International Space Agencies Recruiting Next Generation Of Moonwalkers

If you think you have what it takes to be the next human on the Moon, time is running out. The USA (NASA), China (CNSA), Europe (ESA), Canada (CSA), Japan (JAXA) and India (ISRO) space agencies are currently recruiting new astronauts whose missions could include humanity's return to the Moon as early as 2015. The deadlines to apply are fast approaching, with ESA closing its registration on Jun 15, JAXA on Jun 20, and NASA on Jul 1. Canada is seeking 2 new astronauts this year. CSA (TL) currently has only 5 active explorers in its corps (Dave Williams-TC retired in Mar), with an average age of 53 years old. ESA's corps (C), too, are aging, with only 8 remaining astronauts with an average age of over 50 years old. ESA is adding 4 new space explorers, ideally aged 27-37 with backgrounds in science and engineering. JAXA also has 8 active astronauts (B), and will be recruiting new members for the 1st time in 10 years. NASA, which has close to 100 active astronauts, has been accepting astronaut applications since last Sep for its 2009 astronaut class. China, which has successfully placed 3 humans (TR) in space, is actively recruiting female yuhangyuan, or astronauts, from the nation's robust female air force pilot corps. CNSA plans to send a female into space in the next 3-5 years, and its accelerating Shenzhou program could produce the next human footsteps on the Moon. India, too, has declared its intent to indigenously send a human into space in the coming decade, as well as on to the Moon. If humanity's lunar return is indeed international, many other nations, including Russia, Malaysia and South Korea, as well as several independent European nations such as Italy, Germany and the UK, may also see their citizens exploring Earth's natural satellite before the end of the next decade. (Credit: CSA, ESA, JAXA, CNSA)

America's new Lunar Chariot (T) is getting a test run in a lunar-like environment this week as part of NASA’s lunar exploration simulations taking place at Moses Lake WA from Jun 3 to 15. Robotic exploration, site surveys and outpost construction will be conducted in the sandy surface, while spacesuit-clad astronauts and engineers simulate scientific work. The activities are meant to inspire new areas of development in the lunar vehicles and equipment, and to help engineers identify design challenges not evident in laboratory situations. A media day is planned for Jun 10 to allow reporters to observe the field tests. The capabilities that are being demonstrated were developed by the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate’s Exploration Technology Development Program, based at Langley Research Center in Hampton VA. All of the activities being tested are believed to be critical to successful future lunar exploration as being planned by NASA’s Lunar Architecture Team and Constellation Program. The field tests involve NASA Ames, Glenn, JPL, Johnson, Kennedy and Langley centers, and are in preparation for a larger set of experiments scheduled for the fall as part of the Desert Research and Technology Studies (RATS) project. Moses Lake is among such lunar analog sites as Cinder Lake AZ (B) and Haughton Crater in Devon Island, Canada where NASA's Desert RATS conduct lunar simulations. (Credit: NASA)