Lunar Spacecraft
- All
- News
- Videos
- Web Stories
-
Why The Moon's Two Sides Look So Different: Study Explains
An exhaustive examination of lunar gravity using data obtained by two NASA robotic spacecraft is offering new clues about why the two sides of the moon - the one perpetually facing Earth and the other always facing away - look so different.
-
NASA Stacks Artemis 2 Second Stage While the Future of SLS Remains Uncertain
NASA has stacked the Artemis 2 rocket’s second stage at Kennedy Space Centre, marking major progress toward its 2026 crewed moon mission. Despite this milestone, a recent budget proposal recommends ending the SLS program after Artemis 3, raising questions about the long-term future of NASA's lunar exploration strategy and deep space transportatio...
-
Artemis II Orion Service Module Secured for Launch at Kennedy Space Center
NASA’s Artemis II Orion spacecraft is a step closer to its mission around the Moon. Three spacecraft adapter jettison fairings have been installed on its service module at Kennedy Space Center. These panels will protect the solar arrays from heat, wind, and acoustic forces during launch. Once in space, they will detach, allowing the arrays to dep...
-
NASA Tracks GNSS Signals on Moon, Advancing Lunar Navigation Technology
NASA and the Italian Space Agency made history by successfully tracking GNSS signals on the Moon through the LuGRE experiment. The technology could revolutionise lunar navigation, aiding missions like Artemis. LuGRE had earlier set records for GNSS signal acquisition in deep space, reaching lunar orbit before its final touchdown. The data collected...
-
NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer Moon Probe Struggles with Power and Signal Loss
NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer, launched on 26 February, has lost communication and is running low on power. The spacecraft, meant to detect water ice on the moon, has been unable to perform key trajectory corrections. Ground controllers are using the Deep Space Network and observatories to assess its position, but recovery remains uncertain. The missi...
-
Japan's ispace Eyes Second Moon Landing Attempt On June 6
Japanese moon exploration company ispace said its Resilience lander will attempt a lunar touchdown at 4:24 am on June 6 local time (1924 GMT on June 5).
-
Firefly Blue Ghost Moon Lander Successfully Lands on Moon for NASA Mission
Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander has successfully landed on the Moon, marking a major milestone in private space exploration. Part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, the mission aims to study radiation levels, test lunar sample collection, and capture a total solar eclipse. The spacecraft, which landed in Mare Cris...
-
Blue Ghost's First Photo From Moon
Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lunar lander has successfully touched down on the Moon. The spacecraft, carrying 10 scientific and technological experiments, landed in Mare Crisium, a vast lunar plain on the Moon's near side.
-
Watch: Blue Ghost Spacecraft Shares Incredible Footage Of Dark Side Of The Moon
Days before it makes a landing attempt, Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost spacecraft has shared some stunning visuals of the lunar surface. It entered the Moon's orbit earlier this month, capturing footage of the dark side from 120 km above the surface.
-
Blue Ghost Lander Lowers Orbit, Prepares for Lunar Touchdown on March 2
Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander has successfully lowered its orbit to 120 km in preparation for a lunar touchdown on March 2. The spacecraft, which launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, is part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. Mission teams are monitoring its orbit and finalizing descent plans, though commun...
-
China Names Its Moon Spacesuit and Rover Ahead of Lunar Mission
China has named its lunar spacesuit "Wangyu" and rover "Tansuo," crucial for its human moon landing plans by 2030. The prototype development phase is in progress, with extensive testing conducted. Additional mission components, including the "Mengzhou" spacecraft and "Lanyue" lunar lander, have also been named. The construction of essential infrast...
-
ISRO Successfully Executes SpaDeX Docking Experiment, India Becomes Fourth Nation to Achieve the Feat
India has joined an elite group of nations, successfully completing the SpaDeX docking experiment on January 16, 2025. Conducted by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the mission used two satellites, SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target), demonstrating advanced technology for spacecraft rendezvous and docking. This achievement positions Ind...
-
ISRO Successfully Launches Two SpaDeX Satellites, Completes Space Docking Test Flight
India has launched its first space docking mission, SpaDeX, using the PSLV-C60 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh. The mission involves deploying two spacecraft into a 470-km orbit to demonstrate docking technology and power transfer between satellites. Advanced payloads, including imaging systems and radiation monitors, w...
-
NASA Reschedules Artemis 2 and Artemis 3 Missions to Ensure Astronaut Safety
NASA has pushed back its Artemis 2 and Artemis 3 lunar missions to 2026 and 2027, respectively. The delays are attributed to issues with the Orion spacecraft, particularly its heat shield, which experienced damage during the Artemis 1 mission. Safety concerns and technical adjustments are being prioritised. The rescheduling could influence NASA’s...
-
NASA Delays Artemis 2 Mission to 2026, Artemis 3 Crewed Moon Landing For Mid-2027
NASA has announced delays in the Artemis missions, citing the need for additional technical preparations. Artemis 2, the first crewed Moon mission since the Apollo era, will now launch in 2026. Artemis 3, the programme's lunar landing mission, has been moved to mid-2027 due to Orion spacecraft readiness and other challenges. Adjustments to the spac...
