Category Archives: Solar System Exploration

Tuesday / 20 October 2015

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LEAG 20-22 October Focus On Moon Utilization For Sustained Human Space-Faring Capabilities

10202015Public & Private Sector To Discuss Common Goals Of Lunar Exploration, Apply Results Of Recent / Ongoing Missions Toward Future Exploration, Provide A Community Forum At 2015 LEAG In Columbia MD; Along With Various Information Sessions, ESA Will Offer Update On Current Lunar Exploration Activities & Plans With International Partnerships; Rob Kelso Of PISCES To Brief On PISCES-NASA “Additive Construction With Mobile Emplacement (ACME)” Project Demonstrating Technologies Associated With Planetary Robotic Construction Using Basalt; Final Day Includes In Situ Resource Utilization Session About Key Factors For Sustainable Human Spaceflight Programs

Credit: LEAG, UH Hilo, PISCES, ESA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 9-12 October 2015

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New Worlds 2015 To Discuss Settling Moon, Mars & Free Space

10102015Inaugural Space Conference 16-17 Oct With Ted-Style Presentations Named ‘Star Talks’ To Cover Space Exploration Before 1900, Life Extension, Lewis & Clark In Space, Space Medicine; Lunar Sessions Will Discuss New Plans For Human Moon Missions & Lunar Bases; NWI Chairman & Co-Founder Of Space Frontier Foundation Rick Tumlinson Serving As Conference Host States NWI “Goal Is To Plant The Seeds Of A New And Dynamic Space Culture”; Cities In Space Competition For Students Grades 5-12 Held In Conjunction To Create Displays Of Planetary Settlements On Moon, Mars, Free Space With Winning Presentations Exhibited At Conference

Credit: New Worlds Institute, NASA, ESA

Wednesday / 7 October 2015

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5th International LunarCubes Workshop Brings Scientists, Engineers, Enterprise To San Jose 6-9 Oct

1072015Robust Lunar Enterprise Workshop Over 4 Days  Focusing On Space Exploration, Collaboration, Technology & Commercial Strategies; NASA Ames Research Center Manager Jim Cockrell (R) Highlights First In-Space Cube Quest Challenge (US$5.5M Prize) To Develop Small Moon Orbiters & Deep Space Satellites; Steve Durst (BL) Discussing ‘Astronomy From The Moon’ As A New Frontier With The International Lunar Observatory (ILO-1); Interorbital Systems Randa Milliron (TL) Will Talk About IOS Neptune Modular Rockets; Annual LunarCubes Workshop Provides Hands-On Activities & Educational Sessions To Further Moon & Space Exploration

Credit: LCW5, ILOA, NASA, Jim Cockrell, IOS, Randa Milliron

Friday / 21 August 2015

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Orion Key To Proposed Moon Far Side Base

8212015Next-Generation Human Space Transportation Beyond Low Earth Orbit Progressing With Orion Spacecraft Designed For Deep Space Exploration; Contractor Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company (LMSSC) Working Closely With NASA In Constructing The Craft; Dr. Michael Hawes, LMSSC VP & Program Manager Discusses Goal Of Deep Space & “We’re Going To Do That Building From The Moon Out” Noting The Benefits Of A Station On Moon Far Side With Power & Communications

Credit: NASA, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company

Wednesday / 1 July 2015

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July Space Month 2015 Accelerates
Apollo 50th Considerations, Preparations

LED Moon Mars Jupiter Saturn

Great Time For Bold Thinking / Planning For Human Solar System Exploration Spanning Entire 21st Century; New Horizons Confirmation Of New, Third, Outer Solar System Region Highlights Jupiter / Saturn Systems ‘Strategic Center’ Planning For Comprehensive 21st Century Goals And Complement For Moon / Mars / Asteroids Inner Region Exploration

Credit: NASA, SpaceX

Wednesday / 10 June 2015

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USA Advancing ‘NextSTEP’
Lunar Mission Concepts

CislunarNextSTEP0615

Cislunar Space To Be Center Of NASA Activity In 2020s As Country / Agency Develop Technologies / Experience To Conduct Long-Duration, Deep Space Missions; Companies Such As Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Bigelow Advancing Cislunar Habitat Concepts Under NASA NextSTEP Awards; Plans Incorporating Likelihood Of Cooperation From International & Commercial Partners Which May Lead To Lunar Surface Missions / Lunar Base Buildout; Sense Of Urgency To Define / Plan These Missions Growing As SLS / Orion Era Fast Approaching

Image Credit: Lockheed Martin, Bigelow Aerospace

Thursday / 4 June 2015

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New Horizons May Shed Light On Earth-Moon System Formation

AStern0615

New Horizons Mission May Facilitate Better Understanding Of  Formation Of Earth-Moon System, Says Mission PI Alan Stern, As Charon Believed To Have Been Formed Through Similar Process; His Efforts To Study Pluto, Its Satellites & Kuiper Belt With New Horizons Mission Should Garner More Attention / Support & Help In Preparations To Achieve Human Missions To Earth’s Moon Via Golden Spike Company Of Which Stern Is Co-Founder

Image Credit: NASA, Golden Spike Company

Thursday / 14 May 2015

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Space Law Issues Raised As Asteroid & Lunar Mining Initiatives Advance

AsteroidMoon0515

Planetary Resources Launches 1st Of 2 Planned 2015 Asteroid Mining Demonstration Spacecraft Missions; Space Mining Experts Meeting In Canada Note Upcoming NASA Resource Prospecting Missions To Lunar Poles, Existing Canada & ESA Rovers That Could Be Used For Lunar Missions In Search Of Water-Ice; Experts Posit That Commercial Space Mining Is Likely Decades Away, Though Many Assert That A Mechanism For Regulating Space Mining / Addressing Property Rights Claims Needs To Be Established ASAP Before Commercial Asteroid & Lunar Missions Commence

Image Credit: Planetary Resources, NASA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 8-11 May 2015

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Moon, Mars & Beyond:
Expanding The End Goal Of Human Exploration

BuzzSolarSystem

Apollo 11 Moonwalker Buzz Aldrin, Speaking At Humans To Mars Summit In Washington DC, Says Moon Has Value As An Outpost / Base Between Earth & Mars, But Can Not Be End Goal; Many Experts Believe Mars Also Can Not Be End Goal For Humanity To Reach Full Potential As Multiworld Species Thriving Into Next Centuries / Millenia; 21st Century Exploration Vision / Plan That Begins With Lunar Settlement & Encompasses Whole Solar System, Moons Of Jupiter, Saturn, Etc, Will Best Serve Continued Evolution Of Nascent Space Programs

Image Credit: livingorganizations.com, Kelly Dickerson

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 24-27 April 2015

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Moon May Be Critical Stepping Stone To NASA Mars Ambitions

SpudsMoon0415

Moon Mission Advocate Paul Spudis Outlines How Human Mars Mission Is Unfeasible Without Use Of Lunar-Produced Propellant; Propellant Would Comprise >80% Of The ~900,000 Kg Of Equipment Needed For Mars Journey; Harvesting Volatiles At Lunar Poles, Creating Working Fueling Depot Close To Deep Space Staging Areas Where Mars Spacecraft Can Be Assembled; NASA Resource Prospector Mission Could Confirm Feasibility Of Using Volatile Deposits On Moon As Fuel / Consumables For Long Duration Spaceflight

Image Credit: NASA, aaas.org