lunar lander
SpaceIL says “chain of events” led to crash of lunar lander
As SpaceIL continues its investigation into its failed lunar landing attempt April 11, its backers as well as others in the space community remain optimistic about efforts to privately develop such spacecraft despite technical challenges.
Lockheed Martin offers architecture for 2024 human lunar landing
Lockheed Martin says it has developed an approach to achieving the goal of landing humans on the south pole of the moon by 2024, but warns that construction of essential hardware would have to start soon to meet that deadline.
SpaceIL lander crashes on moon
An Israeli lunar lander originally built to win a prize competition crashed onto the surface of the moon April 11 when its main engine malfunctioned during descent.
SpaceIL lander enters lunar orbit
SpaceIL announced April 4 that its Beresheet spacecraft has entered orbit around the moon, setting the stage for a landing attempt in a week.
X Prize Foundation offers “Moonshot Award” to SpaceIL
A year after a $20 million prize purse expired, a team in the former Google Lunar X Prize competition could still pick up a smaller consolation prize if it lands on the moon next month.
Maneuver puts SpaceIL lander on course for the moon
SpaceIL’s lunar lander performed a maneuver March 19 that puts the privately developed lander on course to enter orbit around the moon next month.
SpaceIL back on course for the moon after computer glitch
A privately-funded Israeli lunar lander performed a maneuver Feb. 28 to raise its orbit after a computer problem postponed an earlier maneuver.
SpaceIL lunar lander makes first post-launch maneuvers
As an Israeli-built lunar lander makes its first post-launch maneuvers, a Japanese company announced new partnerships in its plans to mount missions to the moon.
Companies skeptical commercial lunar landers can fly NASA payloads this year
As NASA selects payloads it plans to fly on commercial lunar landers, companies developing those spacecraft are skeptical any landers will be ready to fly this year, as the agency desires.
NASA seeks to accelerate work on lunar missions
NASA is now emphasizing speed in its lunar exploration plans, including seeking to fly payloads on commercial lunar landers before the end of this year as it works with industry on lander concepts.
IAI to partner with OHB on lunar delivery services
The Israeli company that built a privately funded lunar lander scheduled for launch next month is partnering with a German firm to offer similar landers for future European Space Agency missions.
ArianeGroup and PTScientists to study lunar lander mission for ESA
ESA has awarded a contract to a group that includes Europe’s largest launch services provider and a former Google Lunar X Prize competitor to study a concept for a mission to mine lunar regolith.
Runner-up in NASA commercial lunar lander competition plans to try again
The one company that failed to win a NASA contract last month for commercial lunar payload delivery services says it will try again in the future as it continues development of its lunar lander.
SpaceIL completes lunar lander for February launch
A privately funded Israeli lunar lander originally built for a prize competition is now complete and ready for launch in early 2019.
NASA lunar orbiter now supporting commercial and international missions
A NASA spacecraft originally built as part of the previous effort to return humans to the moon is now playing a key role in the new effort at human lunar return, including aiding commercial landers.
NASA selects nine companies for commercial lunar lander program
NASA has picked nine companies, ranging from startups to aerospace giants, to be eligible for future contracts to deliver payloads to the surface of the moon, but with no guarantee of business for any of them.
