Mexican Space Agency to Send Payload to Moon on Astrobotic Lander

Parabolic Arc ^ | June 10, 2015 | Doug Messier

[SunkenCiv]

Agencia Espacial Mexicana (AEM) and Astrobotic Technology Inc. are pleased to announce a joint effort to facilitate the development and delivery of the first payload from Latin America to the Moon. Astrobotic and AEM have entered into an agreement outlining a commitment by both organizations to enable a Mexican payload to the Moon. Through this partnership, AEM will take its first step to another planetary body.

"Opening access to the Moon is precisely at the core of Astrobotic's mission," said John Thornton, CEO of Astrobotic. "AEM's rising space science and exploration community is yet one more example of the immense international interest in the Moon as a destination for science, exploration, and other activities. We are proud to be partnered with our friends in Mexico.

In May, AEM issued its second request for proposals (RFP) through the AEM-CONACYT Fund of Trusts for Space Science and Technology, in which project proposals are expected from the Mexican space science and exploration community to determine the agency's lunar payload. The RFP is expected to be awarded by Fall 2015. The winning proposal will be built and delivered to the Moon.

About Astrobotic: Astrobotic is a lunar logistics company that delivers payloads to the Moon for companies, governments, universities, non-profits and individuals. Our spacecraft accommodates multiple customers on a single flight, offering flexibility at an industry-defining low price. Astrobotic is a NASA contractor, and an official partner with NASA on the Lunar CATALYST program. With its partner Carnegie Mellon University, Astrobotic is pursuing the Google Lunar XPRIZE. Astrobotic was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA.

[SunkenCiv]

Griffin Lander. (Credit: Astrobotic Technology)

[BenLurkin]

It doesn’t say what the launch vehicle will be.

[Vendome]

Real Aliens....

[central_va]

I hope they applied for a lunar temporary visa.

I'll be that thing can pop up and down like a Tijuana low riding 64 impala.

[martin_fierro]

[twister881]

Food truck?

[Vendome]

Burrito?

[fieldmarshaldj]

Don’t forget MASA’s theme song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0pf_0cFbVo

[Nowhere Man]

Frito Bandito on the Moon, circa 1970:

[central_va]

This was the prototype:

[SunkenCiv]

A cutaway view of the operational system in its deployed state. The inflatable habitat (1) provides an overnight shelter in which two astronauts can sleep, while the environmental control and life support system on the rover (2) maintains the habitat's internal environment. The thermal shield (3) mitigates solar radiation, and a solar array (4) supplies power. ["An Inflatable Tent For Camping On The Moon" · Charles Q. Choi · Popular Science · June 11th, 2015]

[cripplecreek]

[Secret Agent Man]

Something bout illegal imigrants.....

I’m kinda tired.

[cripplecreek]

LOL

[SunkenCiv]

Here’s the first one I saw, but it can’t be posted to FR:

Mexico Buys A Ride To The Moon
Jun 10, 2015 Frank Morring, Jr.
Aviation Week & Space Technology
http://aviationweek.com/space/mexico-buys-ride-moon

[BenLurkin]

Used to work in a factory where everyday the roach coach would pull up for lunch and honk that same kind of horn.

[barmag25]

Seems like every odd story has already been covered by South Park.

Visionary genius and hilarious.

[dp0622]

There’s an Obummer joke in here somewhere but i’ll be darned but if i can figure out.

[cripplecreek]

We'll see the flashing of blades from here.

[BenLurkin]

interesting