TO THE MOON, MARS, AND BEYOND

Many folks would like to see us back on the Moon and developing its resources.

Saturday, January 25, 2014

NASA Discusses Lunar CATALYST Commercial Lunar Lander Initiative

Well now, China has landed a rover on the Moon.
They might find something there that needs transportation back to Earth.
There might be a need to send supplies up to the Moon.
Who wants to kickstart a new business venture?
- LRK -

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Jan. 24, 2014
MEDIA ADVISORY M14-023
NASA Discusses Lunar CATALYST Commercial Lunar Lander Initiative
NASA will host a media teleconference at 12:30 p.m. EST Monday, Jan. 27, to discuss the Lunar Cargo Transportation and Landing by Soft Touchdown (Lunar CATALYST) initiative.
Through Lunar CATALYST, announced on Jan. 16, NASA seeks proposals to partner in the development of reliable and cost-effective commercial robotic lunar lander capabilities that will enable the delivery of payloads to the lunar surface. Such capabilities could support commercial activities on the moon while enabling new science and exploration missions of interest to NASA and the larger scientific and academic communities.
Media will have an opportunity to discuss the initiative with NASA officials following an 11 a.m. pre-proposal conference call with the U.S. private sector.
Participants for the media teleconference are:
-- Jason Crusan, director of Advanced Exploration Systems, NASA Headquarters
-- Nantel Suzuki, Robotic Lunar Lander program executive, NASA Headquarters
For dial-in information, media should e-mail their name, affiliation and telephone number to Trent Perrotto attrent.j.perrotto@nasa.gov by noon Monday.
The Advanced Exploration Systems Division in NASA's Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate manages Lunar CATALYST. Advanced Exploration Systems pioneers new approaches for rapidly developing prototype systems, demonstrating key capabilities and validating operational concepts for future human missions beyond Earth orbit.
For more information about Lunar CATALYST and the pre-proposal teleconference for the U.S. private sector, visit:
Audio of the media teleconference will be streamed live on NASA's website at:
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Watch what happens next.
- LRK -

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Announcement: 
Lunar Cargo Transportation and Landing by Soft Touchdown (Lunar CATALYST)
Building on the progress of NASA's partnerships with the U.S. commercial space industry to develop new spacecraft and rockets capable of delivering cargo -- and soon, astronauts to low Earth orbit -- the agency recognizes the U.S. industry's interest in reaching and exploring the moon, and is now looking for opportunities to spur commercial cargo transportation capabilities to the surface of the moon.
NASA has released an announcement seeking proposals to partner in the development of commercial robotic lunar lander capabilities. Such capabilities could support commercial activities on the moon while enabling new science and exploration missions of interest to the larger scientific and academic communities.
NASA's new Lunar Cargo Transportation and Landing by Soft Touchdown (Lunar CATALYST) initiative calls for proposals from the U.S. private sector that would lead to one or more no-funds exchanged Space Act Agreements (SAA). The purpose of these SAAs would be to encourage the development of robotic lunar landers that can be integrated with U.S. commercial launch capabilities to deliver small and medium class payloads to the lunar surface.
Key Dates (2014):
Jan. 16: Announcement released
Jan. 27: Pre-proposal teleconference
Feb. 10: Proposed NASA Contributions forms due (4 p.m. EST) by email to: greg.chavers@nasa.gov
Feb. 28: NASA feedback on Proposed Contributions form submissions
March 17: Proposals due (4 p.m. EDT) by email to: hq-lander@mail.nasa.gov
Pre-proposal Teleconference:
NASA will conduct a Pre-proposal teleconference on Jan. 27, 2014 at 11 a.m. EST, and proposers will have an opportunity to ask questions about this announcement.
To call in to the teleconference: 
Toll-Free Number: 888-989-6418
Toll Number: 1-630-395-0035
Passcode: LANDER (Verbal)
To view the presentation slides using WebEx: 
https://nasa.webex.com/
Meeting Number: 993 670 449
Password: lunarC@T2014
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ANNOUNCEMENT
- LRK -

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...
A Right Image Posted: Jan 16, 2014 Center: HQ
Title: LUNAR CARGO TRANSPORTATION AND LANDING BY SOFT TOUCHDOWN {LUNAR CATALYST} - -ANNOUNCEMENT
Solicitation: Lunar-CATALYST-01
Response Due: Mar 17, 2014
Synopsis - Posted on Jan 16, 2014
Lunar CATALYST Announcement - Posted on Jan 16, 2014
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Thanks for looking up with me. 
- LRK -
 
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Caution: Some of the above links point to destinations not owned nor maintained by NASA. Non-NASA destinations will contain domain addresses other than "...nasa.gov". NASA takes no responsibility for these outside sources of information. While they may be of interest to the viewer, NASA does not endorse the information found at those sites.
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China's moon rover faces problem
Saturday, Jan 25, 2014, 16:24 IST | Agency: IANS

China's moon rover, Jade Rabbit, has experienced a mechanical control problem and scientists are organising repairs.
The problem occurred due to "complicated lunar surface environment", the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence (SASTIND) said Saturday.
According to SASTIND, the rover faced problems when it entered its second dormancy in the morning when the lunar night fell, Xinhua reported. The lander, another part of the Chang'e-3 probe, also "fell asleep" earlier Friday.
The pair went dormant for two weeks about one month ago, when the first lunar night of the mission occurred. One night on the moon is about 14 days on Earth, during which the temperature falls below minus 180 degree celsius. During the lunar night, there is no sunlight to provide power to Jade Rabbit's solar panel.
After the first dormancy, the lander's moon-based optical telescope carried out observation of the sky, while its extreme ultraviolet camera observed the plasmasphere over the Earth, according to the SASTIND.
An ultra high frequency communication test between the lander and the moon rover was also conducted. The rover obtained data through its radar, panorama camera, a particle X-ray device and infrared imaging equipment, said the SASTIND.
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WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK -

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