NASA’s Artemis Accords document seeks collaborative moon exploration
NASA has laid out the principles through which it will operate its Artemis program to return astronauts to the moon in document called the Artemis Accords.
They’re headed to the Arctic to live inside a DIY moon habitat. For 3 months
To study how long-term isolation might impact future moon colonists, a pair of Dutch architects plan to lock themselves in an isolation pod in the Arctic.
SpaceX, Blue Origin will face off to build the next moon lander, NASA says
SpaceX, Blue Origin and Dynetics are competing to develop the next moon lander for NASA's Artemis program, which will send humans back to the moon by 2024.
How NASA’s VIPER rover will tackle the problem of moon dust
NASA is preparing to send astronauts back to the moon by 2024. But there's one challenge of lunar exploration we haven't solved yet: How to deal with moon dust.
NASA wants your help designing a mini payload for moon exploration
NASA is calling on the public to submit their designs for teeny tiny miniature rovers which could be used to explore the moon as part of the Artemis project.
NASA lays out plans for building a long-term moon base
NASA has released a report detailing how it intends to set up a base on the moon, which can then be used as a staging area for exploration of Mars.
NASA asks for the public’s help to design a robot for digging on the moon
NASA has developed a robot for digging on the moon, and it wants the public's help in designing a part of it called the bucket drum.
NASA’s Lunar Gateway will research radiation and space weather
NASA has announced two sets of instruments which will be carried aboard its planned Lunar Gateway space station.
NASA funding new tech for accessing food and water on lunar missions
Two new NASA-funded projects from the University of Arizona will hunt for solutions for acquiring food and water in space and on the moon.
Enjoy NASA’s re-creation of Apollo 13’s moon mission in crisp 4K
A new video released ahead of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 13 mission shows stunning moonscapes as they would've appeared to the crew during the trip.
NASA hasn’t been to the moon in almost 50 years. Now, it’s going back annually
NASA hasn’t been to the moon since 1972, but starting in 2021, the agency plans to make trips every year through 2030, with the goal of landing humans in 2024.
Researchers develop technique for analyzing moon dust from a single grain
In order to get as much use out of precious moon dust samples as possible, researchers have found a new way to analyze the dust by looking at single grains.
State of the Union: Trump reaffirms desire to see U.S. put a flag on Mars
During his State of the Union speech, President Donald Trump reaffirmed his deep desire to see the U.S. become the first nation to send humans to Mars.
Lexus concepts envision lunar transport in the year 2220
f you've ever found yourself wondering what transport of the future will look like, Lexus has some concept sketches to feed your imagination. Designers were invited to create a lunar mobility concept for everything from personal transportation for traveling across the moon's surface to spacecraft concepts.
Scientists come up with a method to make oxygen from moon dust
The moon is covered in fine dust called regolith which sticks to absolutely everything and causes all sorts of technical problems. But now, the European Space Agency has come up with a plan for the tricky substance: Turning it into oxygen to be used by lunar explorers for breathing and for the production of fuel.
Moon rooms made of mushrooms could be the future of space habitat
Potential future inhabitants of the moon and Mars could live in rooms made of mushrooms. NASA is looking at the possibilities of fungi as a more sustainable option to metal and glass, since it can easily grow around an existing frame. Scientists are also looking into whether these 'shroom rooms could be used on Earth.
Here’s what all the movies set in 2020 predicted this year would be like
Life in the 2020s might be new to you and me, but it’s far from fresh territory for movies and TV. What did screenwriters think the world would be facing in the year 2020? Check out our rundown of the future that, well, is no longer quite as futuristic as it once appeared.
Japanese billionaire seeks significant other for SpaceX moon trip
SpaceX has already named wealthy Japanese entrepreneur Yusaku Maezawa as its first paying passenger for a moon trip set to take place in 2023. Now Maezawa says he's looking for someone special to accompany him, with an online streaming channel creating a show to follow his efforts in finding a significant other.
Dark craters on moon could contain vital resources for human explorers
As the Earth rotates, it tilts on its axis bringing some parts of the planet closer to the sun, which is why we have seasons. But on the Moon, the lack of tilt means there are some areas that are never exposed to sunlight. And these dark areas contain impact craters which could hold the key to future lunar missions.
