During last week's town hall, we discussed some of the end of the quarter procedures and important dates and deadlines given the upcoming Fourth of July holiday in the United States where many contributors are from. Ultimately, the senate decided to adjust our end of quarter schedule to extend the timeline as opposed to shortening it.
In practice, this means:
- Project leaders must now submit final reports and complete gift giving circles by Tuesday, the 9th of July, at 5PM PST.
- Final presentations will take place at the town hall on Thursday, the 11th of July, at our regular 3PM PST time slot.
- This week's town hall (on July 4th) will proceed per the regular schedule, but Rocketeer and Moonsettler attendance will be optional.
- Snapshot voting for Q2 rewards will thus be delayed by a week.
The town hall also featured the regular, weekly project roundtable updates and open floor discussions.
Please remember that the community-wide retroactive rewards circle is now taking place. If you helped MoonDAO in any way during the past three months, you should submit your contributions for recognition and rewards. If you have any questions about how to proceed, post a message in Discord for help!
Interplanetary Podcast
Dr. Eiman Jahangir, our second citizen astronaut, was recently a guest on the Interplanetary Podcast, hosted by Matt Russell. Be sure to subscribe to the Interplanetary Podcast for more great weekly episodes about all things space.
New Member Spotlight
Have you shared your story in the introductions channel?
Haru writes: "Hey, I’m Oleksii. Aerospace engineering university student, building rockets in the university for competition and for fun. Heard about you from the story of Mr. Eiman Jahangir. Really excited to be part of space exploration community."
Let’s give a friendly MoonDAO welcome as they join our community!
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Bite-Sized Space News
ISS Deorbit Contract
NASA has selected SpaceX to develop a "U.S. Deorbit Vehicle" to safely deorbit the International Space Station (ISS) when its operational life ends in 2030. The $843 million contract covers vehicle development but excludes launch costs. The vehicle will ensure a controlled disposal of the ISS, paving the way for future commercial space stations. NASA's decision aligns with plans for a smooth transition in low Earth orbit, maintaining the legacy of the ISS as a model for scientific exploration and international cooperation. ISS partners are committed to operations through 2030, with some considering extensions depending on the readiness of commercial replacements. Several commercial space stations, including Axiom Station and Blue Origin's Orbital Reef, are under development to take over once the ISS is decommissioned.
Lunar Surface Proving Ground
Astrobotic has unveiled its Lunar Surface Proving Ground (LSPG) in Mojave, CA, a 100m x 100m high-fidelity 3D test field replicating the Moon's South Pole terrain and lighting conditions. The LSPG, modeled using Astrobotic's LunaRay tools, is designed for testing lunar landing technologies, rovers, and robotic systems. It debuted with the 2023-2024 NASA TechRise Student Challenge, where student teams tested experiments such as terrain mapping and lunar crater detection. The LSPG will also host the NASA TechLeap Prize’s Nighttime Precision Landing Challenge and other test activities by Draper, San Diego State University, and Astrobotic. The initiative aims to advance lunar exploration capabilities and engage the next generation of engineers and scientists.
New NASA White Papers
NASA has released two white papers as part of its Moon to Mars architecture efforts, focusing on lunar mobility and surface cargo. The "Lunar Mobility Drivers and Needs" paper addresses the movement of cargo and assets on the Moon's surface, while the "Lunar Surface Cargo" paper examines projected needs and capability gaps in lunar cargo transportation. These findings provide essential updates for stakeholders, complementing NASA's annual technical document releases. The Moon to Mars architecture, incorporating feedback from various sectors, supports the Artemis campaign's goals to establish long-term lunar exploration, land diverse astronauts on the Moon, and prepare for human missions to Mars.
Upcoming Launches
- Firefly Alpha | Noise of Summer on Mon Jul 1, 2024 11:03 PM GMT-5 from SLC-2W, Vandenberg SFB, California, USA
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SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink Group 8-9on Wed Jul 3, 2024 1:01 AM GMT-5 from SLC-40, Cape Canaveral SFS, Florida, USA
- CASC Long March 6A on Thu Jul 4, 2024 6:00 PM GMT-5 from LC-9A, Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, China