Artemis Features Prominently in Revamped Space Policy, NASA Administrators Evaluate Progress in Huntsville & Order New SLS SRBs
NASA Deputy Administrator Melroy declares “We are so ready for Artemis” during MSFC facility tour with Administrator Nelson, days prior to first meeting of revamped National Space Council led by VP Harris 1 Dec with focus on climate change mitigation, space conduct standards, STEM education; Space Priorities Framework specifies “landing the first woman and person of color on the Moon, advancing a robust cislunar ecosystem” as official goals of Biden administration; Northrop Grumman to build composite solid rocket boosters for Artemis 4-9 under US$3.19B / 10-year contract
Seeking to overcome range constraints of single-landing craft and speed limitations of ground rovers, international science engineering teams utilizing computer modelling promote alternative rocket ‘hopper’ concept first used on Lunar surface during Surveyor 6 (1967) and Pogo-stick style locomotion; NASA CLPS lunar lander provider Intuitive Machines is to carry Micro-Nova, capable of traversing 2.4km with 900 gram payload capacity, on IM-2 mission near Shackleton Rim; Micro-Nova may allow investigation of otherwise inaccessible PSRs, thought to contain water ice
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
VP Harris (L) utilizes space diplomacy with oldest USA ally France, possible 15th member state joining Artemis Accords agreement on lunar exploration / extraction planning Human Moon landings NET 2025; In turn VP Harris commits USA to France-led climate sat interoperability / data exchange Space Climate Observatory with 35 signatories including UNOOSA, Brazil, China, Israel, Russia, Sweden, UK Space Agencies; Roscosmos Director Rogozin (R) declares Luna-27 NET 2025 will be truly international; China neighbors in SE Asia including Thailand may join ILRS and/or Artemis
Progress update on Artemis / First Woman on the Moon / First Person of Color on the Moon coming via 
USA VP Harris gives remarks 5 Nov at NASA GSFC in Greenbelt MD, research lab responsible for world-class Earth observation Landsat mission; As National Space Council Chair, Harris announced inaugural session of term 1 Dec, alluding to “comprehensive framework for space priorities” pending announcement; Climate change mitigation, beneficial technology transfer, commercial viability, security themes addressed; Historical invocations of first USA spaceflight by Alan Shepard, fellow Democrats JFK / LBJ, and 12 Moonwalkers followed by closing statement “While exploration of space defined 20th Century, the opportunity of space will define 21st Century”
Jervis Autonomous Module (JAM) is planned module for self-flying space vehicles with communication / navigation capabilities beyond range of GNSS and without constraints inherent to deep space network; System to be built by Rhea Space Activity with venture capital backing of SpaceFund, led by (R-L) Rick Tumlinson and Meagan Crawford; JAM to utilize 
NASA 
NASA to construct its first autonomous Moon rover, 
Lunar exploration thought leaders are meeting at International Astronautical Congress 2021 in Dubai; ‘Towards Sustainable Lunar Activities’, presented by Moon Village Association / moderated by physicist (clockwise from TL) John Mankins will feature panelists including Mike Gold of Redwire and Romanian Astronaut Dumitru-Dorin Prunariu; ESA plan for cislunar communications will be discussed during ‘Moonlight: Connecting Earth with the Moon’ with panelists Nelly Offord (SSTL), Dan Hendrickson (Astrobotic); ‘Building the Lunar Ecosystem Today’ has focus on lunar economy