Randal B.’s Post

Curious about what astronauts will use to traverse the lunar surface? Yesterday, National Geographic published an article about NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration's LTVS program – check out our Lunar Dawn LTV on the cover photo! Lunar Outpost is leading the Lunar Dawn team, comprised of teammates Lockheed Martin Space, General Motors, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, and MDA Space, in developing a cutting-edge human-rated Lunar Terrain Vehicle for the initiative. In the article, CEO Justin Cyrus paints a picture of our vehicle, dubbing it a "space truck" designed to build and maintain infrastructure at a large scale on the Moon. The Lunar Dawn LTV will drive lunar expeditions for both commercial partners and NASA. We envision our vehicle as a cornerstone for the Artemis campaign. Justin says, "This is how we make space sustainable. This is how we get humanity living and working on other planetary bodies.” https://lnkd.in/eA_TTsvY #TheNextLeap #LunarDawn #DrivingArtemis 

The current delay in returning the 2 #astronauts on board the International Space Station #ISS is not the first instance of space travelers stuck up there unexpectedly - there were quite a few in the past, for example after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 or the loss of #spaceshuttle Columbia in 2023. But for sure NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration and Boeing are doing the right thing by not taking unnecessary risks and pursuing an alternate return path while identifying the technical problems. #spaceexploration 24 https://lnkd.in/ey4P7pPk

https://lnkd.in/dGAyDDqe Time: ‘The space agency had planned to send four astronauts around the moon late this year, but pushed the flight to September 2025’ Cost: ‘NASA’s moon-landing effort has been delayed repeatedly over the past decade, adding to billions of dollars to the cost. Government audits project the total program costs at $93 billion through 2025.’ Scope/Quality: “Safety is our top priority,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. The delays will “give Artemis teams more time to work through the challenges.” Some projects have the luxury of using ‘Safety’ as permanent excuse for delay and costs overrun. While Safety is critically important I assume it always was in the scope, the program delivery plan includes safety challenges and risks, and time/cost contingency was calculated based on these risks. Or not?

LRO has been incredibly invaluable, both in science observations and in observing landers on the lunar surface. LRO launched on June 18, 2009 with its companion spacecraft LCROSS, which is famous for discovering water in a PSR by smashing into the Moon so we could observe the ejecta. The pair of spacecraft were supposed to be the start of a concerted effort to re-explore the Moon robotically ahead of the return of crew for the NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration Artemis missions. The crazy part, is LRO was only supposed to last 1-2 years, yet it’s now on its 15th year. Much of what we know about the lunar surface is thanks to this mission that could end at any moment. Many other countries continue to launch science missions to the Moon and we’ve learned a lot from those missions as well. But, if we’re serious about a sustained human presence we need to get more orbiters in place. #LRO needs some friends before it goes lights out and we lose our ability to monitor the #Moon.

On this day in 1969: Humanity’s first landing on the Moon. NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration “That’s one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind.” “Magnificent desolation.” Three phrases that recall humanity’s first landing on and exploration of the lunar surface. #apollo11 #nasa #astronomy https://lnkd.in/dGrD-qHE

#NASA Targets September 2026 For #ArtemisIII, The First Crewed #Moon Landing Mission In Over 50 Years. Know More NASA is targeting September 2026 for the launch of Artemis III, the third leg of the space agency's Artemis Program. Artemis III will be the first crewed Moon landing mission in over 50 years, and aims to land the first astronauts near the lunar south pole. The space agency has also announced the target dates for Artemis II and Artemis IV, the second and fourth instalments of the Artemis Program, respectively. Read my article to know everything about NASA's Artemis plans. https://lnkd.in/dxiqDShF

