ISRO Chief K. Radhakrishnan Announces Plans To Launch US$82M Mangalyaan Mars Orbiter Mission 26-27 Nov 2013 While Chandrayaan-2 Moon Mission May Be Further Delayed To 2016; India Strong Commitment To Lunar Program Should Remain In Focus As 2008 Chandrayaan-1 Proved Important Scientific & International Success; Chandrayaan-2 Progress Is Underway With GSLV Testing Scheduled April 2013 & Russia Working On Technical Issues
Image Credit: ISRO, DHNS
Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute Will Succeed Current NLSI; NASA Soliciting Multi-Institutional Proposals For Research As Participating Members Of New Institute; Scope Of Research Is Fields Of Lunar, NEA, Martian Moon Sciences; Preference Given To Research Involving Both Planetary Science & Human Exploration Of Target Bodies; Approximately 7 New Teams Will Be Selected
Image Credit: NASA
With NASA Avoiding Lander Development By Contemplating Lassoing Asteroids And L2 ‘Waypoint Activities’, Golden Spike Company Advancing Human Lunar Surface Missions With Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Design Contract, Only Company With Proven Record Building Human-Rated Moon Landers Will Explore Wide Variety Of Small Lunar Lander Concept Options Capable Of Launching On Existing Rockets By 2020
Image Credit: Golden Spike Company, Northrop Grumman
Valuable Update Of Major Lunar Research & Development Resources Being Provided By Long-Time Professional Space / Lunar Project Information Expert Larry Kellogg Via ‘To The Moon, Mars And Beyond’ Blog: Energy / Power Issues In Lunar Settlement, China 2013 Lunar Lander / Rover, Chang’e-3 Implications For GLXP, South Pole Moon As Ideal Destination For Exploration / Development
Image Credit: CNSA, NASA, Pat Rawlings
Impending 2013 China Moon Lander Should Inspire USA To Renew National Robustness In Lunar Surface Exploration; NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Working On Mini Lunar Landers, Original 2013 Launch Date Delayed To ~2018 Due To Inconsistent Funding / Support / Incentive; With US Government Commitment Of ~US$200-300M NASA Could Achieve Robotic Lander / Power Station On Lunar South Pole ‘Peak Of Eternal Light’ Within 2 Years
Image Credit: NASA, ESA
LADEE Spacecraft Scheduled For Launch Via 5-Stage Minotaur 5 Rocket On 12 August From Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport On Wallops Island, VA; 3 Main Science Instruments Recently Integrated On Craft: Ultraviolet & Visible Light Spectrometer, Neutral Mass Spectrometer, Lunar Dust Experiment; Mission Will Pioneer NASA Modular Common Bus Architecture, Also Set For Use By Moon Express GLXP Mission
Image Credit: NASA
US House Of Representatives Passes Bill To Rename NASA Facility For Neil Armstrong; Hugh L Dryden Flight Research Center In Edwards CA To Be Named After First Human To Walk On Moon; Future Space Explorers Gain Treasure Trove Of Inspiration Through Publication Of Long-Awaited John Young Memoir Forever Young: A Life Of Adventure In Air & Space
Image Credit: NASA, University Press Of Florida
In 2013 International Lunar Observatory Association Will Participate In The First Moon Surface Mission In 37 Years, Conducting Galaxy / Astro Observations With Chang’e-3 Lander UV Telescope; NET Early 2015 ILO-X Precursor Mission Payload Will Land On Moon Aboard GLXP Front-Runner Moon Express Craft; Primary ILO-1 Observations / Communications Mission With MDA, ME To South Pole NET Late 2015; ILO Human Service Mission By 2020 Advancing Through Partnership With Golden Spike Co.
Image Credit: ILOA, Moon Express, CASC, Golden Spike Company
Lunar Enterprise Daily Will Return NLT 3 January 2013
Aloha
Completing Tests Of David Clark Co. Z-1 Space Suit Prototype With Bearings For Mobility; Will Give Astronauts More Flexibility To Hop Over Lunar / Martian Soil; Increased Radiation Protection For Longer Spacewalks; Port In Back Allows Easy Entry / Exit, Bypasses Need For Airlock; Z-2 And Z-3 Revisions To Follow; NASA Plans To Make Z-3 Ready For Use By 2017
Image Credit: NASA, DCC
Chris Hadfield Is Set To Arrive At The ISS On 21 Dec & Become First Canada Commander Of The Station In March; Hadfield Has Long Been Vocal Advocate Of Missions To Return Humans To Moon; He Is Optimistic About Future Of Human Space Flight, Recognizes ISS Work Critical To Help Prepare For Next Steps In Solar System Exploration; NASA Orion Craft On Track For 2014 Test Flight
Image Credit: CSA, astrofisicayfisica.com