Moon
Humans to Mars Summit
The Humans to Mars Summit is the world’s largest annual conference that is focused on the goal of landing humans on Mars. The 2019 Summit will feature a diverse lineup of topics, technologies, breakout sessions, and audience participation that w…
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.
China’s lunar rover enters standby mode for ‘noon nap’ as Chang’e-4 tests continue
China’s Chang’e-4 lander and Yutu-2 rover have tested out payloads and systems on the far side of the moon, with the rover now taking a ‘noon nap’ as a precaution against high temperatures.
NASA opens the floodgates for firms with planetary ambitions
When NASA revealed the names of nine companies eligible for contracts to deliver payloads to the moon on robotic landers, it set off a flurry of activity among firms with related technology.
Is the Gateway the right way to the moon?
A year after President Donald Trump formally directed NASA to return humans to the moon in Space Policy Directive (SPD) 1, the agency has developed the outlines of a plan to carry that out, while emphasizing the language in the policy to do so in a “sustainable” manner and with international and commercial partners.
Chang’e-4 spacecraft enters lunar orbit ahead of first-ever far side landing
China’s Chang’e-4 lander and rover spacecraft successfully entered lunar orbit Wednesday following a four-and-half-day flight to the moon.
China launches Chang’e-4 spacecraft for pioneering lunar far side landing mission
China launched its Chang’e-4 moon mission Dec. 7, successfully sending the lander and rover into a lunar transfer orbit ahead of an unprecedented attempt at a landing on the far side of the moon early in the New Year.
Apollo 8 50th Anniversary Celebration at the NASA Goddard Visitor Center
Re-live the highlights of mankind’s most epic voyage:
Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 8 mission to the moon. In December 1968, three NASA astronauts became the first humans to orbit another celestial body. This is the missi…
Foust Forward | For NASA’s return to the moon, a little something to cheer about
NASA sees CLPS as a way to achieve low-cost science at the moon, including work identifying resources that could support future human exploration. More importantly, though, it acknowledges that CLPS is a risky endeavor, with many companies likely to suffer technical or financial failures.
NASA studying three-stage approach to human-class lunar landers
As NASA starts to build up details about its plans to return humans to the moon, the agency is studying concepts for “human-class” lunar landers that would involve three-stage vehicles whose individual components could be flown on a range of launch vehicles.
Advisory group skeptical of NASA lunar exploration plans
NASA’s plans to return humans to the surface of the moon within 10 years got a chilly reception from an advisory group Nov. 15, who called on the agency to accelerate that timeframe and reconsider development of the Gateway facility in lunar orbit.
Mars mission advocates see benefits in NASA’s lunar exploration plans
With NASA committed to a human return to the moon, Mars exploration advocates say those lunar missions can be useful to achieve their long-term goals, if designed properly.
Foust Forward | The moon bounces back
For all the enthusiasm about lunar exploration, and announcements made during the conference, there were far fewer specific details about just how to achieve those goals.
Foust Forward | The moon bounces back
At this year's just-concluded International Astronautical Congress in Bremen, Germany, human Mars exploration was eclipsed by discussions about going back to the moon.
