China’s Chang’e 3 set to land on the Moon

The Chinese Chang’e 3 spacecraft is expected to land on the Moon on Saturday at 9:40 p.m. Beijing local time, 8:40 a.m. EST. There may be live coverage at CCTV News Live – P2P Live Streaming – English_CCTV.com.

Background info:

China’s lunar probe Chang’e 3 is expected to land on Sinus Iridum of the moon
in mid-December. [Xinhua]

Videos: AGU news about Europa, Titan, and Mars

The latest “This Week @NASA” video focuses on the space science news from the  American Geophysical Union’s 46th annual fall meeting held in San Francisco this week.

Over twenty-two thousand Earth and space scientists, educators, students and leaders from around the world connected with each other and NASA at the American Geophysical Union’s 46th annual fall meeting in San Francisco. Among the news from the event, NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity has determined the age of a rock on Mars, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has detected additional liquid streaking down mountain slopes near the Martian equator and the Cassini space probe has photographed actual seas and lakes on Saturn’s moon Titan. Also, New Juno Video, Energy Meeting at NASA Glenn, Morpheus Lander Tests, Too Cold to Breath and Cygnus Prepares for Launch.

http://youtu.be/SDbZDSWgjKg

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And here is a more detailed discussion with a SETI Institute Google+ Hangout  : News about Europa, Icy Moon of Jupiter, from the American Geophysical Union Meeting

Prints now available for my NewSpace artwork

Last summer I mentioned here my artwork to which I’ve devoted a separate website at C. Sergent Lindsey. The works are primarily done with graphite, charcoal and color pencils and include topics such as SpaceStill Lifes and Portraits.

Some readers had asked about buying reproductions and so I’ve made a selection of  pieces available as prints from Fine Art America. I had professional scans made of the originals and Fine Art America uses these to make the prints. They offer mat and frame options. They also have greeting cards. I  currently have two galleries there: NewSpace and Color Still Lives.

I plan to keep expanding the series of NewSpace works to highlight the accomplishments of this exciting age of entrepreneurial spaceflight. Start your collection now! 

For Christmas gifts for those not so focused on space, please consider my still life drawings:

C Sergent Lindsey - Tomato with Stem
Tomato with Stem

The originals of the works posted on Fine Art America are also priced for sale. Contact me directly if you are interested.

Video: Mars One announcement of Lockheed-Martin/SSTL spacecraft studies

Last  Tuesday the Mars One organization announced that they had contracted with Lockheed-Martin and Surrey Satellite (SSTL) for studies into development of an unmanned Mars orbiter and a lander spacecraft that would launch in the 2018 time frame. (See earlier post here.)

I made notes of the press conference webcast: Mars One contracts Lockheed-Martin and Surrey Satellite for Mars spacecraft studies – NewSpace Watch – Dec.10.13

A video of the press conference is now available:

http://youtu.be/TePLtbTzzZ0

Caption:

Mars One Press Conference: Lockheed Martin & SSTL selected for first Mission to Mars (10 Dec 2013, Washington DC) http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/mar…

00:00 – 02:52 Introduction by Dr. Linda Billings
02:53 – 09:18 Statement by Bas Lansdorp, CEO Mars One
09:18 – 12:43 Statement by Ed Sedivy, Chief Engineer Civil Space Lockheed Martin
09:18 – 15:31 Statement by Sir Martin Sweeting, Executive Chairman SSTL
15:31 – 17:19 Statement by Suzanne Flinkenflögel, Director of Communications Mars One
17:19 – 21:21 Indiegogo Crowdfunding Campaign Video
21:21 – 23:13 Closing Statement by Bas Lansdorp
23:13 – 56:35 Questions from the press (online & offline) answered by the panel

Space policy roundup – Dec.13.13 [Update]

Today’s selection of space policy/politics related items:

Update:

Update 2: