Using the stuff on the Moon

Using the stuff on the Moon

In late July, over 200 researchers, engineers and managers gathered in Laurel, Maryland, for the 2019 Lunar ISRU Workshop. ISRU stands for In-Situ Resource Utilization. In other words, the meeting was all about using what can be found on the Moon–to support...
Crater analysis suggests more water on the Moon

Crater analysis suggests more water on the Moon

Some of the craters at the Moon’s poles are shallower than typical impact craters. It has just been suggested that the “fill” material could be largely water ice, as is true at Mercury: https://phys.org/news/2019-07-moon-thought.html Of course, the...
Let’s move beyond rovers

Let’s move beyond rovers

Rovers have proved their usefulness on the Moon and Mars for the acquisition of scientific data, and their designs are mature. The initial stages of establishing a sustainable human presence on the Moon, such as resource prospecting and habitat site selection, will...
A first customer for the Space Superhighway

A first customer for the Space Superhighway

NASA has recently announced that it will partner with industry to resupply the Lunar Orbiting Platform-Gateway: https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-to-partner-with-american-industry-to-supply-artemis-moon-missions Last month in Aviation Week Online, we talked about the...
Moving around on the Moon

Moving around on the Moon

This week, specifically June 6-9, is the International Space Development Conference in Arlington, Virginia. Traditionally, this is the conference where new thinking and radical ideas receive a hearing from a broad, like-minded audience. My talk is at 11 AM on...