Category Archives: NASA

Tuesday / 18 November 2014

Posted on by

Morpheus Lander Set To Initiate New Series Of Test Flights

ALHAT1114

First In New Set Of Morpheus Tests Today – Weather Permitting – Will Be A Tethered Flight, 2 Free Flights Scheduled For 1st Week Of Dec; Team Decided Additional Tests Were Warranted After Making Software Updates Related To Navigation Algorithms & Hardware Improvements Including Relocation Of Doppler Lidar Velocimeter; Morpheus Is Simply A Vehicle To Test ALHAT Technology Which Could Be Utilized For Future Moon / Planetary Landing Missions, Enabling Identification & Avoidance Of Rocks As Small As 0.3m & Missions To Previously Inaccessible Locations Such As Moon South Pole

Image Credit: NASA

 

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 14-17 November 2014

Posted on by

LRO Continues To Prepare For Future Moon Exploration

Untitled-1

Maintaining American Presence At Moon, 45 Years After Apollo 12 Mission, LRO Consistently Adding More Data & Imagery To Increase Global Understanding Of Value Of Moon For Humanity To Thrive In Solar System; Recent Imagery Of Lava Tubes And Sinuous Rilles In Oceanus Procellarum Region, Exploration Of This Area Could Provide Data On Timing & History Of Lunar Volcanism, Natural Radiation Shielding For Human Explorers, & In-Situ Resources Such As Large Pyroclastic Deposits; Keep Track Of LRO Current Location  

Image Credit: NASA

Friday / 14 November 2014

Posted on by

S Korea Advancing Toward 2020 Moon Mission

KARI 2020

S Korea Indigenous Lunar Orbiter & Module / Launch Vehicle-2 Feasibility Study Conducted By Ministry Of Strategy & Finance States Project May Create ~US$296M Added Value & 4,800 Jobs, Potential Value From Lunar Exploration Is ~US$3.5B (5.17 Times Budget Allotted – $677M); Hopes To Launch Orbiter In 2020 With Help From NASA Joint Research Agreement, 15 Government-Funded Research Institutions Led By KARI; Also Planning To Develop 10-20 Kg Rover To Look For Rare Minerals

Pictured: S Korea President Park Geun-Hye (L) & KARI President Seung Jo Kim

Image Credit: KARI

Friday / 7 November 2014

Posted on by

Moon Educator & Cislunar Space Workshops Promoting Lunar Science

Lunar Workshops

Lunar Educator Workshop For 45 Teachers Will Feature Apollo Missions Moon Rocks & Regolith At JPL In Pasadena CA 8 Nov; International Workshop On Scientific Opportunities In Cislunar Space: Lunar Science Illuminating The Universe On 9 Nov In Tucson AZ To Focus On Testing Deep Space Instruments In Cislunar Space (LEO To Moon Far Side Halo Orbit LL2) & Cislunar Scientific Analogs Which Can Imitate Many Extreme Conditions From Mercury To Pluto

Image Credit: NASA, Select Investor

Thursday / 6 November 2014

Posted on by

Bootstrapping A Moon Base

Metzger1114

In 3-Part Interview, Former NASA KSC Research Physicist Philip Metzger Outlines How NASA / Global Private / Public Community Could Begin Today To Develop Sustainable Lunar Base With Fraction Of Current Budget; Plan Relies On Robotic Manufacturing / Extracting Of Resources In Space To Reduce Launch Mass, Advance Immediate Payback Opportunities, Spread Cost & Development Over Extended Period Of Time; Progressive Robotic Technological Development In Cislunar Space Could Bring Benefits To Life On Earth While Facilitating Settlement Of Solar System & Beyond

Image Credit: NASA, PhilipMetzger.com

Wednesday / 5 November 2014

Posted on by

USA Advancing Moon Resource Prospecting Missions

NASARPMflashlight

2 Separate NASA Moon Missions Seek To Advance Human Capacity To Live Off-World; Lunar Flashlight PI Barbara Cohen Of NASA Marshall SFC Says Solar Sail Orbiter Mission, With The Goal Of Obtaining Data Of Purity & Accessibility Of Lunar Volatiles, May Launch On Debut SLS Flight In Late 2017; Resource Prospector Mission Project Scientist Tony Colaprete Of NASA Ames Says Rover Mission Will Map & Collect Samples Of Surface / Subsurface Hydrogen At 2 Yet-To-Be-Determined Polar Sites; Demonstration Of ISRU Could Facilitate Human Moon Settlement

Image Credit: NASA

 

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 31 October – 3 November 2014

Posted on by

LRO Advancing Observation Plan For 2nd
2-Year Extended Mission

LRO10-1114

Search & Discovery Of LADEE Impact Crater (R) Allowed LROC Team To Test Recently Developed Computer Tool To Search Narrow Angle Camera Before & After Images For New Craters; Technique Will Facilitate One Of The Objectives For 2nd LRO Extended Mission: Determine How Many Small Meteorites Hitting Moon & Their Effects; LRO Has Collected Over 528.75 TB Of Data Since 2009 Arrival In Lunar Orbit; Orbiter Now Set To Take Oblique Image Of Euler Crater (L) After Preparatory -58 Degree Roll; Instrument PIs Planning Next Observations

Image Credit: NASA

Thursday / 30 October 2014

Posted on by

Moon Express To Update On Moon Lander Development

MEcatalyst1014

Lunar Enterprise Moon Express To Begin Vehicle Testing At Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Landing Facility, ALHAT Hazard Field (BR), In November; Media Representatives Invited To Project Update Mon 3 Nov At KSC, 14:00 EST; ME Vehicle Testing Is Part Of Its Participation In NASA Lunar Cargo Transportation & Soft Landing By Soft Touchdown (CATALYST), No-Funds-Exchanged Space Act Agreement Initiative To Encourage Development Of USA Private Sector Robotic Landers; 1st ME Mission MX-1 To Compete For GLXP In 2015 / 2016

Pictured: Moon Express CEO Bob Richards

Image Credit: Moon Express, NASA

Tuesday / 28 October 2014

Posted on by

LRO CRaTER Highlighting Dangers Of Space Environment

CRaTER1014

Data From CRaTER Instrument Aboard LRO Orbiter Demonstrating Impact Of Abnormal & Extended Lack Of Solar Activity; Since 2006 – Longest Solar Minimum / Weakest Solar Activity Is Bringing About Highest Intensities Of Galactic Cosmic Rays Witnessed Since Beginning Of Space Age Says CRaTER PI Nathan Schwadron Of UNH; Trend Reducing Allowable Days For Human Deep Space Exploration By 20%; Lunar Exploration – Short Transit & Possibilities For Underground Habitation – More Feasible Than Deep Space / Mars Exploration With Current Technology

Image Credit: NASA, UNH

Tuesday / 21 October 2014

Posted on by

Lunar Scientists Gather For
LEAG Annual Meeting 22-24 Oct

LEAG Oct 22-24

Lunar Exploration Analysis Group Meeting Taking Place 22-24 October In Laurel MD At JHU/APL; 3 “Current Understanding” Sessions On Lunar Volatiles With Major Focus Moon South Pole / Permanently Shadowed Craters, Solar Wind, Data From LRO / LADEE / ARTEMIS, Potential For Human Stays On Moon; 2 Sessions On Future Exploration Instruments, Missions, Techniques, Strategies & Opportunities; 50+ Speakers (L-R) Include Jacob Bleacher (NASA), John Thorton (Astrobotic), James Carpenter (ESA)

Image Credit: LEAG, JHU/APL, NASA