India Lunar Mission May Include Helium Mining. The proposed 'Somayana-1' India Moon mission set to materialize NET 2005 may also concentrate on mining helium-3, a valuable source of power derived through mining from the lunar regolith. The announcement was made recently by Prof. George Joseph, chairman of the National Task Force on the India lunar mission, which is the same organization that prepared the 'Somayana' feasibility report. Joseph said that the helium would be brought back to Earth for use in nuclear reactors. "A few decades ago, man never imagined that he would set foot on the Moon. Decades from now human colonies on the Moon could become a reality," he said. He also added that the upcoming unpiloted mission would be the first step in establishing human missions in the future. ISRO Chair Dr. K. Kasturirangan has reiterated the India space agency's confidence in their technology and engineering expertise as well as funding capability. In January of this year, India Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee made the exciting announcement at the 90th Indian Science Conference in Bombay that India would be going to the Moon. Not since President John F. Kennedy's similar announcement on 25 May 1961 in front of a special joint session of U.S Congress has such an ambitious and defining advance to the Moon been made.

International Space Station Resident Ed Lu Celebrates Birthday in Space. ISS Expedition 7 Science Officer Ed Lu celebrated his 40th birthday 240 miles above the Earth yesterday with fellow crewmember Yuri Malenchenko. As a special birthday gift, Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle proclaimed 1 July as Edward Tsang Lu Day in Hawaii. Lu, who lived in Hawaii for 3 years and graduated from the UH Institute for Astronomy, said he was honored to be recognized by the Hawaiian people and spoke about admiring the beauty of the island from space. Lu and his fiancée will be married later this year on Maui. Governor Lingle and visiting astronaut Carlos Noriega were able to speak directly to Lu via a live videoconference. "Lu has a deep love and respect for the people, places and cultures of the Islands," said Lingle, "In turn the people of Hawaii have come to know and respect him as one of our own." During the celebration Lu and Malenchenko wore red aloha shirts and said they are working on popularizing the aloha print. Lu said he will celebrate his birthday 17 times, which is equal to the number of Earth orbits the station will make that day. Some of Ed Lu's friends have put together a website, www.edlu.com, which contains periodic updates from Lu.

Lunar Embassy Working to Craft Constitution for the Galactic Government. Document to be completed by the end of August '03 and then placed on the website for voting (through 31 Dec). The Constitution is attempting to create a government without direct taxation to its citizens. CEO Dennis Hope says, "We will be able to provide for the human rights and needs of all of our citizens without the encumbrances of taxes for their efforts. The Galactic Government will have to be self-supporting and bid for jobs in the private sector along with other entrepreneurial organizations." Hope reports that some property owners have requested to purchase properties for favorite celebrities. By calling the Lunar Embassy (LE), one can purchase property that will be given to one's chosen celebrity, politician, person or group of note. They will be informed as to who sent the gift. LE has large blocks of land that can be purchased at major discounts (example: block size or 100 acres for US$2,150.00); the prices are good for all planets / moons as well. The larger sizes are available from the LE's mortgage office. There are no credit checks or complicated forms. Only 25% down is required and financing can be provided for up to 30 years. LE mortgages will not be sold to other lending institutions. Also LE is negotiating with lenders from around the world to offer very low mortgage rates to property owners / citizens for their Earthly properties. Info theheadcheese@lunarembassy.com; 1-800-586-2729; http://www.lunarembassy.com.