Category Archives: NASA

Wednesday / 2 May 2018

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 LunarCubes Workshop Focuses On EM-1 ‘Lucky 13’, Awarded SmallSat Studies, Interactive Design Challenges

7th Annual LunarCubes Workshop 3-4 May In San Luis Obispo CA With 4 Major Design Challenges Include Effective Data Management, Lunar Transportation, CubeSat Paradigm Development Models, Beyond LEO Platform Concepts; Anticipates 30-40 Participants, 8 Presentations Covering Deep Space Concepts PRISM, PROVE, BOLAS, Other Missions From 19 Awarded Studies; NASA JPL CubeSat Development Lab Director Pamela Clark Is Technical Program Chair; 1st CubeSats To Deep Space (MarCO) Set To Launch 5 May To Mars, SLS EM-1 Dec 2019 To Moon Will Carry 13 CubeSats

Credits: NASA, CubeSat

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 27-30 Apr 2018

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Science And Moon Experts Advise Reinstatement Of Resource Prospector Mission

Lunar Exploration Analysis Group Chairs (L-R) Samuel Lawrence And Clive Neal Urge NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine To Reestablish Resource Prospector (RP) Mission Vital For Lunar Economy, Space Exploration; Letter States Cancellation Of NASA Only Polar Lander-Rover Mission A Source Of Incredulity And Dismay To Community; Critical To Provide Strong Leadership As 6 International Lunar Lander Missions Planned Into 2025; International Lunar Observatory Association And Space Age Publishing Company Support RP Reinstatement Within Context of Space Policy Directive 1, Dedication Of Human Return To Moon, First Women On Moon Initiative

Credits: NASA, University of Notre Dame, LEAG, ILOA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 20-23 Apr 2018

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Lunar Community Optimistic That Bridenstine Could Further Plans To Return To Moon

In 50-49 Vote, US Senate Confirms Jim Bridenstine As 13th NASA Administrator; Bridenstine States Readiness To Work With Outstanding Team At NASA Toward Administration’s Vision To Return To Moon, Reach Deep Space, Beyond; Has Shown Support For Cislunar Presence, Permanent Moonbase, Utilizing Lunar Resources, Regulating Commercial Spaceflight; Has Potential To Advance NASA Lunar Exploration Campaign, Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway, National / International / Commercial Collaborations

Credits: NASA, CNN, Jim Bridenstine

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 13-16 Apr 2018

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Leaders Of Scientific Community And ILOA Advocating For Moon Return

Letter To USA Congress From Lunar Leaders Highlight Enthusiasm For NASA FY 2019 US$19.9B Budget Request To Return Humans To The Moon, Research Lunar Resources, Explore Lunar Tubes And Magnetic Anomalies; 72 Signatories Include Astronaut Jack Schmitt, James Head III, Clive Neal, Paul Spudis, Wendell Mendell, Bob Richards, Dan Hendrickson; USA Hawai`i-Based International Lunar Observatory Association Continues To Support And Encourage Return To Moon As Apollo 11 50th Observation Fast Approaches In 2019 

Credits: NASA, ILOA, Brown University, Lynn Rothschild, University of Notre Dame, Lunar and Planetary Society, Bob Richards, Astrobotic

Wednesday / 11 Apr 2018

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International Space Exploration Coordination Group Promotes Importance Of Moon In New Global Exploration Roadmap

ISECG, Comprised Of 15 Space Agencies, Helps Advance International Station In Lunar Orbit For The 2020s; Kathy Laurini, NASA Senior Adviser For Space Exploration & Operations, Says NASA Plans To Develop Lunar Orbiting Platform-Gateway In Alignment With The Global Exploration Roadmap; Solicitation To Be Issued This Month For 1st Gateway Element – Power & Propulsion Module – Aiming To Launch In 2022; ISECG Is Currently Chaired By Naoki Satoh Of JAXA

Credits: ISECG, NASA, JAXA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 30 Mar – 2 Apr 2018

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Major Spacefaring Powers Discuss Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway, Collaboration With China

