Inflatable Moon Base Gets Proposed

Experimental architecture firm Architecture and Vision is pitching their idea for an inflatable Moon base to accommodate the return of human exploration on the Moon. Their Moon Base Two design would be sent to the surface of the Moon via an Ares V heavy-lifter rocket where it would automatically deploy and inflate itself in preparation for occupancy by four astronauts for up to six months. Although it is designed to be a "long term" motel, Moon Base Two would allow for the study of a permanent human settlement on the Moon. If Bigelow says you can use blow-up space stations, why not a blow-up Moon base? No official response from NASA yet.



(Images: Architecture and Vision)
(Architecture and Vision via Gizmodo)

Home to PointNiner

First look at new Russian/European spacecraft

This is what Russia and Europe is hoping will get them some boots on the surface of the moon to compete with NASA's Orion Program. It is a first look at a new spacecraft designed by Russian manufacturer RKK Energia and revealed at the Farnborough Air Show last week. I've got to agree with the boys over at Gizmodo, it does look like something out of the Ikea Kitchen Collection. The joint project is designed around the premise of getting four cosmonauts or 'euronauts' to the moon and back. Now the interesting thing about this flying crockpot is that it will be the first manned spacecraft to return to the Earth's surface by retro-rocket soft landing (which, I assume, is what is shown in the picture below). No word on how they expect to get that thing to the surface of the moon or back up without a lunar lander though. The ESA and their Russian counterpart, Roscosmos, are hoping to get their design aloft by 2018, or sooner if rocket modifications permit.


(BBC via Gizmodo)

Home to PointNiner

AMAZING: Moon passes by Earth as seen from 31M miles away

Have to say this is pretty amazing...an alien's view of Earth with the Moon orbiting by. The video was taken from 31 million miles away by NASA's EPOXI spacecraft.

(BadAstronomy)

Home to PointNiner