NASA Lunar Delivery Challenge Seeks New Ideas On Moon Cargo Logistics
With Regular Moon Delivery Of Equipment, Experiments, Supplies Commencing With CLPS 1 And 2 Missions In 2021, NASA Considering Unique Load-Out Challenges On Lunar Surface; Utilizing HeroX Crowdsourcing Platform Founded By Peter Diamandis (T), Led By CEO Christian Cotichini (B), Competition To Award US$10K For 1st Place Solution, 2 $4500 Prizes For 2nd, 3 $2,000 Prizes For 3rd ($25k Total); Concepts To Be Judged On 6 Criteria: Lunar Surface Applicability, Design Flexibility, Proposal Quality, Autonomy, Mass / Volume Optimization, Reliability/ Feasibility; Contest Ends January 19, 2021 17:00 EST
Credits: HeroX, NASA, Xprize, Topcoder, CLC
First Session Of International Astronautical Federation Global Networking Forum Space Conversations Series 28 Oct Will Feature JAXA Space Exploration System Technology Unit Director / ISECG Chair Naoki Sato Presenting On
NASA HLS Program Manager Lisa Watson-Morgan Oversees CBR Process, Customized To Establish Standards For Each Of 3 Unique Lander Designs: Traditional Approach By Blue Origin Group Awarded US$579M, Stripped-Down Strategy From Dynetics / 25+ Subcontractors Awarded $253M And Novel In-Space Refueling Method From SpaceX Initially Awarded $135M + $53M For Propellant Transfer Demonstration; Safety, Construction, Testing / Validation Considered; Watson-Morgan Is Confident That Diversity Of Design Advances “Bold And Challenging Objective Of Sending Astronauts To The Lunar South Pole”;
Astrobotic, A Private NewSpace Enterprise With Carnegie Mellon Origins, Has New Home Located In Historic Manchester Neighborhood Of Pittsburgh; Renovation Of 4,366-m2 Former Post Office Reportedly 1/3 Complete, Containing Space For Fabrication, Laboratories, Administration; Further Construction To Include Drone / Rover Testing Areas; US$79.5M Peregrine Mission Launching July 2021 To Lacus Mortis Area (44.96°N, 25.62°E) Of Moon Will Be Controlled From 1016 North Lincoln Ave, As Will 2 Moon South Pole Missions: $5.6M MoonRanger Rover (Carried By XL-1 Masten Lander Dec 2022) And $199.5M Griffin (To Deliver VIPER 2023)
Artemis III Science Definition Team To Present Findings Of
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
Part Of US$370M+ NASA Tipping Point Awards Announced By Administrator Bridenstine At LSIC 14 Oct, Nokia Of North America (Subsidiary Of Finland Parent Company) Granted $14.1M To Build Cis-Lunar LTE Network, A Highly Vital Component Of Artemis 2024 Human Moon Landing Plan And 2028 Moon Base Establishment; Nokia Had Planned To Launch Lunar Network In Conjunction With Vodafone, Audi And PT Scientists In 2018; Bridenstine Boldly Proclaims New Infrastructure Will Empower “Biggest, Broadest, Most Diverse Inclusive Coalition Of Researchers And Explorers In The History Of Humankind”
Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative, In Collaboration With Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory And Arizona State University Interplanetary Initiative, Hosts Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium 14 -15 Oct Online; NASA Administrator Bridenstine (L) To Give Keynote Address Wednesday At 11:45 EDT In Which Artemis 2024 Updates And Next Batch Of ‘Tipping Point’ Industry Partners For Development Of Sustainable Lunar Exploration Technology Are To Be Announced; Award Topics Include Cryogenic Fluid Management, Lunar Surface Power / Distribution And Propulsion; Private Partners Expected To Contribute ≥ 25% Of Program Costs
Wenchang SLC On Hainan Island Is Center Of Preparatory Activity For 24 Nov Chang’e-5 Launch: Testing, Assembly, LM-5 Launch Vehicle Integration; Built By CAST For CNSA, Chang’e-5 23-Day Mission Comprised Of Orbiter, Lander, Ascender And Returner;
Collaborative ESA