The 2nd Symposium ‘Return To The Moon: A Partnership Of Government, Academia & Industry’ Hosted By USRA, GWU And SPI, Enhances Plans For International / Commercial Cooperation To Land Humans On Moon, Build Permanent Presence In Cislunar Space; 12th Man On Moon (L) Harrison Schmitt Says China Is Geopolitical Imperative; Robert Lightfoot Of NASA States USA Looking To Engage Academia & Industry In International Effort To Explore Space, Vital To Utilize Moon As Step Toward Mars; Space Policy White Paper By D. Holland & J. Burns Includes Analysis Of USA Mixed Comments On Becoming ‘Leading’ Space Power And ‘True International Collaboration’, As Well As Unfocused Exploration Priorities / Goals

Credits: Boeing Co., NASA

Wednesday / 28 Mar 2018

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USRA And Space Policy Institute Hold “Return To The Moon” Symposium In DC Today

Universities Space Research Association & George Washington University SPI Host Annual Joint Symposium On 28 March, Focusing On “Partnership Of Government, Academia, And Industry” For Human Moon Exploration; Key Participants Include (L-R) NASA Acting Director Robert Lightfoot, ESA Director Jan Wörner (Via Video), SPI Director Henry Hertzfeld, Astronaut Jack Schmitt, Former NASA Chief Scientist Ellen Stofan; From Industry Will Be Christie Iacomini Of Blue Origin & Dan Hendrickson Of Astrobotic; Exploring Strategies To Align USA Space Initiatives With Those Of Other Nations; ~150 People Expected At Evening Reception

Credits: USRA, SPI, NASA, ESA, Blue Origin, Astrobotic

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 23-26 Mar 2018

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ULA Proposes Self-Sustaining Econosphere / CisLunar 1000 Initiative

United Launch Alliance Plans To Collaborate With Commercial Companies To Create Community Of ~1,000 People In Earth-Moon Vicinity; Self-Sufficient Economy Would Be Based On In Situ Resource Utilization From ~17,000 Near Earth Asteroids, Lunar Resources; ULA CEO Tory Bruno Says Creating Propellant In Space Will Increase Deep Space Travel; Roadmap Could Align With International Lunar Gateway, Involve Current Collaborator Bigelow Aerospace For 20-Person Cislunar Habitat & Depot; Jeff Bezos Of Blue Origin Working On Blue Moon Lunar Lander; SpaceX CEO Elon Musk Continues Plans For Rockets To Support Interplanetary / Lunar Transport Services

Credits: NASA, Boeing, Bigelow Aerospace, ULA, SpaceX, Blue Origin, Business Insider

Wednesday / 14 Mar 2018

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Astrobotic Receives NASA Funding To Develop CubeRover For Moon Missions

NASA Awards Astrobotic 2-Year Contract Up To US$750,000 To Develop 2-kg CubeRover – To Be The Smallest Rover Ever On Lunar Surface – Able To Traverse 0.5 km Or More; For Various Applications Including Testing Dust Mitigation, Establishing Communication Infrastructure, Repairing Surface Assets; Intending To Be A Standard For Moon Industry As CubeSats Are For Orbit; Led By Principal Investigator Dr. Andrew Horchler (B) In Partnership With Carnegie Mellon University; Astrobotic Hopes To Fly 1st CubeRover On Its Peregrine Lunar Lander In 2020.

Credits: Astrobotic, CMU; Pictured: Astrobotic Chairman Red Whittaker

Friday / 2 Mar 2018

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Japan Hosting 3 International Space Exploration Forums And Legal Policy Strategies For Moon Base Event

The 2nd International Space Exploration Forum, Industries ISEF & Young Professionals ISEF Are Ongoing 28 Feb – 3 Mar In Tokyo; Workshops And Panelists Will Include (Counter Clockwise TL-TR) Jan Wörner (ESA), Mohammed Al Ahbabi (UAE), Pascale Ehrenfreund (DLR), Robert Lightfoot (NASA), Takeshi Hakamada (ispace), Giuseppe Reibaldi (Moon Village); On 4 Mar University Of Toyko Will Hold “Legal Policy Strategy For The Construction Of Moon Base & Utilization Of Space Resources” Featuring UNOOSA Director Simonetta Di Pippo, ESPI Director Jean-Jacques Tortora, American Space Council Sec. Gen. Scott Pace; There Is Also A Women In Space Session Led By Simonetta Di Pippo And Astronaut Naoko Yamazaki

Credits: JAXA, MEXT, WPSP, NASA, UNOOSA, ESPI