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In this paper, the development of the lunar lander for manned lunar exploration is surveyed, and the function, technical specification and buffering mode are analyzed. And then the design of the Apollo and Altair lunar lander is discussed. Finally, considering the concerned technologues of manned lunar exploration in china, some key technologies concerned with manned lunar lander are brought forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information about the Future Fast, Flexible, Fractionated, Free-Flying Spacecraft United by Information Exchange or System F6, a radical approach to launching, operating and maintaining satellites being developed at the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). It aims to demonstrate a monolithic spacecraft, irrespective of the mission or size and decompose it into a network of linked modules. It also involves the replacement of monolithic satellites.

Reports on the development of Mars Climate Orbiter and Mars Polar Lander, two spacecraft designed to study Mars. Mention of the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Mars explorer program using Pathfinder and Mars Global Surveyor; When the spacecraft are scheduled for launch; Comments of Richard Zurek, Mars Surveyor 1998 project scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory; What each of the spacecraft is expected to accomplish.

The article focuses on the Dragon V2 spacecraft unveiled by the SpaceX. It mentions that the spacecraft is designed to carry seven crews to the International Space Station (ISS) from the U.S. soil and to dock without the need for the Canadarm2 to grapple the module and attach to the berthing port. It adds that the spacecraft is equipped with the SuperDraco rocket motor allowing it to have ascent abort capabilities and for a soft-landing on Earth.

Focuses on the spacecraft design called Roton. Its use of a rotating rocket engine; Its similarity to a helicopter; Detailing of plans for testing the prototype, the atmospheric test vehicle (ATV); Projected orbital launch date; Design innovations and projected costs.

Focuses on the United States National Aeronautics & Space Administration's development of the Crew/Cargo Transfer Vehicle (CCTV), a manned spacecraft to supplement the space shuttle. Concern about overreliance on Russian launches for backup support to the International Space Station; Goal of defining an eventual replacement for the shuttle.

The article focuses on the U.S. Curiosity rover space vehicle on Mars. Concerns of officials of the National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) that contamination of Curiosity during its construction process could prevent it from being used to explore indications that water exists on the planet are discussed.

The article discusses the opportunity for operators of new light launchers in the small satellite (smallsat) market. Topics include how the cost of repurposing Soviet-era ballistic missiles to serve as small-satellite launchers is creating opportunities in Europe, an overview of the Italian-built Vega light launcher, managed by the Arianespace consortium, and competition between Russia and Ukraine in the smallsat market.

The article reports that while the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will not fund the aerospace manufacturer ATK Aerospace Systems' "Liberty" launch vehicle that could transport astronauts to the International Space Station, the company may continue development on its own. Topics include the Commercial Crew Integrated Capability (CCiCap) contest for space vehicle development, the NASA executive William Gerstenmaier, and ATK's financial investment in the project.

The article discusses the award of money to the aerospace company Space Exploration Technologies Inc. (SpaceX) for the development of a commercial crew space vehicle in response to its Commercial Crew Integrated Capability (CCiCap) competition proposal. Topics include the transportation of humans to the International Space Station (ISS), the Dragon capsule that transported cargo to the ISS in 2012, the development of abort-systems, and the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

The article reports that although the aerospace manufacturer Sierra Nevada Corp. did not receive as much money to advance the design of its Dream Chaser lifting-body crew vehicle as competitors in the Commercial Crew Integrated Capability (CCiCap) competition from the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the company will continue development. Topics include safety concerns that result from winged spaceflight vehicles, abort-testing, hybrid engines, and the potential for vehicle reuse that could result from the Dream Chaser design.

The article reports that the largest share of seed money from the Commercial Crew Integrated Capability (CCiCap) competition for space vehicle development has been awarded to the aerospace manufacturer Boeing despite concerns regarding its corporate commitment to the project. Topics include the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the CST-100 commercial crew launch system under development by Boeing, and integrated systems review (ISR) of the project's design.

The article discusses U.S. astronautics and state. Competition among aerospace industries firms for contracts related to the $18.5 billion appropriation for the National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) it is required to spend on the design and construction of a manned space vehicle to replace the space shuttle program is examined, particularly the Orion vehicle under development by the aerospace company Lockheed Martin.

The article focuses on operations of Boeing Network & Space Systems (N&SS), a division of aerospace industries company Boeing Co., related to U.S. astronautics. A bid by N&SS for a contract to develop a manned space vehicle crew capsule for the U.S. National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) is discussed. It is noted that Boeing has a NASA contract to provide engineering for the U.S. segment of the International Space Station.

News briefs on aerospace industries and astronautics are presented. Sierra Nevada Corp. has begun construction of aeroshell structures for its Dream Chaser manned space vehicle. The European Space Agency is working with the International Telecommunications Union to reduce interference that is hampering the operations of its artificial satellite measuring microwave radiation of soil moisture and ocean salinity. The Russian Soyuz space vehicle has docked with the International Space Station.

The article reports on the decision by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to shift to an alternative design for the launch abort system for the Orion next-generation human spacecraft. Vibration and acoustic issues that arise during its boost phase have been troubling the Crew Exploration Vehicle's design team for some months as it works through the initial systems definition review.

