Brown University Professor Carle Pieters Will Join ‘The Moon As A Cornerstone To The Terrestrial Planets’ Team Of NLSI On 29 Jan To Overview Implications Of New Lunar Data & Discuss How It Is Leading To New Strategies For Human & Robotic Exploration; David Kring Of LPI Will Recap Successes Of NLSI In Achieving Research Goals, Assisting In NASA Robotic & Human Mission Scenario Development
Image Credit: NASA
Ottawa Citizen Editorial Commends Recent ESA – NASA Partnership Agreement For Orion / MPCV Lunar Exploration Missions, Elaborates On Importance & Benefits Of Human Solar System Exploration: Technology Advances, Potential For Poverty Eradication, Innate Human Need To Explore; Canada, With Expertise In Mining & Robotics, Is Set To Be Important Contributor To USA / Europe Exploration Goals
Image Credit: CSA, NASA, NORCAT, Ottawa Citizen
Leonardo da Vinci Masterpiece Used For First-Ever One-Way Laser Communication At Planetary Distance; Black & White 152 X 200 Pixel Image, Beamed From NASA Goddard SFC To LRO LOLA Instrument 386,000km Away At Slow Rate Of 300 Bits / Second; Experiment Allowed For Calibration Of Atmospheric Distortion In Preparation For LLCD Experiment On LADEE; Laser Communication Holds Promise Of Bringing Live, HD Video Feeds From Jupiter & Beyond
Image Credit: NASA
Europe ATV Propulsion Hardware And Solar Arrays Will Make Up Large Part Of NASA Orion Service Module For EM-1 (NET 2017) 7-Day, Uncrewed Circumlunar Cruise & EM-2 (~2021); Agreement May Also Entail Participation Of ESA Astronaut In EM-2; Current Plan For EM-2 Is To Send 4 Crew Members To Orbit Moon For 3-4 Days; Academics, Engineers, Industry Arguing For More Ambitious Mission, Possibly To L2, 65,000km Beyond Lunar Far Side
Image Credit: NASA, ESA
First Private Moon Rovers Could Spur Era Of Lunar Mining, Construction & Tourism; Lunar Lion Team Leader Michael Paul Says NASA Must Harness Strength Of Private Industry To Advance Solar System Exploration, Seeking To Establish Penn State As “Go-To University” For Growing Commercial Space Industry
Image Credit: Penn State, GLXP
Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute Will Succeed Current NLSI; NASA Soliciting Multi-Institutional Proposals For Research As Participating Members Of New Institute; Scope Of Research Is Fields Of Lunar, NEA, Martian Moon Sciences; Preference Given To Research Involving Both Planetary Science & Human Exploration Of Target Bodies; Approximately 7 New Teams Will Be Selected
Image Credit: NASA
With NASA Avoiding Lander Development By Contemplating Lassoing Asteroids And L2 ‘Waypoint Activities’, Golden Spike Company Advancing Human Lunar Surface Missions With Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Design Contract, Only Company With Proven Record Building Human-Rated Moon Landers Will Explore Wide Variety Of Small Lunar Lander Concept Options Capable Of Launching On Existing Rockets By 2020
Image Credit: Golden Spike Company, Northrop Grumman
Impending 2013 China Moon Lander Should Inspire USA To Renew National Robustness In Lunar Surface Exploration; NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Working On Mini Lunar Landers, Original 2013 Launch Date Delayed To ~2018 Due To Inconsistent Funding / Support / Incentive; With US Government Commitment Of ~US$200-300M NASA Could Achieve Robotic Lander / Power Station On Lunar South Pole ‘Peak Of Eternal Light’ Within 2 Years
Image Credit: NASA, ESA
LADEE Spacecraft Scheduled For Launch Via 5-Stage Minotaur 5 Rocket On 12 August From Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport On Wallops Island, VA; 3 Main Science Instruments Recently Integrated On Craft: Ultraviolet & Visible Light Spectrometer, Neutral Mass Spectrometer, Lunar Dust Experiment; Mission Will Pioneer NASA Modular Common Bus Architecture, Also Set For Use By Moon Express GLXP Mission
Image Credit: NASA
US House Of Representatives Passes Bill To Rename NASA Facility For Neil Armstrong; Hugh L Dryden Flight Research Center In Edwards CA To Be Named After First Human To Walk On Moon; Future Space Explorers Gain Treasure Trove Of Inspiration Through Publication Of Long-Awaited John Young Memoir Forever Young: A Life Of Adventure In Air & Space
Image Credit: NASA, University Press Of Florida