Important Innovations

Tiny Rovers, Tiny Payloads, Tiny Instruments Source:  NASA Big Science: NASA Wants Your Ideas NASA has plans to send tiny robotic rovers to the Moon.  In order to do this, NASA needs to develop miniature scientific payloads for the tiny rovers.  NASA is formally asking the public for their ideas. Game Changing Science This is not fun and games. NASA expects the winning ideas that come through this public process  will be game changing  They believe the smaller payloads will result in a series of miniaturized instruments and sensors that can quickly be used for lunar exploration and for harvesting the resources  found there. Crowdsourcing NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab has launched a crowdsourcing project on HeroX.  It's called "Honey, I shrunk the NASA payload".  Specifically, NASA is looking for small instrument design concepts to sustain human life on the Moon and also to use the resources found there. Prize Money The ins

Growing Global Space Programs Source:  ISRO Lunar Explorations and Global Cooperation India is a growing leader in the exploration of space.  Of particular interest is India's many lunar exploration successes.  India is providing vital data from its multi-year Chandrayaan-2 mission that is now orbiting the Moon.  The images are being provided to the NASA-led Artemis program, which is a multinational effort to put astronauts back on the Moon by 2024.  The images of the surface of the Moon are vital to determine the best landing spot on the Moon for the next team of astronauts. Back in 2009, India was the first to discover ice deposits on the surface of the Moon. In 2021, it plans to launch Chandrayaan-3 that will include another landing attempt.  Their Vikram lander failed to land safely on the Moon as part of the C-2 mission. US-India Space Cooperation Accelerating President Trump in his late February 2020 trip to India praised India's many space exploration and te

China's Lunar Rover Makes Surprise Discovery Source:  China Lunar Exploration Project Mystery Substance on Far Side of the Moon China's historic exploration of the far side of the Moon has resulted in a remarkable discovery.  China's Yutu-2 lunar rover spotted an unusually colored, gel-like substance in a small crater on the lunar surface.  Chinese experts have not yet come up with an explanation of what it is.  For more details go to Important Innovations Collection: Exciting Discovery on Moon's Far Side : China's Chang'e 4 Lunar Rover Find Source:  China Lunar Exploration Project Unusual, Gel-Like Substance China's Chang&#3...

Starhopper Spaceship Aces Test Launch Source:  SpaceX Big Victory for SpaceX Elon Musk's SpaceX is on a roll with victory after victory in the commercialization of space.  It's latest success happened yesterday with the successful launch of its spaceship Starhopper.  For more details, go to Important Innovations Collection: SpaceX on Target for Mars : Starhopper Rocket Prototype Passes Highest & Final Test Source:  Space X Next: On to Orbital Prototypes for 2021 Launch Another ...

Important Space Research:  Sustainable Energy for Lunar Bases European Space Agency's Lunar Bricks This is important space research from the European Space Agency ESA.  Space bricks composed of the surface of the Moon that can store lunar energy and then convert it into electricity and heat.  The team at the ESA are developing this and think it will enable human habitation of the Moon and beyond by eventually using local resources on the Moon.  For more details, go to my journalist colleague Ed Kane, at Important Innovations Collection: Sustainable Lunar Bases - Lunar Soil : Human Bases on the Moon Powered by Available Lunar Materials Source:  Stock Image of  Future Lunar Bases Fascinating Research by the E...

India Going to the Moon Second Lunar Mission On Monday, July 22 India plans to launch a rocket to the Moon.  By mid September it's scheduled to land on the Moon's South Pole, which is unexplored territory.  For a great news blog on this, go to Important Innovations Collection: India Going for the Moon : Second Lunar Mission in a Year Source:  NASA image of the Moon To Explore Moon's South Pole - Unchartered Territory India is gea...

NASA's Plan to Install Telescopes on the Moon Source:  Moon stock image Robotic Arm to Deploy the Telescopes Using a rover and a robotic arm, NASA plans to install a network of small, highly advanced satellites on the far, dark side of the Moon.  Work on the project is being done at a NASA funded lab at the University of Colorado in Boulder.  For more details, go to Important Innovations Collection: Robot to Install Telescopes on Moon : NASA Funded Project Source:  Stock image of  Moon Telescopes to Look Deep Into the Universe A NASA funded lab at the University of Co...

India Launching Space Mission to the Unexplored South Pole of the Moon Source:Add caption Take-off on Monday, July 15 India is building up a space leadership position for itself.  On Monday, it will launch its second lunar mission within a year.  What is exciting about this one is there's a rover onboard and the destination is the unexplored South Pole of the Moon.  For more details, go to Important Innovations Collection: India Racing to the Moon : Second Unmanned Lunar Mission Source:  Stock Image Rover to Land at Unexplored South Pole "Boldly going to where no country has...

