Tag: CLPS
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NOVA-C selects landing site, Masten gains CLPS contracts
Intuitive Machines (IM) announced the IM-1 mission with the Nova-C lander has selected the Oceanus Procellarum near the Vallis Schrasöteri as a landing site. The Nova-C lander is a lunar lander under NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, with the goal of testing technologies to help land astronauts on the lunar surface. Intuitive Machines…
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NASA picks Masten Space Systems to deliver science to the moon’s south pole
An artist’s conception shows Masten Space Systems’ XL-1 lander on the moon. (Masten Space Systems Illustration) NASA has selected California-based Masten Space Systems to deliver eight science payloads to the moon’s south pole in 2022 on its XL-1 lunar lander. Seattle-based Olis Robotics has a role in getting one of those payloads, a robotic arm,…
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In parallel with rocket development, Firefly launches lunar lander initiative
Artist’s illustration of Firefly’s Genesis moon lander. Credit: Firefly Aerospace A souped-up version of the Israeli Beresheet moon lander built in Texas could be ready to carry NASA science and technology payloads to the lunar surface before the end of 2022, according to officials from Firefly Aerospace. Firefly’s Genesis lander is one of several major…
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SpaceX offering Starship to NASA for lunar landing missions
Artist’s concept of SpaceX’s Starship on the lunar surface. Credit: SpaceX SpaceX is eligible to propose using its next-generation Starship vehicle to carry NASA robotic science payloads to the lunar surface, the U.S. space agency announced Monday, on missions that could precede future Starship flights with people on-board. SpaceX is one of five companies NASA…
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NASA’s VIPER rover in development for scouting mission to moon’s south pole
NASA’s Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover, or VIPER, is a mobile robot that will roam around the moon’s south pole looking for water ice. Credit: NASA Ames/Daniel Rutter Building on a mission canceled last year, NASA is developing a mobile robot named VIPER for launch in 2022 to scout for water ice at the moon’s…
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Aerojet Rocketdyne, Firefly to collaborate on propulsion
At its Central Texas test site, Firefly is conducting “quad” testing of four Reaver first stage engines for the company’s Alpha launch vehicle. Credit: Firefly Aerospace/Edwards Media Firefly Aerospace and Aerojet Rocketdyne have announced a strategic partnership to collaborate on rocket propulsion, an agreement that could lead to Firefly’s use of Aerojet’s AR1 engine in…
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Intuitive Machines selects SpaceX to launch commercial lunar lander
Artist’s illustration of an Intuitive Machines Nova-C lander during launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Credit: Intuitive Machines Intuitive Machines confirmed plans Wednesday to launch a commercial lunar lander aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Florida’s Space Coast in 2021 on a mission to deliver multiple payloads to the moon, including up to…
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ispace alters Moon mission timelines for greater response to customer needs
The Japanese company ispace, inc, has announced new, strategic partnerships and plans to alter its mission schedule for the HAKUTO-R program, designed to provide responsive commercial lunar exploration services to various customers. As part of this plan, ispace is scrapping its lunar demonstration mission next year in favor of a direct moon landing in 2021…
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Astrobotic lunar lander to launch on ULA’s first Vulcan rocket
Artist’s concept of a Vulcan Centaur rocket with two solid rocket boosters. Credit: United Launch Alliance Astrobotic, a Pittsburgh-based company developing a robotic lunar lander, will launch its first moon mission under contract to NASA on the debut flight of United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur rocket in 2021, officials announced Monday. If successful, Astrobotic’s Peregrine…
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NASA terminates lunar lander contract with OrbitBeyond
EDITOR’S NOTE: Updated at 6 p.m. EDT (2200 GMT) with new CLPS on-ramp announcement. OrbitBeyond’s Z-01 lunar lander. Credit: OrbitBeyond NASA has terminated a $97 million contract with OrbitBeyond, a New Jersey-based company with plans to build robotic moon landers in Florida, just two months after announcing an agreement to send science instruments to the lunar…