Category Archives: NASA

Wednesday / 4 July 2018

Posted on by

NASA Soliciting Bids On Lunar Orbiting Platform-Gateway Space Station Aiming For 2022 Operation

Procurement Request From NASA Is Asking USA Industry For Proposals On “Spaceflight Demonstration Of A Power And Propulsion Element”, Which Could Be Used As The 1st Element Of The Gateway Space Station — Proposals Due November; NASA Expects The New Station To Cost US$2.7B; Matt Siegler (Bottom) Of Planetary Science Institute Says Gateway Is Too Far From Moon And Is Really A Symbol For USA Leadership In Space; NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine (Top) Stresses: “We Are Going To The Surface Of The Moon. The Gateway Does Not Compete With This”

Credits: NASA, PSI

Wednesday / 27 June 2018

Posted on by

Astrophysics Enabled At The Moon Being Discussed During NASA Exploration Science Forum At NASA Ames

Fifth Annual NASA Exploration Science Forum Is Being Held 26-28 June, Organized By Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute, Featuring Discussions About Moon, Near-Earth Asteroids, And Moons Of Mars, Etc; Dr. Jordan Mirocha (Top) From UCLA Chairs Wednesday Afternoon Session On “Astrophysics Enabled At The Moon”: Prof. Jack Burns (L) Presents Science On Lunar Far Side Facilitated By Lunar Orbiting Platform-Gateway Including Low Frequency Radio Array, And Alexander Hegedus (R) From University Of Michigan Talks On Radio Interferometers On Lunar Surface

Credits: NASA, UCLA, University of Colorado, University of Michigan

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 22-25 June 2018

Posted on by

LRO Mission Enters 10th Year Orbiting Moon

On 23 June Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) Embarks On 10th Year, Mission Goals Include Temporarily Going Off Nadir (Straight-On Imaging) Fall 2018 To Utilize Camera Stereo, Oblique Imaging; Inertial Measurement Unit Currently Powered Down To Reserve Power For Critical Events, Lunar Eclipses; In Lunar Eccentric Polar Mapping Orbit (20-km Altitude South Pole, 165-km North Pole) With 7 Instruments Providing High Resolution 3D Moon Mapping, Regolith & Radiation Observations, Data May Assist In Future South Pole And Far Side Lunar Landings

Credits: NASA

Wednesday / 20 June 2018

Posted on by

Observance Of Sally’s Ride Begs The Question: When Will The First Woman Walk On The Moon?

This Week Marks 35 Years Since Sally Ride Became The 1st American Woman In Space, Commemorated By New USA Forever Postage Stamp; After Shattering The Ultimate Glass Ceiling, Ride Said “Weightlessness Is A Great Equalizer”; Another Of The “Original Six” Women Astronauts, Anna Lee Fisher — 1st Mother In Space On STS-51 Discovery, Becomes The Godmother To Viking Latest Ocean Ship, Orion, Same Name As NASA Crew Ship That Could Take The 1st Women To The Moon

Credits: USPS, Viking Cruises, NASA, SPC

Wednesday / 13 June 2018

Posted on by

NASA Requests Information On Availability Of Potential Lunar Payloads

NASA Issues Request For Information For Availability Of Existing Hardware That Could Fly To Lunar Surface With Little Development Necessary As Early As 2019: Engineering Models, Flight Spares, Modified Off-The-Shelf Instruments, Etc – Under Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) Program; Responses Sought From USA Industry, Universities, Non-profit Organizations, Others – Due Wednesday 27 June 2018; Astrobotic Encourages Lunar Community To Submit Payload Details To Inform Near-Term NASA Lunar Payload Solicitations

Pictured: NASA Program Scientist Sarah Noble, Astrobotic VP Business Development Dan Hendrickson; Credits: NASA, Astrobotic

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 1-4 Jun 2018

Posted on by

AOGS Meeting To Focus On Lunar Science, Humans In Space

Asia Oceania Geosciences Society (AOGS) 15th Annual Meeting 3-8 June In Honolulu HI With 209 Sessions Will Include 4 June “Science Of Exploration As Enabled By The Moon, Near Earth Asteroids, And The Moons of Mars”; Speakers (L-R) Gregory Schmidt For International Cooperation In Exploration, Ben Bussey On Lunar Activities, Allison Zuniga On Lunar Infrastructure & Economy, With Clive Neal For Human Return To Moon, Bernard Foing On Lunar Technology

Credits: AOGS, NASA, NSS, ISDC, U. Notre Dame, IAF, SSERVI

Friday / 18 May 2018

Posted on by

Apollo First Missions To Moon
50th Observations Ready To Launch

Approaching Semicentennial Commemorations, Apollo 8 First Human Mission To The Moon (21-27 Dec 1968) With Astronauts Frank Borman, James Lovell And William Anders, Legendary Earthrise Photo Will Be Honored This Year In Rocket Men Book, Documentary Film, Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum ‘Apollo To The Moon‘ Exhibit, And Events Held By NASA / Other Organizations; USA Advancing ~2021 Return To Moon With EM-1, Space Policy Directive 1, Lunar Exploration Campaign; Planning For 50th Observations Of Apollo 11 (July 2019), Apollo 13 (April 2020), Apollo 17 (December 2022)

Credits: NASA, Lockheed Martin Corp.

Wednesday / 16 May 2018

Posted on by

Astrobotic Readies For New Start On Moon Exploration With Proposed US House Appropriations Bill For NASA

US House Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations Subcommittee Proposes Full Funding Of Robotic & Human Exploration Of The Moon, Including $504M For Lunar Orbital Platform & $117M For Lunar & Surface Capabilities — To Be Marked Up By Full Committee On 17 May; Astrobotic, Moon Express, And Masten Partnering With NASA Through Lunar CATALYST Program To Conduct Science & Exploration Missions; Astrobotic 1st Lander On Moon For 2020 To Carry Lunar Library Microfiche

Pictured: Astrobotic CEO John Thornton; Credits: Astrobotic, Arch Mission Foundation, ME, Masten

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 11-14 May 2018

Posted on by

LRO Mapping And Monitoring Lunar Surface Supports NASA Return To Moon Plans

Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) Surpasses 40,000 Orbits Around Moon, Gathering Information On Lunar Temperatures, Geologic Activity, Newly Formed Craters, Topographical Changes; On 23 June Spacecraft With 7 Operating Instruments Will Celebrate 9 Full Years In Orbit; Inertial Measurement Unit Indicates Low Functionality, Will Be Powered Down Except For Lunar Eclipses, Safe Mode Entries; 34th Data Set Release Upcoming, Invaluable Mission Supports International, National, Commercial, Academic Ventures & Research

Credits: NASA

Friday / 4 May 2018

Posted on by

Commercial Lunar Payload Services To Build Upon Successes Of Lunar CATALYST, Commercial Resupply / Crew Programs

New NASA Program Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) To Award Contracts To Private Enterprises For Delivering Science And Tech Demonstration Payloads To Moon Surface; Industry Day Being Held At NASA HQ In Washington DC 8 May To Discuss Draft Request For Proposals; Companies Such As Moon Express, Astrobotic, Masten, Past GLXP Contenders Already Developing Lunar Landers In Prime Position To Accelerate USA Return To Moon, Support Space Policy Directive 1; Blue Origin With Vision Of ‘A Trillion People Living & Working In Space’ Planning New Armstrong Rocket, Blue Moon System For 4,500-kg Cargo Deliveries

Credits: Moon Express, Astrobotic, Masten Space Systems, Blue Origin, Bigelow Aerospace