Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin Says Russia Should Set ‘Super Goal’ Of Building Large Base On Moon To Refocus Space Industry; Base Could Facilitate Leaps Of Science & Future Deep Space Projects; Possible Collaboration With USA / ESA; Moon Is Seen As Logical Next Step For Russia Exploration As Mars Is “Too Far And Too Expensive”
Image Credit: Roscosmos, wn.com
Program & Abstracts Now Available For 22-24 Oct 2012 LEAG Annual Meeting In Greenbelt Maryland; Presentations / Discussions On Science Objectives, Robotic Human Exploration Strategies & Technologies, Moon As Necessary Stepping Stone To Rest Of Solar System; Organizers Plan To Celebrate Apollo Legacy 40 Years After Apollo 17, Look Forward To Next Generation Of Lunar Missions; Pictured (BC): LEAG Chair Charles Shearer
Image Credit: LPI, NASA, University of New Mexico
Extended Science Phase Of GRAIL Mission From 30 Aug – 3 Dec; Spacecraft Will Take Even Closer Look At Lunar Gravity Field By Dropping To Average Orbit Of 23km (Compared To 55-km Orbit On Primary Mission); Objective Of NASA Mission Is To Generate The Most Accurate Gravity Map Of Moon & From That Derive Its Internal Structure / Evolution
Image Credit: NASA
First Person To Walk On Moon Strongly Advocated Return To Moon As Vital Next Step For USA / Human Space Exploration, Often Noted There Are Over 36 Million Square Km Of Unexplored Lunar Sites, Moon Is Ideal Location For Preparation / Training For Future Solar System Exploration; Memorial Service To Honor Neil Armstrong Will Be Held 13 Sep At Washington National Cathedral
Image Credit: NASA / Bill Ingalls
Mini-RF Radar On LRO Estimates Maximum Amount Of Ice Likely Inside Shackleton Crater; 5-10% Of Material In Walls Of The Permanently-Shadowed Crater Could Be Patchy Ice According To Team Led By Bradley Thomson Of Boston University; Instrument Detects Distinctive Radar Polarization Signature Of Water Ice To Depth Of 2m Below Surface; Mini-RF Currently Acquiring New Bistatic Radar Images To Locate Volatile Deposits Using Arecibo Radio Telescope
Image Credit: NASA, bu.edu
Prototype Lunar Lander Completes Another Successful Test Flight At NASA Marshall SFC; Vehicle Navigated Autonomously Flying On Pre-Programmed Flight Profile For 35-Second Run; Flew To 30-m Altitude, Identified New Landing Target 30m Away, Took Pictures, Processed Images & Landed Safely; This Begins New Series Of Flights Testing Lander’s Autonomous Rendezvous & Capture Abilities
Image Credit: NASA, Angry Birds
Indiegogo Campaign Raising US$120,000 To Fund Memorial For The Man Who Inspired Entire Planet; Renowned Craftsman Stanley Watts Will Create 2.75m Hand-Detailed Cast Bronze Statue Of Armstrong With Engraved Granite Base Housing “Hidden Safe” Time Capsule To Be Opened When Human Sets Foot On Mars; Finished Work Will Be Donated To NASA, Smithsonian Or Other Suitable Custodian
Image Credit: Jose Jordan, atlasbronzecasting.com, NASA
Space Elevator On Moon To Transport Humans / Robots To & From Surface Could Be Built Today Says Michael Laine Of Liftport Group; Company Seeking To Raise US$8K Via Kickstarter To Create 2km High Terrestrial Prototype Elevator To Test System, Just 4 Days Into Campaign Group Already Raised Over US$17K; Laine Claims Group Made Fundamental Civilization-Changing Breakthrough 6 Months Ago
Image Credit: Mark Garlick, Liftport Group
Miniaturized Spacecraft Have Been Successful In LEO Missions Costing +- US$300,000, Lunar Missions Could Be Accomplished For +-US$3M With Upgrades In Power, Protection From Extreme Radiation / Thermal Environment; UC Berkeley / UCSC Prposing CubeSat Probes For Impact Mission Into Lunar Swirls; GLXP Missions Will Provide Ample Opportunity For LunarCube Missions For Student / Faculty Teams
Image Credit: KARI, GLXP, Vermont Tech
Flightglobal Releases Analysis Of Nations Most Likely To Win ‘Race’ To Return Humans To Moon; USA In 1st Place With Progress On Orion / SLS (L), Yet Lacking Lander / Service Module (6-4 Odds); China & Russia Tied For 2nd With Strong Political Will, Space Exploration Capabilities, Yet Lacking Heavy Lift Launcher (5-2 Odds); Isle Of Man Unlikely 4th With Excalibur Almaz, Odyssey Moon (20-1 Odds); India A Distant 5th With 100-1 Odds
Image Credit: flags.com, NASA