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
In-Situ Resource Utilization On Moon / Mars / Asteroids, Space Multi-World Property Rights Topics Of Discussion At SRR 13 – PTMSS, Colorado School Of Mines, 4-7 Jun; Speakers Include Chris Lewicki (B) Of Planetary Resources, Alan Stern (T) Of Moon Express; Dust, Atmosphere & Plasma: Moon & Small Bodies Workshop Begins Today In Boulder CO; Scientists To Discuss Surface Environment Of Moon, Expectations For Future Missions
Image Credit: Astrobotic, SRR, Google+, nature.com
Columbia Astrophysicist Arlin Crotts (Inset) Says Russia Secured Evidence Of Water In 1976, Ignored By West; Luna 24 Mission Drilled 2m Into Moon Surface, Returned 300g Of Rock, Found It To Be 0.1% Water; Paul Spudis Says Water Level Seems High For Mid-Latitudes, Analysis Of Samples Needs to Be Confirmed / Cross-Checked; Discovery Further Support Of In-Situ Water Manufacturing On Moon For Future Exploration
Image Credit: NASA, Columbia University
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
University Of New South Wales Professor Leonhard Bernold Outlines How Earth Mining Systems Will Not Be Adequate On Moon Due To Dust, Lower Gravitational Acceleration (1.6m/s² vs 9.8m/s²), Minimal Atmosphere / Water, Etc; Proposes Using Suction Extraction With Pneumatic Transportation For Lunar Mining; System Uses Airflow To Transport Material By Venturi Process Through Glass Pipes Manufactured Through ISRU & Joined In-Situ
Image Credit: nextbigfuture.com, amazon.com, nova.org
66 Undergraduate & Graduate School Teams From Around The World Will Compete In 3rd Annual NASA Lunabotics Competition 21-27 May At Kennedy Space Center; Teams WIll Have 10 Minutes To Maneuver Through Obstacle Course Of Lunar Regolith Simulant, Collect As Much Regolith As Possible; NASA Awarding Bonus Points For Autonomous Robots; Lunar Mining / ISRU Critical For Development Of Lunar Outpost
Image Credit: NASA, tuscaloosanews.com
Image Credit: NASA, Planetary Resources Inc, Astrobotic Technology Inc
New Wave Of Interest In Lunar / Asteroid Mining Peaking With Announcement Of Billionaire-Backed Planetary Resources Inc., Developing Plans Of Moon Express & Astrobotic Technology; Craig Covault Notes Importance Of LRO High Resolution Mapping Capabilities To Prepare For Future Human-Tended Robotic Surface Mining Operations; LRO Orbiting At Altitude Of 24-29km
Image Credit: Astrobotic Technology Inc
New Polaris Lunar Rover Will Prospect For Water Ice, Methane & Other Resources At Moon North Pole; Solar Powered Astrobotic Robot Will Launch Aboard Falcon 9 Rocket NET 2015, Spend 12 Days Exploring, Carry 80kg Of Payload Including Drill, Instruments To Analyze Samples, Neutron Spectrometer & Infrared Spectrometer To Search For Signs Of Ice; Design Adapted From Lunar Excavation Machine Astrobotic Prototyping Under 2010 NASA Contract
Image Credit: Astrobotic Technology Inc
Astrobotic Receives Additional Task In US$10M Innovative Lunar Demonstrations Data (ILDD) Contract With NASA; Company Will Present NASA With Summary Of Progress Designing New Model Rover For Lunar Polar Prospecting; $100K Task Order Brings Astrobotic ILDD Contract Funding Total To $610K; Astrobotic Planning Prospecting Mission To Moon South Pole In May 2015
Image Credit: NORCAT, Neptec, CSA
Mining Expertise Could Be “Toe In The Door” To Lunar Exploration For Canada; 9 Of Top 40 Global Mining Companies Are Canada-Based; CSA Already Developing / Testing Prototype Lunar Excavation Rovers, More Tests This Summer In Hawaii; Ottawa-Based Neptec Working With NASA, CSA, NORCAT On Lunar Water Ice Drilling Project Called RESOLVE