-
Why The Moon's Two Sides Look So Different: Study Explains
An exhaustive examination of lunar gravity using data obtained by two NASA robotic spacecraft is offering new clues about why the two sides of the moon - the one perpetually facing Earth and the other always facing away - look so different.
-
NASA Stacks Artemis 2 Second Stage While the Future of SLS Remains Uncertain
NASA has stacked the Artemis 2 rocket’s second stage at Kennedy Space Centre, marking major progress toward its 2026 crewed moon mission. Despite this milestone, a recent budget proposal recommends ending the SLS program after Artemis 3, raising questions about the long-term future of NASA's lunar exploration strategy and deep space transportatio...
-
Artemis II Orion Service Module Secured for Launch at Kennedy Space Center
NASA’s Artemis II Orion spacecraft is a step closer to its mission around the Moon. Three spacecraft adapter jettison fairings have been installed on its service module at Kennedy Space Center. These panels will protect the solar arrays from heat, wind, and acoustic forces during launch. Once in space, they will detach, allowing the arrays to dep...
-
NASA Tracks GNSS Signals on Moon, Advancing Lunar Navigation Technology
NASA and the Italian Space Agency made history by successfully tracking GNSS signals on the Moon through the LuGRE experiment. The technology could revolutionise lunar navigation, aiding missions like Artemis. LuGRE had earlier set records for GNSS signal acquisition in deep space, reaching lunar orbit before its final touchdown. The data collected...
-
NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer Moon Probe Struggles with Power and Signal Loss
NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer, launched on 26 February, has lost communication and is running low on power. The spacecraft, meant to detect water ice on the moon, has been unable to perform key trajectory corrections. Ground controllers are using the Deep Space Network and observatories to assess its position, but recovery remains uncertain. The missi...
-
Japan's ispace Eyes Second Moon Landing Attempt On June 6
Japanese moon exploration company ispace said its Resilience lander will attempt a lunar touchdown at 4:24 am on June 6 local time (1924 GMT on June 5).
-
Firefly Blue Ghost Moon Lander Successfully Lands on Moon for NASA Mission
Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander has successfully landed on the Moon, marking a major milestone in private space exploration. Part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, the mission aims to study radiation levels, test lunar sample collection, and capture a total solar eclipse. The spacecraft, which landed in Mare Cris...
-
Blue Ghost's First Photo From Moon
Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lunar lander has successfully touched down on the Moon. The spacecraft, carrying 10 scientific and technological experiments, landed in Mare Crisium, a vast lunar plain on the Moon's near side.
-
Watch: Blue Ghost Spacecraft Shares Incredible Footage Of Dark Side Of The Moon
Days before it makes a landing attempt, Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost spacecraft has shared some stunning visuals of the lunar surface. It entered the Moon's orbit earlier this month, capturing footage of the dark side from 120 km above the surface.
-
Blue Ghost Lander Lowers Orbit, Prepares for Lunar Touchdown on March 2
Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander has successfully lowered its orbit to 120 km in preparation for a lunar touchdown on March 2. The spacecraft, which launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, is part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. Mission teams are monitoring its orbit and finalizing descent plans, though commun...
-
China Names Its Moon Spacesuit and Rover Ahead of Lunar Mission
China has named its lunar spacesuit "Wangyu" and rover "Tansuo," crucial for its human moon landing plans by 2030. The prototype development phase is in progress, with extensive testing conducted. Additional mission components, including the "Mengzhou" spacecraft and "Lanyue" lunar lander, have also been named. The construction of essential infrast...
-
ISRO Successfully Executes SpaDeX Docking Experiment, India Becomes Fourth Nation to Achieve the Feat
India has joined an elite group of nations, successfully completing the SpaDeX docking experiment on January 16, 2025. Conducted by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the mission used two satellites, SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target), demonstrating advanced technology for spacecraft rendezvous and docking. This achievement positions Ind...
-
ISRO Successfully Launches Two SpaDeX Satellites, Completes Space Docking Test Flight
India has launched its first space docking mission, SpaDeX, using the PSLV-C60 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh. The mission involves deploying two spacecraft into a 470-km orbit to demonstrate docking technology and power transfer between satellites. Advanced payloads, including imaging systems and radiation monitors, w...
-
NASA Reschedules Artemis 2 and Artemis 3 Missions to Ensure Astronaut Safety
NASA has pushed back its Artemis 2 and Artemis 3 lunar missions to 2026 and 2027, respectively. The delays are attributed to issues with the Orion spacecraft, particularly its heat shield, which experienced damage during the Artemis 1 mission. Safety concerns and technical adjustments are being prioritised. The rescheduling could influence NASA’s...
-
NASA Delays Artemis 2 Mission to 2026, Artemis 3 Crewed Moon Landing For Mid-2027
NASA has announced delays in the Artemis missions, citing the need for additional technical preparations. Artemis 2, the first crewed Moon mission since the Apollo era, will now launch in 2026. Artemis 3, the programme's lunar landing mission, has been moved to mid-2027 due to Orion spacecraft readiness and other challenges. Adjustments to the spac...
