robert Bigelow Discuss Recent Space Act Agreement; Unfunded Study Identifying Common Objectives Between NASA & Private Sector, Companies & Their Potential Contributions To Extend Commercial Activity To All Cis-Lunar Space; If Commercial Interests Demonstrate Capability To Reach / Operate On Moon May Help Cure NASA / Obama Selenophobia
Image Credit: Bigelow Aerospace, NASA
2020-2025 Lunar Orbiter & Return Mission Among South Korea Goals For Next Phase Of Space Program Development; KARI President Seung-Jo Kim Presents ‘South Korea 2040 Space Prospect’ To Congress; Plan Also Calls For Advancement Of Indigenous Rocket Technology, Development Of 10-Tonne Crewed Spacecraft, Robotic Mars (2026) & Asteroid (2032) Missions; Country Considering Sea Launch Technology For Equatorial Launches
Image Credit: KARI, JAXA
Chandrayaan-2, Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) Pushing India To Accelerate Space Capabilities, Advance Global Standing As Space Leader; Chandrayaan-2 With Russia Will Be First India Lunar / Planetary Surface Mission, Currently Slated Under 2012-2017 5-Year Plan; Mars Mission Success Would Be 1st For Asian Country, ISRO Addressing Added Mission Complexity Due To Distance & Communication Logistics
Image Credit: ISRO
Apollo 17 Moonworker Will Give Seminar On 20 May At WUSTL Entitled ‘Field Geology On Another World’; Schmitt (R) Will Then Participate In ‘Exploratory Forum’ With Students To Discuss Ideas For Future Human Moon Missions; Forum Will Allow WUSTL RASC-AL Team To Refine Presentation Of Their Proposed Investigation Of Potential Landing Sites For Outpost At Lunar South Pole; Tue-Thu Schmitt Will Participate In LROC Science Team Meeting Hosted By Brad Joliff (L)
Image Credit: NASA, WUSTL