Happy International Moon Day! July 20, 1969 marks One Giant Leap for Mankind! We celebrate the 55th anniversary of the first astronauts landing on the Moon! The primary objective of Apollo 11 was to complete a national goal set by President John F. Kennedy on May 25, 1961: perform a crewed lunar landing and return to Earth. The General Assembly declared International Moon Day, a United Nations-designated international day to be observed annually on 20 July, in its resolution 76/76 on “International cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space” in 2021. International Moon Day marks the anniversary of the first landing by humans on the Moon as part of the Apollo 11 lunar mission. The celebrations will also consider the achievements of all States in the exploration of the Moon and raise public awareness of sustainable Moon exploration and utilization. Learn more about Apollo 11: https://lnkd.in/g23TiqXV Learn more about International Moon Day: https://lnkd.in/dUnPdHdQ #IMD2024 #Apollo11 #spacepioneers #spaceexploration #KeplerU NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration United Nations Moon Village Association Kepler Space Institute

Today (Aug. 23rd) is National Space Day! I recently came across a short video posted by ISRO leading up to the National Space Day, which highlighted India’s commitment to space exploration. With successful missions to Mars (Mangalyaan) and the Moon (Chandrayaan), the more recent solar probe, Aditya-L1, the narrator in the video proclaimed that, “the countdown to Gaganyaan, has begun. ISRO will soon place Indians in space; and that is just the beginning”. [https://lnkd.in/dX2DKTS3] Like many Indians, I have keenly followed ISRO’s missions with a sense of achievement. ISRO also gives hope in a way, as it shows that govt agencies can deliver what they were setup to do. However, the “placing Indians in space” bit, got me a little uncomfortable. Not that I am against Indian astronauts, just that I was reminded of the ongoing troubles with the US ones. On June 5th, Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore left on a short trip to the International Space Station (ISS) to test-fly the Boeing Starliner crew capsule on its first flight with humans aboard. They were to assess its performance, dock with the #ISS and return in 8 days… that was in June. Despite trying to rectify the technical issues over the last couple of months, it appears that the #Boeing #Starliner may not be fit for the return journey, or if attempted, the journey would be very risky. The crew of course cannot stay at the ISS forever. NASA, therefore, is under immense pressure to bring the two astronauts safely back to terra firma. While #NASA considers its options including asking Elon Musk’s SpaceX for help, it is worth remembering that extended periods in micro (near-zero) gravity causes loss of bone density, muscle loss, trouble with eyesight, and other health issues. Ms. Williams has already reported eyesight issues. Space exploration is a risky venture to say the least, with health issues being par for the course. There have been 19 fatalities in space till date, and another 11 killed during training or tests here on Earth. Unsurprisingly, most of these fatalities have either been American or Soviet/Russian. We in #India have a tendency for strong/emotional reactions. Wild celebrations when things go well, and crazy rage when they don’t. Recall the celebrations in Mumbai when we won the T20 World Cup recently, and now remember how players’ homes were pelted with stones when the performance was poor. One common refrain in such times is, ‘so much money spent (e.g. on players) and yet zilch in outcome’. #ISRO is a capable organization having proven its mettle across various missions and earned respect globally, but Murphy’s Law (ref. Interstellar) means that as Indians embarking on manned missions, we must also be prepared for the unexpected and the undesired. While hoping that the NASA duo gets back safely, I also hope that my discomfort regarding “placing Indians in space”, is itself misplaced. I wish nothing goes wrong. Yet, if it does, we handle it with grace.

Yesterday's eclipse had most people looking toward outer space. NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration plans on having a new state of the art vehicle for future Artemis moon missions. 3 companies have been selected for it's design. Intuitive Machines, which handed an uncrewed spacecraft on the moon's surface back in February. Lunar Outpost and VENTURI 🇲🇨 were also selected to help with the design. It's exciting to see how far space exploration has come since the Apollo missions. The demand is only increasing for other Aerospace companies to create the future products for space exploration. Rockets and vehicles are only the tip of the iceberg. "To Infinity and Beyond" SCN - Search Consulting Network #scn #nasa #aerospace #lunarvehicle #wearehiringnow

What specific lessons from Boeing's Starliner journey can other aerospace companies apply to improve their project management and technical development processes? Folow Space Tech and let us know your thoughts in the comments. #spaceexploration #spacetech #nasa #boeing #starliner