News Archive / Tagged: Moon

• Lunar Gateway habitation module contract finalized

  Theresa CrossJuly 16th, 2021

  NASA and Northrop Grumman have finalized a contract for the living quarters of the Moon-orbiting Lunar Gateway for the Artemis program, the Habitation and Logistics Outpost.

• Science journalist outlines challenges of settling the Moon and Mars

  Laurel KornfeldApril 16th, 2021

  Human settlement of the Moon and Mars will require overcoming numerous challenges, including living in low gravity and protecting people from radiation.

• NASA exploring options for navigating on the Moon

  Theresa CrossMarch 31st, 2021

  NASA is currently exploring a number of solutions for navigating and communicating on the Moon's surface for the Artemis program.

• New artwork released for SpaceX’s Dragon XL spacecraft

  Derek RichardsonMarch 27th, 2021

  NASA recently released new concept art for SpaceX’s Dragon XL cargo ship, which is being designed to service the space agency’s Lunar Gateway.

• Firefly awarded NASA contract for CLPS Lunar Lander

  Matt HaskellFebruary 6th, 2021

  As part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, Firefly Aerospace has been awarded a $93.3 million contract to land a set of 10 research payloads on the moon in 2023 as part of CLPS Task Order 19D.

• Amount of water on the Moon varies by location and time of day

  Laurel KornfeldFebruary 6th, 2021

  Two Earth-based studies confirm water molecules are present on the Moon, but amounts vary depending on location and time of day, Casey Honniball of NASA.

• Moon Dialogs bring together stakeholders in near-future lunar activity

  Laurel KornfeldJanuary 12th, 2021

  Moon Dialogs, a partnership that seeks to bring together a wide variety of stakeholders to brainstorm about near-future lunar activity, organized Zoom sessions throughout 2020 exploring the wide range of topics pertinent to policy and governance on the Moon.

• NASA announces “Artemis Team” of 18 astronauts

  Cullen DesforgesDecember 11th, 2020

  In a somewhat unannounced and surprising fashion, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence announced the 18 astronauts that will be focused on advancing the Artemis program, including those who will be first to fly aboard the Orion capsule as early as 2023.

• NASA seeking commercial proposals for lunar sample collection

  Theresa CrossSeptember 16th, 2020

  Over the next four years, NASA will pay for private companies to harvest rocks and soil from the moon, as the agency takes the initial steps to field sustainable lunar exploration. 

• Commercial spaceflight advocate outlines revolution in the field

  Laurel KornfeldJuly 7th, 2020

  Bruce Pittman of NASA’s Space Portal Office, a 35-year advocate for commercial spaceflight, outlined his vision of the endeavor over the next 42 months in a June webinar run by NASA’s Night Sky Network.

• NASA selects three companies to develop lunar landers

  Cullen DesforgesMay 1st, 2020

                              NASA announced on April 30, 2020 that it had selected three companies to develop lunar landers for its Artemis program.

• Artemis I Orion spacecraft advancing through tests at Plum Brook Station

  Michael ColeJanuary 31st, 2020

  SANDUSKY, OHIO -- Testing is fully underway on the Orion spacecraft for the upcoming Artemis I test flight mission at NASA's Plum Brook Station testing facility in Sandusky, Ohio. The Orion crew capsule, integrated with its European Service Module, is currently inside the facility's Space Environments Complex undergoing thermal vacuum tests in the largest thermal vacuum chamber in the world.

• Launch of Shijian 20 lights up Chinese skies and exploration ambitions

  SpaceFlight InsiderDecember 28th, 2019

  China has big plans for its space program. But before it can achieve them, it needed to make sure a key launch vehicle was up to the task. A recent mission suggests that it is.

• NASA to send VIPER to prowl Moon’s South Pole

  Jason RhianOctober 28th, 2019

  If humanity is going to establish a long-term presence on the Moon, it's going to need water. This precious substance can be found on the lunar surface and a newly-announced robotic explorer is being readied to seek out significant concentrations of ice. If all goes according to plan, this mission marka critical first step for planned crewed missions.

• NASA teaming up with commercial companies for return to the Moon

  Laurel KornfeldAugust 5th, 2019

  To achieve the goal of returning humans to the Moon by 2024, NASA announced it is teaming up with commercial companies to develop new technologies for landing on and taking off from the lunar surface.