NASA Plans Space Station for the Moon Source:  NASA Lunar Space Station Concept Lunar Vehicle to Orbit, Land and Serve as Astronaut Habitat NASA's plan is to put astronauts on the Moon again starting in 2024.  To expedite the missions, NASA plans to have a Lunar vehicle capable of orbiting and landing on the Moon.  It will also serve as a habitat for astronauts.  Canada has signed on as a partner and the European Space Agency is also interested in participating. It's called the Lunar Orbital Platform - Gateway. For details, check out this news blog Important Innovations Collection: NASA Plans New Space Station : Lunar Orbiter, Lander & Astronaut Habitat Source:  NASA Lunar Orbiter Concept Man on the Moon in 2024 NASA's plan is for ...

Latest Book "Big Space News 2019" by Journalist Ed Kane Now Live on Kindle and Amazon - Free Kindle Borrow Available "Big Space News 2019" by journalists Ed Kane and me, Maryanne Kane has just been published and is live on Kindle and Amazon.  We've written a series of news summaries on the top breakthroughs and discoveries in space so far this year, of which there have been many. If you like, you can borrow it for free on Kindle.  For more details about the many big news stories contained in the book, go to Important Innovations Collection: "Big Space News 2019" by Edward Kane : My New Book Live on Kindle and Amazon ASIN: B07TYG31KM ,  ASIN: 1079271104 Free Borrow on Kindle I'm so pleased to...

NASA's Next Mission & New Destination Source:  NASA - Titan Saturn's Largest Moon - Titan NASA has announced that its next mission to a new destination is to Titan, which is Saturn's largest moon.  It is also the only moon in the solar system with an atmosphere.  NASA calls it the Dragonfly Mission.  The Dragonfly rotorcraft lander will be launched in 2025 and will land on Titan to explore its terrain and fly its atmosphere for any signs of life and for clues to the origin of life on Earth.  It's an exciting and bold mission.  For a great news blog on it, go to  Important Innovations Collection: NASA's Dragonfly Mission : Dragonfly Rotorcraft-Lander Goes to Saturn's Largest Moon - Titan Source:  NASA's Dragonfly Artist Rendering NASA Searchi...

Moonscape Visions from Top International Space Scientists Source:  European Space Agency's Image of Future Human Life on the Moon Out of This World Adventures Top space scientists from the US, Europe, China and Russia have just shared their forecasts and visions for human life on the Moon in 2069. They believe we humans will be living there.  It's an out of this world lunar adventure. Here are their forecasts just made in Switzerland at the World Conference of Science Journalists: Human settlements that include habitats shielded by moon dust The Moon will be a tourist destination for space vacations Hotel staffs will be based & work there and call it home It will provide permanent human habitability The human population will come from many nations Everyone will have a universal translator attached to their ear to instantly understand each other. This is the latest look from space experts at your future and it's an intergalactic adventure.  In the next

NASA - ESA Collaboration Source:  ESA Equipment Test in Cologne, Germany Lunar and Extraplanetary Rescue System for Fallen Astronauts It's called LESA, the Lunar Evacuation System Assembly and it is the combined invention of NASA and the European Space Agency.  The technology enables a single astronaut to rescue a fallen comrade on the moon or on another planet and bring them back to the safety of a pressurized space station.  It's a world first and of great necessity.  As of the moment, there is no way a single astronaut could carry a fallen astronaut to safety without technological assistance because of their spacesuits and gravity. NASA and ESA Tests NASA and ESA have tested the tech at the 10 m deep pool at ESA's Satellite Center in Cologne, Germany.  They used the pool to simulate lunar gravity and the tests are going well.  The team says LESA is like a golf caddy.  Its lift mechanism and stretchers can be operated by a single astronaut.  NASA and ESA say th

India Establishing its Space Tech Leadership Source:  ISRO Second Lunar Mission and Planned Space Station India is building leadership in space technology.  It announced today plans for a second lunar mission set for mid-July.  It also disclosed plan to launch its own space station.  For a news blog on these important developments, go to Important Innovations Collection: India Building Space Tech Leadership : Launching Own Space Station Source:  ISRO Announces Second Lunar Mission India is establishing itself as a global space leader.  It ...