The article considers the possible construction of derivative versions of the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV). Engineers are already designing derivative versions of the ATV that could meet International Space Station (ISS) supply requirements after the shuttle is retired, as well as future space exploration endeavors. Engineers have also begun work on an unpressurized transport that could start when the shuttle retires in 2010.

The article reports on an agreement concluded by the European Space Agency (ESA) with the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) to develop new space-based technologies for oil-spill monitoring applications. The agreement will allow EMSA to help influence the design of future environmental spacecraft.

The article presents the implications for Mars of the minor exploration procedures and processes of the Constellation Program of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Engineers at the Constellation program will review the program's processes in November 2006 and will try to set requirements for the architecture NASA hopes will take humans to the planet before 2030. A decision at the Constellation level can shape all of the vehicles the program will develop.

Information about the second annual Space Technology Exposition held at the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center in Long Beach, California on May 21-23, 2013 is presented. Topics include the design, building and testing of spacecraft, radiation shielding and data communications as well as carbon-fiber composites, hazards posed by asteroids and comets and Moon exploration. The symposium featured several executives and exhibitors including Guy Webster, Warren James and Bill Nye.

The article focuses on the Parom space shuttle project of Russia. The Parom spacecraft will be built by Energia Rocket and Space Corp. which will be equipped with a Soyuz-size flying docking tunnel surrounded by propellant tanks, thrusters, solar cells and avionics bays. It could carry satellites into higher orbits for deployment and then retrieve co-orbiting science and industrial satellites near the International Space Station (ISS). All of the components of the Parom design have been flight-tested.

The article considers the planned November 26, 2011 space flight to Mars of the U.S. National Aeronautics & Space Administration in which a so-called rover robot vehicle will be used to explore that planet. The large size of the rover compared to previous versions and its use of nuclear rather than solar power are discussed. The high failure rate of space flights to Mars is examined.

The article highlights the achievements of space visionary Bradley C. Edwards which helped advance the future as a spacefaring civilization and ignited a new way of looking at space exploration and settlement. He has worked for 11 years at the Los Alamos National Laboratory on advanced technology and spacecraft development. He is best known as the leading researcher and advocate of space elevators.

The article focuses on space-based systems which are the last bastion of handcrafted, custom-built technology. According to the author, Internet standards are proving to be a capable tool kit for spacecraft designers. Technologies can evolve at different rates and make quantum leaps at different times, and the vendors that provide a given subsystem can change from one phase of a program to another, but standard protocols and off-the-shelf implementations can mitigate these disruptions. If a system were more radically redesigned for space use, its modest 10-watt power consumption would be further reduced because line drivers engineered for normal ground use exceed intraspacecraft needs. By adopting a standard platform, one can achieve considerable schedule improvements, essentially defining an entire combination of space and ground systems in less than 18 months. There are further advantages that come from commonality of space-based and ground-based systems. The engineering challenges of ground and space integration aren't trivial. Rapidly moving low-Earth-orbit satellites pose problems of Doppler shift and the continual transfer of signal paths from one satellite to another.

Presents news briefs related to aerospace materials. Mention that BASF/Narmco may win the prize for best bismaleimides (BMI) performance; Generation of BMIs that achieve exceptional damage tolerance without trading off higher operating temperatures; Portable thermal spray system to eliminate cosmetic defects and repair slightly damaged surfaces on aircraft skins; Others.

Reports on the launch of U.S. spacecraft Pioneer Venus, designed to penetrate the atmosphere of Venus, on August 8, 1978 from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Comments of the project manager of National Aeronautics and Space Administration Ames Research Center on the design and construction of the spacecraft; Reasons for heavy instrumentation of the spacecraft; Details regarding the launch of Pioneer Venus.

The article considers the problem faced by Rocketplane-Kistler (RpK) in gathering the budget it needed for the first phase of the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services programme of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The company needs to find $10 million because it lost its primary partner Orbital Sciences. RpK was chosen to develop a cargo and potentially crew delivery system for the International Space Station by 2010.

Deals with the support of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to Rocketplane Ltd. for the testing of the Rocketplane XP vehicle. Response of Rocketplane to the rocket engine provided by NASA; Design features of the spacecraft; Capabilities of the RS-88 engine.

This article reports on the development of the Modular Microsat Bus (MMB) spacecraft by SpaceDev as of November 2005. Expected to cost less than $10 million each, the spacecraft will provide 80W of power for its onboard systems, which include its flight computer, a global positioning system, a star tracker, an S-band transceiver and power conditioning and distribution systems. The MMB-100 uses Ethernet, USB and RS-422 standards and the Linux operating system to provide plug-and-play interfaces.

This article reports on the inclusion of a proposed Kliper six-crew reusable spacecraft in the updated Aurora exploration program of the European Space Agency (ESA) as of October 2005. The Kliper work scope will include ESA member states seeking system-level contributions to the vehicle's development, not just providing components. However, the timetable of Russia for the development of the Kliper may present problems for ESA involvement. According to Aurora program manager Bruno Gardini, the Russians have a very aggressive development schedule for the Kliper.