Tag: Moon
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NASA Authorization Act pushes for Moon and Mars priority
The House Science space subcommittee’s 2013 Authorization Act intends to refocus NASA’s exploration path towards prioritizing the goal of landing humans on both the Moon and Mars, according to draft document. Ahead of a hearing on Wednesday, the political direction also pours cold water on the realigned Exploration Mission -2 (EM-2) to explore a captured…
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From Space Station to Moon Base – Bigelow expands on inflatable ambitions
Two months after signing a non-funded Space Act Agreement (SAA) with NASA, Bigelow Aerospace has made great progress toward identifying new ideas for private-public partnerships for human space exploration of the solar system, with discussions complementing NASA’s near- and long-term exploration goals with the private sector’s burgeoning development of exploration facilities for Earth orbit and…
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A return to the Moon would send NASA back to square one – Bolden
NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden has strongly ruled out missions to land on the Moon as part of NASA’s exploration roadmap, claiming any future political re-direction to return humans to the lunar surface would send the Agency “back to square one”. Meanwhile, Northrop Grumman have completed their Lunar Lander Study on behalf of the Golden Spike…
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Golden Spike workshop to explore lunar landing site options
The Golden Spike company are to host an international scientific workshop in October, aimed at evaluating the details of their commercial lunar expeditions. With a focus on the potential to conduct science missions on the Moon, the workshop will also evaluate potential landing sites. Golden Spike: The company, formed in 2010, is led by Board Chair…
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Boeing discusses use of SLS for robust lunar program
As the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket continues development for its debut mission in December 2017, the Boeing company has identified several exploration architectures that would be enabled by the superior capability of the Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle (HLV) – ranging from missions to the Moon, through to expeditions to Mars. SLS architecture paves the way for human return to…
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Golden Spike contract Northrop Grumman for Lunar Lander
The recently revealed Golden Spike Company have announced a contract with Northrop Grumman to design their Lunar Lander. Several designs are likely to be on the table, likely including the sporty-looking lander portrayed in notional graphics during December’s reveal of the Colorado-based company. Golden Spike Lander: During December’s announcement, Golden Spike revealed a list of…
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GRAIL mission ends with Lunar impact and the honoring of a hero
NASA’s two Gravity Recovery And Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) spacecraft have successfully ended their missions by crashing into the side of a Lunar mountain near its north pole. Ebb & Flow performed admirably during their year-long mission, prior to their destructive end at a site that was renamed in honor of an American hero. GRAIL EOM (End Of…
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Golden Spike announce Phase A for commercial lunar landing missions
The Golden Spike Company team have revealed their initial work to create commercial lunar expeditions to the surface of the Moon. Led by a heavyweight board of directors, the company is currently in Phase A of their evaluations into the hardware that will enable crewed landings on the Moon as early as 2020. Golden Spike:…
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Exploration Alternatives: From Propellant Depots to Commercial Lunar Base
As NASA managers continue to work modifications to an unreleased exploration plan, one that has a Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle (HLV) at its center, the highly popular concept of an exploration highway – enabled by propellant deports – continues to gain positive overviews. Such a technology may also be involved in a major new commercial…
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EM-2: Orion crew to spend up to four days in Lunar Orbit
The first crewed mission of NASA’s Beyond Earth Orbit (BEO) exploration era will send a crew of four on a short vacation into Lunar orbit in 2021. Exploration Mission -2 (EM-2) will be a key test of Orion’s life support systems, following a baseline path laid out by EM-1, the uncrewed debut of the Space…