Russia plans to build telescopes on the moon to protect against asteroids
With recent lunar landing attempts by India and Israel, and a mission to the far side of the moon by China, international interest in our planetary satellite is heating up right now. Now, Russia intends to get in on the action as well, by building an observatory on the moon.
NASA unveils its plans for a lander to deliver rovers to the moon
NASA already has plans to send one rover to the moon, but with the upcoming Artemis mission, the agency is planning further lunar explorers including a mid-sized lander concept. It unveiled its plans for an as-yet-unnamed lander that could deliver a rover to the polar regions of the moon, where water ice is located.
NASA’s charge-dissipating paint provides a potential solution to a dusty problem
The fine dust which covers the moon's surface causes a range of technical problems from gumming up electronics to sticking to absolutely everything. It's even potentially harmful to the health of astronauts. Now, NASA has come up with a solution which could help alleviate the dust problem.
See a photo of the strange gel-like substance found on the far side of the moon
Earlier this year, China's space program announced it had discovered an oddly-colored gel-like substance of unknown origin on the far side of the moon. Now, the China Lunar Exploration Program has released a photo of its strange find which shows more details about what the substance could be.
SpaceX aims to send a Starship to the moon within three years
When SpaceX unveiled its gorgeous next-generation Starship rocket last month, CEO Elon Musk announced an ambitious timeline of tests for the new vehicle. Now, more details about SpaceX's plans have been announced by President and COO Gwynne Shotwell at the 2019 International Astronautical Congress.
NASA plans to cut cost of space exploration by commercializing low-earth orbit
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine has spoken about the Artemis mission to the moon and a manned mission to Mars after that. And he laid out how NASA plans for pay for this new era of manned space exploration -- by encouraging the commercialization of low -arth orbit in order to cut costs for the agency.
Meet VIPER, the rover that’s going to hunt for water on the moon
As part of its Artemis mission to return to the moon by 2024, NASA is recruiting a new robotic helper: The VIPER rover, which will sniff out lunar water ice. The Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover will be sent to the moon's south pole, where frozen water has been detected.
Feeding off-world colonies: Leeks and tomatoes can be grown in Martian soil
In a move that takes us one step closer to creating a permanent colony on another planet, scientists have demonstrated that it is possible to grow edible food crops in soil like that found on Mars and the moon. Nine edible plant species were able to grow in simulated Martian and lunar soil.
NASA will work with Japanese space agency on lunar landing projects
The Japanese space agency, JAXA, has confirmed it will work with NASA on the upcoming Artemis mission to send humans back to the moon by 2024. NASA Administrator James Bridenstine and JAXA President Hiroshi Yamakawa met recently in Tokyo to affirm their commitment to a joint lunar exploration project.
NASA shows off the new spacesuits that astronauts will wear to the moon
NASA is pushing ahead with its plans to go back to the moon by 2024, and today showed off its new spacesuit for the first time. The Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit is designed to protect astronauts against temperatures ranging from minus 250 degrees to plus 250 degrees Fahrenheit.
Ice on the moon may be billions of years old, new study shows
An important step toward more long-term manned missions to the moon is locating a source of water. A new study has investigated the age and origin of lunar water and found it could have multiple different sources. Some of the ice deposits seem to be billions of years old, while others are more recent.
Can you locate India’s crashed lunar lander in this image?
Last month, the Indian Space Research Organization attempted to land the Vikram lander on the moon but lost communication during the final descent. Now, NASA's orbiting lunar spacecraft, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has snapped a picture of the area where the crash is believed to have occurred.
China grows a cotton plant on the far side of the moon in a biological first
China has broken new ground, successfully growing cotton on the moon for the first time. The experiment was part of the Chang'e 4 project, in which China is exploring the far side of the moon with a lander. The cotton plant was one of several organisms encased in a mini biosphere aboard the lander.
Why is it still so hard to land on the moon?
Two missions from SpaceIL and the Indian Space Research Organization both failed to land craft on the moon this year. Fifty years after Apollo, we spoke to two space experts to understand why are lunar landings still so challenging.
NASA taps Lockheed Martin to build Orion spacecraft for decade-long moon mission
NASA awarded Lockheed Martin the Orion Production and Operations Contract, which tasks the company to design and prepare six to 12 Orion spacecraft to go to the moon. The contract lasts until September 30, 2030 and includes the production of Orion spacecraft as part of NASA’s Artemis missions.