China works out robot series for lunar exploration
http://english.people.com.cn/200504/...19_181808.html

NASA ECLIPSED BY CHINA MOON PLANS?
Author Leonard David
http://www.livescience.com/blogs/200...na-moon-plans/
Word on the floor here at the National Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, Colorado is look for a shakeup in NASA’s lunar robotics efforts. Both the over-budget Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) for 2008 and follow-on Robotic Lunar Exploration Program (RLEP) are trouble-plagued.
Meanwhile, NSS participants heard today from several speakers more concern about the growing China space capability. For example, Jim Kennedy, Kennedy Space Center chief, likened China’s blossoming space skills as the making of another space race akin to the U.S.-Soviet Cold War rivalry in space decades ago.


The top man at Russia's leading space firm has mooted an ambitious expansion of the country's space effort. President of Energia corporation Nikolai Sevastianov said manned missions to the Moon and Mars were on the cards by 2030.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/04..._mars_mission/
He said: "We can land on the Moon before 2015". His plan is to start mining the Moon for the 1m tons of potential fusion fuel helium-3 scientists say it has. They say this would be enough to power Earth for 1,000 years, and one experts estimates its value at $4bn per ton. This would easily offset the cost of mining it, Sevastianov said.

During the next stage, Energiya plans to employ a reusable craft now under development called the Clipper.
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...12?hub=SciTech
The Clipper, which will have six seats compared to Soyuz's three, would be capable of delivering crews to the space station and could also become the basis for future moon missions.

Russia to launch lunar project with an eye on Mars
http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/article...sid=27&sid=ENV

The next transit of Venus occurs in June 2012.
http://www.transitofvenus.org/

Woo-woos will look at a Mayan chart and say 2012 si the end of the world

Annular solar eclipse is on the 20th of May 2012

QinetiQ Wins Don Quijote Mission Study Contract
http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Qi..._Contract.html
by Staff Writers
Hampshire, England (SPX) Apr 10, 2006
A consortium led by British aerospace company QinetiQ has won a 450,000 Euro contract from ESA to design a satellite mission that could be used to deflect an asteroid threatening Earth.

Making the case for Ariane 6
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/500/1