Category Archives: SpaceX

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 16-19 October 2015

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2017 Lunar Lander Prospects:
Astrobotic, Chang’e-5, Chandrayaan-2, Moon Express, SpaceIL, Moonspike

101720152017 Moon Exploration Progressing With Private-Funding & International Initiatives; Team Astrobotic Earlier Announced Potential SpaceX Launch With Confirmation Of Contract Pending; China Chang’e-5 & India Chandrayaan-2 Lunar Missions Reveal International Desire To Advance Human Exploration; Moon Express Five Launch Deal With Rocket Lab, Including GLXP Launch, Demonstrates Momentum; Team SpaceIL To Be World’s First Verified Moon Launch Aboard SpaceX Falcon 9; Moonspike Kickstarter Fundraising Effort Underway To Design & Construct Fully Fledged Three-Stage Moon Rocket

Credit: CCTV, CNSA, CAS, Astrobotic, Moon Express, Space IL, Moonspike, ISRO

Thursday / 8 October 2015

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Israel Google Lunar XPrize Team SpaceIL Declares Launch Contract With SpaceX

1082015With Competition Extension Deadline Approaching SpaceIL Ticket Aboard SpaceX Falcon 9 For Second Half Of 2017 Extends Competition; GLXP Vice Chairman Bob Weiss (BL) Confirms SpaceIL “As The First And Only” Team To Have Verified Launch Contract; Launcher Was Purchased Via Spaceflight Industries With President Curt Blake (BC) Sharing Excitement In Achieving “SpaceIL’s Quest To Win The Google Lunar XPRIZE”; In Order To Win Team Will Need To Land On Moon & Rover Must Explore 500 Meters Then Transmit Images Back To Earth; Contender Moon Express Announcement With Rocket Lab Also Supporting Its Competition Goals; Teams Astrobotic & Hakuto Planning Cooperative Launch Also Aboard SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket

Pictured (BR): SpaceIL Team

Credit: GLXP, SpaceX, SpaceIL, Spaceflight Industries, Moon Express, Astrobotic, Hakuto

Thursday / 3 September 2015

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GLXP Challenge To Get To Moon More Difficult Than Expected

9032015Lunar Lion Withdraws From Competition; Multiple GLXP Teams Successful With Rover Mobility & Visual Testing Yet Securing Launch Contracts (LC) Proving Difficult; Lack Of Updates / LC / Departure Of Tim Pickens & Andy Aldrin From Moon Express Signal Possible Withdrawal; Astrobotic & HAKUTO Collaborating In Rideshare Partnership Via SpaceX Falcon 9 For Late 2016; One Team Must Secure LC Within ~4 Months To Extend GLXP

Credit: GLXP, Astrobotic Technology, HAKUTO

Wednesday / 19 August 2015

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GLXP Astrobotic Lands Commercial Clients For Lunar Missions

LED 081915Astrobotic Cites “Numerous Opportunities For Marketing On The Moon” When Contracted  To Deliver Japan Sports Drink Pocari Sweat Near Burg Crater Late 2016 For Undisclosed Sum; Future Rehydration With Lunar Water And Thirst-Quenching Enjoyment By Lunar Astronaut Expected; Time Capsule Container, Designed By Singapore’s Astroscale, Includes Messages And Music;  San Francisco Startup Elysium Space To Deliver Lunar Burial Services Via Astrobotic Griffin Lander; Founder Thomas Civeit Calls It An “Exceptional Tribute” 

Credit: Global Post, Astrobotic

Tuesday / 14 July 2015

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Astrobotic Progressing
Notwithstanding SpaceX Setback

7142015Cooperation With NASA For Lunar CATALYST Program Providing Confidence In Astrobotic Technology Inc Ability For Precise Future Lunar Landings; Astrobotic Software Tested With NASA Core Flight Software, Modeling & Simulation Technology; GLXP Contender Moon Launch On SpaceX Falcon 9 May Experience Delays, Astrobotic Awaiting Further Details From The Investigation; NASA Administrator Charles Bolden Reiterates Spaceflight Challenges & Success Of Previous Six SpaceX Launches

Credit:  NASA, Astrobotic, SpaceX

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 2-5 May 2014

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SpaceX Innovations

Boost Future Of Lunar Exploration

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NewSpace Powerhouse Disrupting Launch Industry, Driving Innovation & Efficiency – Boon To All Who Seek High Frontier; Successful Tests Of F9 First Stage Controlled-Flight Recovery (18 Apr) & Grasshopper 1000-Meter Hop (2 May) Show Company Is Revolutionizing Future Of Exploration; Re-Usability Might Reduce Cost-To-Orbit By Half, Controlled Landing Systems Have Applications For Lunar / Planetary Exploration

Image Credit: SpaceX

Thursday / 13 March 2014

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Apollo Marketing Success: Lessons For Modern Human Space Endeavors

MarketingTheMoon

New Book By David Meerman Scott (L) & Richard Jurek (R) Examines How NASA Successfully Marketed Apollo Program; Authors Then Evaluate Applicable Lessons For 21st Century Space Exploration: NASA Needs Unified Theme / Powerful Story To Focus Highly Fractured Global Audience, Work With Contractors Such As SpaceX On Human Mission Marketing, Allow Contractors To Take PR Lead; Challenge For Commercial Space Entrepreneurs Is Identifying Demand, Not Marketing Strategy

Image Credit: marketingthemoon.com

Tuesday / 12 February 2013

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Could Athena Again Launch Lunar Mission?

AthenaLaunch0213

Athena Emerging As Potential Launch Vehicle For Lunar Missions; More Launch Providers = More Competition / Lower Costs, Thus Goes Argument Inspiring US Air Force To Select Launch Vehicles Like Athena & Falcon 9; With Prior Success Launching A Lunar Mission (Lunar Prospector, 1998) The Lockheed Martin Rocket Could Also Be Viable Option For Emerging Commercial Space Moon Missions 

Image Credit: NASA, GLXP

Tuesday / 13 November 2012

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From Hawai`i To The Moon: Pacific Space Access

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

Wednesday / 23 May 2012

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SpaceX: Moon Next?

Falcon 9 Advancing Towards ISS Cargo / Crew Transportation Capacity; Next Step For SpaceX Is Lunar Transportation: Many GLXP Teams Looking At Falcon As Likely Launch Vehicle, Astrobotic Technology Has Launch Contract With SpaceX, GLXP Teams Receive US$2M If Launch From FL, SpaceX Offering 10% Discount To GLXP Teams; Falcon 9 Does Not Require Modifications To Reach Lunar Orbit

Image Credit: GLXP, Astrobotic Technology