News Archive / Tagged: Moon

• Blue Origin lunar lander lawsuit dismissed by federal judge

  Derek RichardsonNovember 4th, 2021

  A United States Court of Federal Claims judge dismissed a lawsuit by Blue Origin versus NASA over the agency’s decision to award the Human Landing System contract solely to SpaceX.

• Ice drill being sent to the Moon late next year

  Derek RichardsonNovember 3rd, 2021

  As work continues on the human-side of hardware development for NASA’s Artemis program, the agency is hard at work planning robotic precursor missions to the areas astronauts are expected to explore in just a few short years.

• Artemis 1 targeting a February 2022 launch

  Theresa CrossOctober 25th, 2021

  Now that NASA’s giant Space Launch System Moon rocket is fully assembled inside the Vehicle Assembly Building, its launch date is becoming more clear.

• 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.