Future Moon Base Site Imaged

Shaun Saunders submits an article from UniverseToday detailing possible sites for the future US Moonbase. The article suggests that one of the best sites has to be the Moon's south pole. Mountainous areas near the rim of Shackelton Crater provide areas of almost continual sunlight, meaning solar power would be constantly available. In addition, the shadowed craters are in constant darkness and may hold water ice, a potential water supply that would be a vital resource for any lunar base. Also the suggestion is made that with many permanently dark craters available, this would be a great place to set up a lunar telescope. This is one of many 3D photos of the site. Click on the article title for more.

Also while purusing the UniverseToday site, I see that the main page had a video of the re-entry of the Jules Vern resupply craft built by the ESA. The film shows the automated transfer vehicle breaking up shortly after it enters the Earth's upper atmosphere.

Jules Verne Dry Cargo Prepared In Turin

180 kg of cargo which is to be carried into space on board Jules Verne, the first Automated Transfer Vehicle, is currently undergoing final preparation in Italy, from there it will be shipped to the launch site in French Guiana. The cargo items which will be on board the inaugural flight of the European-built Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) when it docks with the International Space Station (ISS) early next year include spare parts for the European Columbus laboratory and the ATV itself. One of the cargo items is an air-exchange duct which is needed for immediate instalment inside the ATV following first ingress into the European cargo spacecraft.