Chris Hadfield Is Set To Arrive At The ISS On 21 Dec & Become First Canada Commander Of The Station In March; Hadfield Has Long Been Vocal Advocate Of Missions To Return Humans To Moon; He Is Optimistic About Future Of Human Space Flight, Recognizes ISS Work Critical To Help Prepare For Next Steps In Solar System Exploration; NASA Orion Craft On Track For 2014 Test Flight
Image Credit: CSA, astrofisicayfisica.com
Chang’e-2 Lunar Exploration Satellite Conducts Successful Rendezvous With Toutatis 4179 Asteroid On 13 Dec; While Passing Within 3.2 Km Of Toutatis At Relative Velocity Of 11km / Second, Probe Collected Data / Images Of Size, Shape, Constitution & Orbit Of Potentially Earth-Threatening Asteroid; Results Help China Prepare For Future Asteroid Exploration
Image Credit: CNSA
Rand Simberg Outlines The Valuable Resources Moon / Space Have To Offer, Reviews NewSpace Companies Such As Planetary Resources, Moon Express, Shackleton Energy Company, SpaceX That Are Seeking To Take Advantage Of Said Resources: Argues That New International Treaty Is Needed To Encourage / Regulate Extra-Terrestrial Property Rights Thereby Facilitating Settlement Of Space / Moon By Commercial Enterprises
Image Credit: Whiskey Sierra Graphics, twitter.com
New Model Of Human Solar System Exploration Emerges As World Commemorates 40th Anniversary Of Last Human Moon Mission; Private Corporation Golden Spike Company Intends To Sell US$1.5B 2-Person Missions To Lunar Surface By 2020; Company Foresees 15-20 Nations As Potential Customers; Apollo 17 Astronaut Cernan Affirms He “Would Like To Shake The Hand” Of Person Who Replaces Him As Last Human On Moon
Image Credit: Golden Spike, NASA
New Golden Spike Company (GSC) Should Energize Multi-World Property Rights Advocates & Ventures; Independent, Scientific & Commercial Lunar Interests Such As ILOA, GLXP Teams & Other Lunar Enterprises Likely To Advance Reality Of Lunar Acreage Ownership & Utilization Well Before 2020 GSC Astronauts On Luna Firma; Opening Of 8th Continent Vast Resources & Opportunities Enabled, Accelerated By GSC Cislunar Superhighway; Pictured: (TR) Alan Stern, (BR) Gerry Griffin Of GSC
Image Credit: Golden Spike Company, NASA
Recently Released Results From Mercury Mission MESSENGER Indicate Plentiful Deposits Of Water Ice At Its Poles 10-20cm Thick; Similar To Moon, Deposits Are Collected In Deep Impact Craters; UCLA Professor David Paige Says Studying Moon Poles Helped Researchers Develop Techniques To Research Water On Mercury; Findings Of Water On Harsh Environments Of Moon & Mercury Indicate Water Ice Is Common Component In Solar System / Universe
Image Credit: UCLA, NASA
Initiatives Ahead To Enable Hawaii Aloha Central Pacific Offshore Location To Rise As Portal To Space, Moon, Solar System, Galaxy, Stars, Beyond; Hawaii Enterprise And State Catalyzing New Pacific Space Access Constellation Of Independent Private Commercial Ventures Such As InterOrbital Systems, SpaceX, XCOR, Virgin Galactic, Space Age Publishing Co. And National Space Programs From Japan, Korea, Russia, Australia, Canada, USA, Mexico, Chile, Others; Honolulu, Oahu or Hilo, Hawaii May Emerge As Inviting Home Port For New Pacific Space Access Sea Launching Constellation
Image Credit: NASA, SpaceX
Speculation Growing After Recent Election Victory That Obama Administration / NASA Will Soon Announce Plans To Develop Cislunar Space Through Series Of Human Moon Missions (NET 2021); Likely Scenario Involves Parking Spacecraft At Earth-Moon L2 To Learn More About Supporting Humans In Deep Space; Astronauts Could Then Aid In Lunar Exploration By Teleoperating Rovers On Moon Surface, Etc
Image Credit: NASA
First Person To Walk On Moon Strongly Advocated Return To Moon As Vital Next Step For USA / Human Space Exploration, Often Noted There Are Over 36 Million Square Km Of Unexplored Lunar Sites, Moon Is Ideal Location For Preparation / Training For Future Solar System Exploration; Memorial Service To Honor Neil Armstrong Will Be Held 13 Sep At Washington National Cathedral
Image Credit: NASA / Bill Ingalls
Mars Curiosity Mechanical Systems Lead Adam Steltzner, Also Head Of Now Ebullient Entry Descent and Landing Team, Sets Sights On Europa, Jupiter System For Next Mission, “Most Likely Place In The Solar System To Have Existent Life;” Neil Armstrong, Recovering Well, Reminds Us That Permanent Earth-Moon System Development Should Remain Primary and Immediate Objective For Humanity
Image Credit: NASA, JPL, Orbiter