Amazon Founder Jeff Bezos' Plan for Lunar Exploration Targets Blue Moon Mission 2024 The world's wealthiest man Jeff Bezos of Amazon has his next target in outer space.  He will launch his spacecraft the Blue Moon with astronauts and scientific payload to the moon in 2024.  The technology that he just unveiled in the Blue Moon is awesome. For a great news blog, go to Important Innovations Collection: Jeff Bezos' Trip to the Moon : Blue Moon Lander Unveiled Source:  Jeff Bezos and Blue Moon Target Date for Lunar Mission 2024 Amazon founder Jeff Bezos unveiled hi...

Global Space First China's The Chang'e 4 Spacecraft Historic Soft Landing on Far Side of Moon China's The Chang'e 4 spacecraft is set to land on the far side of the Moon between January 1 and January 3.  What a way to ring in the New Year.  This is a first in space exploration and a big win  for China.  No spacecraft has accomplished a soft landing on the far side of the Moon. Rover Onboard The spacecraft is equipped with a rover to explore the lunar surface.  China has launched several relay satellites to allow The Chang'e 4 to communicate with the China Space Agency. Next Space Shot:  The Chang'e 5 This is the second time that China has landed on the moon.  But it's the first time any spacecraft has landed on the far side of the moon.  The Chang'e 4's mission is to study the lunar surface's composition as well as the lunar terrain.  Next mission: The Chang'e 5 that will land on the Moon but also return to the earth with lunar

Lunar Mission Chang 4 Source:  China National Space Administration Historic Lunar Exploration This is a global first in space.  China has blasted off a rocket, carrying a rover probe, headed for a soft landing on the far side of the moon.  Other spacecraft have examined the far side of the moon from afar.  But this will be the first soft landing for detailed study of the other side of the moon. January Touchdown The mission - Chang 4 - is expected to land on the moon in early January.  There are some big challenges.  For instance, the moon blocks direct communication between the probe and Chinese researchers on earth.  To get around that, China launched a satellite in May that keeps the probe in contact with the China National Space Administration. Goals Chang 4' rover is going to survey the lunar terrain, determine mineral composition and study the lunar environment.  If the mission is a success, China plans to launch Chang 5 to collect samples of the moon's surf

Space X CEO Elon Musk Unveils His Base on Mars Source:  Space X Rendering of Mars Base Alpha Space X CEO Elon Musk provided this artist's rendering of his planned Mars Base Alpha.  He plans to settle people on Mars in 2024.  In 2023 he'll send a manned mission to explore Mars.  In 2022, he plans on cargo missions to Mars.  And in order to keep on schedule, he started test launches of his Big  Falcon Rocket (BFR) space ship in 2019. Powerful Space Launch Vehicle Space X Artist Rendering of BFR Interplanetary Travel Musk provided an updated version of the BFR.  When it's finished he claims it's going to be the largest, most capable and most powerful launch vehicle ever built.  Musk says it's an interplanetary transport system capable of going from Earth to anywhere in the solar system. Lunar Mission with Tourists on Board Musk is planning Space X trips to the moon.  BFR will take off, have booster separation, go into orbit, fly around the moon and

Japanese Billionaire & Artists To Explore Space Aboard Space X Photo Courtesy of Space X:  Elon Musk and Yusaku Maezawa Big Trip for Space X , Bringing Tourists to Space This is a big step toward the realization of one of innovator Elon Musk's dreams:  to commercialize space and make space travel accessible to everyone.  Musk has booked his first private passenger for a trip around the Moon on Space X's Big Falcon Rocket (BFR) spaceship.  The passenger is a Japanese billionaire and innovator like Musk.  The pioneer is Yusaku Maezawa, who founded the very popular online fashion retailer Zozo. Yusaka and Friends to Orbit the Moon Yusaka says he will invite a group of 6 artists, sculptors, painters and architects to join him on the historic tourist trip to orbit the moon.  The week long space voyage is scheduled at the earliest to take off in the BFR rocket in 2023.  The adventure is designed to inspire the dreamers in all of us. BFR Spaceship The BFR hasn&#

Elon Musk & Space X Take Big Step into Space Courtesy of Space X  - The BFR Flying to the Moon It's the dream of innovator Elon Musk to make space travel accessible to everyone.  His company just took a big step toward that goal.  They've just announced that they've signed the 1st private person to fly around the Moon.  The trip will be aboard Space X's BFR, the Big Falcon Rocket, which is a giant new rocket ship. Rocket Man This is a first and a very big step forward to commercializing space travel.  However, the BFR is still being prototyped and is a yet unproven spacecraft.  Eventually, Space X wants to use the rocket to launch the 1st manned mission to Mars.  Space X says it will identify the person and their purpose next week.