Tag: lunar exploration
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NASA Targets March for Artemis II Launch After Rocket Rehearsal Issues
NASA is now targeting March for the earliest possible launch of its Artemis II mission after encountering technical issues during a critical prelaunch test of its Space Launch System rocket, the agency said. The Artemis II mission is set to carry four astronauts into deep space, marking the first crewed lunar mission since the Apollo…
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NASA Rolls Artemis II Moon Rocket to Launchpad as Final Preparations Begin
NASA on Saturday began the final phase of launch preparations for its Artemis II mission, moving the agency’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket toward its Florida launchpad ahead of the first crewed flight under its lunar return programme. The 322-foot-tall SLS rocket was rolled out of the Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center…
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Intuitive Machines Completes $800 Million Acquisition of Lanteris Space Systems
Intuitive Machines said it has completed the acquisition of Lanteris Space Systems, formerly known as Maxar Space Systems, in a move aimed at transforming the company into a vertically integrated space prime serving defense, civil and commercial customers. The transaction, first announced in November, was completed under unchanged terms, with a purchase price of $800…
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ispace Plans Saudi Arabia Subsidiary to Expand Lunar Partnerships in Middle East
Japanese lunar exploration company ispace said it plans to establish a new subsidiary in Saudi Arabia, expanding its global presence and strengthening ties with partners in the Middle East as activity around the Moon accelerates. The planned entity, to be known as ispace Saudi Arabia, will become the company’s fourth global base after Japan, Europe…
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Lunar Outpost’s MAPP Rovers: From Commercial Exploration to Artemis Integration
Founded in 2017 in Golden, Colorado, Lunar Outpost has rapidly evolved from a commercial lunar mobility startup to a key player in NASA’s Artemis program. On December 4, 2025, the company announced its selection for the Artemis IV mission, marking a significant transition from purely commercial operations to direct integration with NASA’s flagship crewed lunar…
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Japan becomes the fifth nation to land a spacecraft on the Moon
The Japanese space agency’s first lunar lander arrived on the the Moon’s surface Friday, but a power system problem threatens to cut short its mission. Japan’s robotic Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) mission began a 20-minute final descent using two hydrazine-fueled engines to drop out of orbit. After holding to hover at 500 meters…
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Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter discovers thermally stable areas in surface pits suitable for future lunar bases
Using data from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), a group of NASA-funded researchers has discovered that shaded locations inside surface pits on the lunar surface harbor comfortable temperatures that could prove useful for future lunar exploration. Furthermore, LRO continues to operate in a healthy state around the Moon and is regularly returning data, so much…