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.

NASA roadmap report provides few new details on human exploration plans

A long-overdue exploration roadmap report released by NASA Sept. 24 offers an overview of the agency’s plans to send humans back to the moon and on to Mars, but few new details about how to carry out those plans.

SpaceX to announce new lunar mission plans

SpaceX plans to announce the identity of the first person it intends to send around the moon next week as its on-again, off-again lunar ambitions appear to be back on.

Lunar scientist and exploration advocate Paul Spudis passes away

Paul Spudis, a planetary scientist who devoted his career to both the study of the moon and initiatives to return humans there, passed away Aug. 29.

Pioneering Chang’e-4 lunar far side landing mission to launch in December

China will launch its Chang’e-4 lander and rover mission in December in what will be the first ever attempt at a soft landing on the far side of the moon, authorities said Aug. 15

Electric propulsion to send smallsats from LEO to GEO orbit, moon

In an effort to cut launch costs, companies are looking to technology to transport small satellites from low Earth orbit to geostationary orbit and to the moon.

Apollo Celebration Gala

An awe-inspiring education-fundraising gala event held under the Apollo Saturn V Rocket at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex to kick-off a 12-month celebration of 50 years since the Apollo 11 moon landing. On July 21st, join astronauts from acr…