Category Archives: NASA

Friday / 11 July 2014

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Benefits Of Moon First Strategy

Moon Resources

Space / Moon Experts Urge NASA To Refocus On Moon First Exploration Path: Astronaut Clayton Anderson (TL) Says Humans Should Learn To Live On Moon Before Greater Challenge Of Mars; Larry Kellogg (TR), With Input From Dr. David Schrunk (B), Writes About Apollo Inspiring Next Generation, ‘Infinite’ Resources (Lunar Regolith, Harvestable NEAs), Energy (Sunlight, H2O, Helium-3), Access To Asteroid Belt / Solar System, Potential To Create Earth-Like Environments In Moon Lava Tubes

Image Credit: NASA, Larry Kellogg, ISRO, JAXA /NHK, lifeboat.com

Wednesday / 9 July 2014

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Buzz Aldrin Outlines Goals / Benefits Of Human Spaceflight

Buzz45th

Just Weeks Before World Observes 45th Anniversary Of First Human Moon Landing, 2nd Man On Moon Buzz Aldrin Steps Up Advocacy Of Human Space Travel; Proposes 4 Goals: Stronger USA-China Space Relations, Lunar Exploration, Asteroid / Mars Exploration, Settling Mars; Says 45th Observance Is Just 5-Year Lead Up To 50th Which Many Plan To Make Into A Big Event, Reflecting On All The Benefits That Come From Lunar Exploration & Human Space Travel

Image Credit: NASA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon 4-7 July 2014

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USA 21st Century Independence Revolution

IndependenceDay2014

The USA Independence Revolution In The 21st Century Will Continue To The Stars, For Freedom And Equality, Life, Liberty, Happiness, And Prosperity; Many Americans, Independent Of Republicans And Democrats, Will Support A USA Space Agency Funded At Parity With, Or Greater Than, The US Dept of Defense – For Peaceful Human Exploration And Development Of Solar System Worlds And Resources, Including The Moon And Mars

Image Credit: NASA, pdxmim.com

Wednesday / 2 July 2014

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Educators To Work With LRO Data, NASA Scientists At Goddard Workshop

GoddardWorkshopEdu0714

Grade 6-9 Science Teachers Will Meet At NASA Goddard Space Flight Center 14-18 July To Learn Latest Discoveries In Lunar Science From LRO & Other Recent Moon Missions, Interact With Lunar Scientists / Engineers, Learn How To Bring This Data To Students & Clear Up Common Misconceptions With Hands-On Activities; Tour Of Facility Where LRO Was Built Will Also Give Teachers Better Understanding Of Mission Operations

Image Credit: NASA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 20-23 June 2014

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LRO Enters 6th Year In Good Health, Uncertain Future

LROfuture0614

23 June Will Mark 5 Years In Lunar Orbit For LRO; All 7 Instruments Continue To Provide Valuable Scientific Moon Data & Craft Has Generous Reserve Of Fuel; Funding For 2-Year Mission Extension Dependent On Results Of Ongoing NASA Biannual Senior Review Of Ongoing Missions, Results Expected This Month; Mission Extension Would Cost ~US$8M Annually, Continued Operations Could Be Invaluable To Future Human / Robotic Moon Missions

Image Credit: NASA

Wednesday / 18 June 2014

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CubeSats To The Moon

LunarCubes0614

RFI Released By NASA To Gather Feedback / Gauge Interest In Deep Space CubeSat Centennial Challenge; 1st Challenge Will Award US$3M To Competitor Able To Meet Or Exceed Propulsion, Communication, Longevity Technical Objectives While In Lunar Orbit; 2nd Challenge Will Award Up To US$1.5M For CubeSat Demonstrations Beyond Lunar Orbit; Additional US$1M For Ground Qualification Competition Reviews; CubeSats Will Be Carried Into Trans-Lunar Trajectory On 1st Launch Of NASA SLS In 2018

Image Credit: NASA, pocketspacecraft.com

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 13-16 June 2014

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LEAG & SSERVI Conferences Highlight Scientific Value Of Lunar Exploration

LEAGsservi0614

1st Announcement Of 2014 Annual Meeting Of LEAG, 22-24 Oct In Maryland USA; Call For Abstracts Expected 24 June; 2 Main Focus Areas: Lunar Volatiles & The Global Exploration Roadmap (GER); SSERVI Releases Agenda For 1st Annual NASA Exploration Science Forum, 21-23 July At Ames RC, California USA; Event Also Includes Discussion Of GER, To Integrate Priority Science Objectives Into NASA / International Exploration Plans; Pictured: LEAG Program Chair Samuel Lawrence

Image Credit: LEAG, NASA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 6-9 June 2014

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LRO Has More Work To Do After 5 Productive Years

LROsymphony

With A Generous Reserve Of Fuel And 7 Instruments Performing “Like A Finely Tuned Symphony” LRO Still A Valuable Tool For Planetary Science / Exploration; Preliminary Goals For Proposed 2nd Extended Mission Include: Evaluate Nature Of Thermophysical Differences Between Permanently Shaded Regions & Rest Of Moon, Complete Mapping (0.5-2m / Pixel) Of Non-Polar Regions, Continue Longitudinal Studies Of Changes On Moon (Impact Cratering Rate, etc), Increase Scientific Productivity Of Future Lunar Surface Missions; Pictured R-L: LRO Project Scientist Richard Vondrak & Project Manager Craig Tooley

Image Credit: NASA

Tuesday / 3 June 2014

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PISCES Extending Hawai`i Apollo Moon Mission Contributions To 21st Century

PISCESalohaMoon0614

Hawaii Island Moon-Like Environments Being Utilized By PISCES To Test Moon / Mars-Bound Vehicles & Technologies; New State Resolution Initiating Project To Develop Basaltic ‘Lunar Concrete’, Installation Of A Test ‘Lunar Sidewalk’ Set For Aug; 2nd Initiative Involves Construction-Scale 3D Printing Using Basalt, PISCES & NASA Plan To 3D Print A Landing Pad, Curved Wall, Dome Shelter; Aloha State Was Important Contributor To Apollo Moon Missions – As Depicted In Recently Released Photos – Astronaut Training, Communication Relays, Recovery Of Returning Moonworkers  

Image Credit: PISCES, NASA

Friday / 30 May 2014

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ISEE-3 Team Achieves Contact,
Close Lunar Flyby Upcoming

ISEE-3 Reboot Project

ISEE-3 Reboot Project Team Will Attempt To Command 36-Year-Old Spacecraft, Fire Engines ASAP; ISEE-3 Is ~250,000km From Where It Should Be, Increasing Possibility Of Moon Impact Without Corrective Maneuvers; Lunar Flyby Trajectory Estimated At 50km-Altitude; Recently Established 2-Way Communication Will Allow For Refinement Of Engine Burn Techniques; Goal Is To Use Moon Gravity To Enter Orbit At Sun-Earth L1, Resume Original Mission To Investigate Solar Wind, Share Data With Public

Image Credit: ISEE-3 Reboot Project