JAXA Sees Moon As Next Destination For Human Exploration; Associate Executive Director Yuichi Yamaura Confirms Japan’s Lunar Aspirations At Recent GLEX 2012 Conference; Japan Previously Released Plan For US$2.2B Robotic Base Near Moon South Pole By 2020 As Precursor To Human Habitation; JAXA Has Plans For Polar Lander, In-Situ Lunar Orientation Measurement (ILOM), Equiped With 20cm Optical Telescope
Image Credit: JAXA
‘Exploration Gateway / Platform’ Concept Emerging As Preferred Direction For NASA Human Architecture Team; Plan Involves Launch Of Several International Modules For Construction At ISS Using Existing Hardware & Launch Vehicles, Transported To EML2 By 25-40kW Solar Electric Propulsion Vehicle; Provides Immediate Deep Space Destination For Astronauts, Excellent Way-Station For Moon, Rest Of Solar System
Image Credit: NASA
Former NASA Administrator Mike Griffin Endorses Comments Made By Roscosmos Head Vladimir Popovkin / International Leaders At GLEX: Human Return To Moon Is Humanity’s “Next Outward Step…The Path To Which We Will Return”; Paul Spudis Asserts That World Sees Moon As “The Enabling Asset” To Build Permanent, Lasting Space Faring Capability; Ian Crawford Outlines Scientific Case For Lunar Exploration
Image Credit: NASA, Lifeboat Foundation
3rd Generation Design Of RESOLVE Experiment Set For Mission Simulation Field Test In July 2012 On Slopes Of Mauna Kea, Hawai`i; Next Step In Understanding Available Resources At Lunar Poles; NASA / CSA RESOLVE Payload On Lunar Rover Will Perform 3-5 Sample Collections At Depth Of 1m, Over Area Of Several Square Km During 5-7 Day Mission To Map Horizontal Distribution Of Hydrogen Bearing Volatiles
Image Credit: NASA, JAXA
On Tuesday 29 May, Brown University Professor James Head Will Give A Presentation On ‘The Moon As A Touchstone For Solar System Science” At NASA Lunar Science Institute In CA, USA; Discoveries & Insights About Other Terrestrial Planets Gained From Moon Through 50 Years Of Exploration; Candidate Future Directions For Lunar Science & Exploration; Videoconference Participation Available
Moon Society Organizing CisLunar Econosphere Session On Sunday 27 May During International Space Development Conference In Washington DC; Industry, Academia & Independent Experts Will Address Key Infrastructure Elements / Capabilities Needed To Expand Economic Activity In CisLunar Space; Moon Mining From L1, Polar Ice For Fuel, GRAIL Mission Report, Communications, & More
Image Credit: Moon Society, ISDC2012
Abstract Submission Deadline Is 23 May For European Planetary Science Congress 2012; Conference Organizers Seeking Submissions For Following Lunar Sessions: Lunar Volatiles, Lunar Science & Exploration – A Global Approach, Lunar Science & Google Lunar X Prize, Moon As Tool For Public Engagement; EPSC 2012 Will Be Held In Madrid, 23-28 September
Image Credit: epsc2012.eu
Return To The Moon Technical Track At Global Space Exploration Conference, 22-24 May, To Be Co-Chaired By Jean-Claude Piedboeuf (B) Of CSA, Mark Craig (T) Of NASA; Session On Scientific Highlights / Lessons From Recent Lunar Missions, Goals / Status Of Future Lunar Missions, Concepts For Robotic & Human Missions, Lunar Surface Outposts & Enabling Technologies
Image Credit: NASA, CSA, IAF