Friday / 22 Mar 2019

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Multiple Moon March Activities Planned By Commercial Industry And Nations Including USA

Current Lunar Activities Include SpaceIL Beresheet On Course To Vicinity Of Moon By 4 April And Planned Landing 11 Apr; 6-Person International Crew Of SIRIUS-19 In Moscow Simulating 122-Day Lunar Mission; Astrobotic Uses LIDAR-Equipped Drone To Map Iceland Lava Tube In Preparation For Lunar Applications; Japan, Canada And Lockheed Martin Plan Modules For Moon Orbit; US National Space Council Meets 26 Mar As NASA Plans Lunar Rover In 2023; Administrator Jim Bridenstine Says Next Human Landings Will Include First Woman On The Moon

Credits: SpaceIL, NASA, Astrobotic, DLR

Tuesday / 19 Mar 2019

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Apollo 11 Lunar Landing To Be Observed Across Earth 

 50th Observation Includes Apollo 11 Documentary In Theaters And ‘First Man’ In Video; Astronauts Gather At MIT Space Week And NYC Explorers Club; Seattle Museum Of Flight 13 Apr Opens Destination Moon Exhibit Featuring Columbia Spacecraft Plus Buzz Aldrin Helmet And Gloves; Aldrin Headlining Gala In Simi Valley CA 13 July; Harrison Schmitt (L) And Gene Kranz (R) Will Be At ApolloPalooza In Denver 13-20 July; Launch Day Events Planned 16 July At Kennedy Space Center And National Air And Space Museum

Credits: NASA, Space Center Houston

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 15-18 Mar 2019

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Symposium On Going To Moon To Stay Opens Lunar And Planetary Science Conference 

The 50th Lunar And Planetary Science Conference Opens 18-22 March At The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Near Houston, Texas; The Conference Close To NASA Johnson Space Center Will Draw Scientists From Around The World; LPSC Will Be Preceded 16-17 Mar By Microsymposium Organized By Brown University And SSERVI On Going To The Moon To Stay; Participants Will Discuss Transformative Lunar Science With Commercial Partners; Presentations Will Be From 6 NASA-Selected Lunar Payload Services Providers Including Lockheed Martin And Moon Express, Along With SpaceX And SpaceIL

Credits: Marriott, Wikimedia, CNSA

Friday / 15 Mar 2019

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Moon Village Association Discussing Lunar Initiatives In London And Women On The Moon In Paris

Moon Village Association Opens Discussion On ‘Why Should Humans Settle The Moon’ At University College London 15 March; MVA Telecon From Paris On Cooperation Also On 15 Mar; Opening Event Of MVA France Network Is 25 Mar In Paris With Theme ‘The Future Of Moon Exploration And Settlement’ Before International Astronautical Federation Meeting 26-27 Mar; Speakers Include Giuseppe Reibaldi And John Mankins Of MVA Along With Chris Welch Of International Space University; MVA/IAF Open Meeting And Global Networking Forum 27 Mar Will Include Presentation Of Women On The Moon Initiative

Credits: Moon Village Association, International Astronautical Federation

Wednesday / 13 Mar 2019

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Administrator Of NASA Jim Bridenstine Declares: Commercial Delivery Missions To The Moon [To Begin] As Early As This Year

 The First CLPS Mission Could Occur As Soon As October 2019; NASA May Begin Preparing The Surface Of The Moon For Human Landing As Early As 2020; Proposals For Human-Rated Landers Due 25 March; Would Be Supported By ‘Funding’; Bridenstine Characterizes FY2020 NASA Budget Proposal Of US$21B As One Of The Strongest On Record – $363M To Support Commercial Development Of A Large Lunar Lander To Carry Cargo And Then Astronauts To The Surface Of The Moon

Credits: NASA/Joel Kowsky

Tuesday / 12 Mar 2019

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Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Finds Water Moving Across Lunar Surface, Cooperates With Chang’e-4 Mission 

 

NASA Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, In Orbit Since June 2009, Makes Data Release 37B; LRO Lyman Alpha Mapping Project Observes Water Molecules Moving Around Lunar Dayside; LAMP Uses Ultraviolet Light From Stars To Look Into Permanently Shadowed Craters Seeking Water Ice; LRO Is Positioned To Aid Future International Robotic And Crewed Missions; In Cooperation With CNSA Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) Images Chang’e-4 Lander And Yutu-2 Rover On Surface

Credits: NASA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 8-11 Mar 2019

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New Canada Space Strategy Includes Lunar Rovers; Moon Express Has MoU For Early Direct Landings 

Navdeep Bains, Minister Of Innovation, Science And Economic Development, Unveils New Canada Space Strategy; US$2B Commitment Over 24 Years Contains $150M For Lunar Exploration Accelerator Program; Maxar Technologies MDA Developing Robotic Arms For Lunar Missions And Robotic Lunar Rover With 600-km Range; Moon Express Headed By Bob Richards Is One Of 9 NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Service Providers, Has MoU With Canadian Space Agency, And Could Provide Early Direct Flights To Lunar Surface At Fraction Of Canada Space Budget

Credits: Moon Express, NASA, CSA-ASC

Friday / 8 Mar 2019

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Sierra Nevada Corporation Building Lunar Habitat

Sierra Nevada Corporation Of Colorado, One Of Top 15 Builders Of Small Satellites, Has Sights On Moon; Dream Chaser Spaceplane For Cargo Delivery Is In Production With Launch Window In 2020; Sierra Nevada Partners With Moon Express For Lunar Mission And Is One Of Five Companies Funded By NASA NextSTEP-2 Program To Build Full-Scale Habitats; Ground Prototype Will Include Large Inflatable Fabric Environment (LIFE), Logistics Module, Environmental Control And Life Support Systems For Long-Term Human Occupation

Credits: Sierra Nevada Corporation

Tuesday / 5 Mar 2019

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SpaceX Elon Musk Agrees With NASA On Need For Lunar Base

 

After Successful Uncrewed Launch Of Crew Dragon To ISS, Elon Musk States, “We Should Have A Base On The Moon” Agreeing With NASA Jim Bridenstine About SPD-1 Mandate; SpaceX Crew Dragon And Boeing Starliner Projected To Return Astronauts On American Vehicle In 2019; Musk Already Planning To Send Yusaku Maezawa And Artists Around Moon On SpaceX ‘Starship’ In 2023; SpaceX Supporters Believe Starship Can Provide Lunar Transportation For Less Than Cost Of Space Launch System

Credits: NASA, SpaceX

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 1-4 Mar 2019

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SpaceIL Beresheet Makes Successful Orbit Change, On Course For Mare Serenitatis

SpaceIL Beresheet, First Privately-Funded Lunar Lander, Completes Orbital Maneuver; Previous Attempt On 25 February Unsuccessful Due To Unexpected Computer Reset; Apogee Raised From 69,400 To 131,000 km; Beresheet Also Deals With Malfunction In Star Tracker, Will Attempt Landing 11 Apr; Mare Serenitatis Landing Site Is At Aprroximately 33° N, 17° E Between Sites Of Apollo 15 And 17; Beresheet Expected To Operate 2-3 Days On Moon; 585-kg Lander Contains 30 Million Page Time Capsule To Remain On Lunar Surface

Credits: SpaceIL, Flash90