Artemis Moon Return Advances with Analog Training, 3 Orion Capsules on Order as Cost Transparency Urged
NASA analyzing data gathered by NASA / JAXA Astronauts Drew Feustel, Zena Cardman, Jessica Meir, Stan Love, Akihiko Hoshide, Norishige Kanai during nighttime Moonwalk simulation (JETT field test #3) and 3-day pressurized rover sojourn (D-RATS) near Flagstaff AZ; Lockheed Martin to build Orion additional crew capsules for Artemis missions 6-8 at cost of US$1.99B; Wayne Hale of NASA Advisory Council recommends PPP contract details be public, expresses concern on program architecture and 1-way Starship landing test; Former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine joining Advisory Board of CLPS provider Firefly
Potential landing areas for Artemis 3, with crewmembers including the first woman and first person of color on the Moon, to be revealed at media teleconference with NASA officials (L-R) Mark Kirasich, Jacob Bleacher, Sarah Noble and Prasun Desail; Regions are within 6° of MSP, are of scientific interest and contain viable landing sites; Criteria including communication coverage, illumination, and topographical considerations given weight in decision; NASA to outreach to “broader science community” to make final human landing site selection; 
9th National Space Council meeting since 2017 reinstitution to be presided over by (clockwise from top) VP Harris with support of Executive Secretary Chirag Parikh; Harris likely to highlight Earth observation benefits, commercial opportunities, and Artemis / USA Moon return; First Woman on the Moon championed as “incredible” by former NASA Administrator Bridenstine and First Person of Color on the Moon goal announced by Acting Administrator Steve Jurczyk are foundational, multipartisan initiatives; Bhavya Lal, Associate Administrator for the Office of Technology, Policy and Strategy may be nominated to UAG
UN-declared commemoration of Sputnik-1 (4 Oct 1964) and Outer Space Treaty (10 Oct 1967) commences next week with Women in Space theme, during a new era of space and lunar exploration with revitalized 21st Century goals to land the First Women and People of Color on the Moon; 8,000+ events across nearly 100 countries to occur, supported by organizations including Space Foundation, International Astronomical Union, SETI Institute, UNOOSA, Philippine Space Agency, European Space Education Resource Office, and Phoenix Space
SOM Symposium Convenes 16 October 1500-1700 PDT With Theme ‘NASA Returns To The Moon, First Woman On The Moon / Artemis, And Astronomy From The Moon’; First Woman Astronaut On Moon / Beyond Could Be Stanford Alumni (10 To Date); Henning Roedel (’11) To Moderate With Speakers Including Astronaut Tammy Jernigan (’81), Grant Anderson Of Paragon Space (’85) And Astronaut Nicole Aunapu Mann (’01); Panel Discussion Including ILOA Director Steve Durst (’65) To Be Moderated By Loretta Hidalgo Whitesides (’96); Endowment Funds Awarded To SSO & SAS, Received By Prof Bruce Macintosh And Prof Roger Romani, Respectively