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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...
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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...
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Private US Lander's Moon Mission Ends After Spacecraft Tips Over
Intuitive Machines' second Moon mission ended in disappointment Friday after its spacecraft tipped over and was left unable to recharge its solar-powered batteries, mirroring the US company's first attempt last year.
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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NASA's Juno Detects Io's Most Powerful Volcanic Eruption Yet
NASA’s Juno spacecraft has recorded the most powerful volcanic eruption on Io, Jupiter’s most volcanic moon. The eruption site, detected on 27 December 2024, is fueled by a massive magma chamber spanning 105,000 square kilometers. The heat energy released is estimated at 80 trillion watts, exceeding Earth’s total power output. The volcanic ac...
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Stunning Images Of Mercury's Surface Captured By ESA Spacecraft
Barely larger than our own Moon, Mercury orbits precariously close to the Sun at an average distance of roughly 58 million kilometres.
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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...
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Jupiter’s Moon Io Shows No Magma Ocean as New Findings Explain Volcanic Eruptions
NASA's latest findings indicate that Jupiter's volcanic moon Io does not have a global magma ocean beneath its surface, debunking previous theories. This conclusion comes from analysis of data from NASA's Juno spacecraft and archival observations from the Galileo mission. The study suggests that Io's interior is more solid than expected, with volca...
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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...
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NASA’s Europa Clipper Probe Begins Deploying Science Instruments on Way to Jupiter
NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft has begun deploying its key science instruments as it travels towards Jupiter. Launched in October 2023, the probe is on a 1.8-billion-mile journey to study Jupiter’s icy moon Europa. The recent deployment includes the magnetometer’s boom and radar antennas, crucial for studying Europa's magnetic field and subsu...
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NASA Europa Clipper Advances Toward Jupiter’s Moon, Instruments Successfully Deployed
NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft, launched in October 2024, is journeying toward Jupiter’s moon Europa to study its icy surface and hidden ocean. Currently over 13 million miles from Earth, the spacecraft has successfully deployed its solar arrays, magnetometer boom, and radar antennas. It will use a gravity assist from Mars in March 2025 to ad...
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NASA’s Juno Probe Captures Stunning Views of Jupiter’s Storms and Moon Amalthea
NASA’s Juno probe captured vibrant, high-contrast images of Jupiter’s stormy atmosphere and an up-close view of its moon, Amalthea, during the spacecraft’s 66th flyby on October 23. The images were processed by citizen scientists, enhancing the colours to showcase Jupiter’s unique cloud formations and highlighting details of Amalthea agains...
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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...
-
Private US Lander's Moon Mission Ends After Spacecraft Tips Over
Intuitive Machines' second Moon mission ended in disappointment Friday after its spacecraft tipped over and was left unable to recharge its solar-powered batteries, mirroring the US company's first attempt last year.
-
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...
-
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 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...
-
NASA's Juno Detects Io's Most Powerful Volcanic Eruption Yet
NASA’s Juno spacecraft has recorded the most powerful volcanic eruption on Io, Jupiter’s most volcanic moon. The eruption site, detected on 27 December 2024, is fueled by a massive magma chamber spanning 105,000 square kilometers. The heat energy released is estimated at 80 trillion watts, exceeding Earth’s total power output. The volcanic ac...
-
Stunning Images Of Mercury's Surface Captured By ESA Spacecraft
Barely larger than our own Moon, Mercury orbits precariously close to the Sun at an average distance of roughly 58 million kilometres.
-
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...
-
Jupiter’s Moon Io Shows No Magma Ocean as New Findings Explain Volcanic Eruptions
NASA's latest findings indicate that Jupiter's volcanic moon Io does not have a global magma ocean beneath its surface, debunking previous theories. This conclusion comes from analysis of data from NASA's Juno spacecraft and archival observations from the Galileo mission. The study suggests that Io's interior is more solid than expected, with volca...
-
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...
-
NASA’s Europa Clipper Probe Begins Deploying Science Instruments on Way to Jupiter
NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft has begun deploying its key science instruments as it travels towards Jupiter. Launched in October 2023, the probe is on a 1.8-billion-mile journey to study Jupiter’s icy moon Europa. The recent deployment includes the magnetometer’s boom and radar antennas, crucial for studying Europa's magnetic field and subsu...
-
NASA Europa Clipper Advances Toward Jupiter’s Moon, Instruments Successfully Deployed
NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft, launched in October 2024, is journeying toward Jupiter’s moon Europa to study its icy surface and hidden ocean. Currently over 13 million miles from Earth, the spacecraft has successfully deployed its solar arrays, magnetometer boom, and radar antennas. It will use a gravity assist from Mars in March 2025 to ad...
-
NASA’s Juno Probe Captures Stunning Views of Jupiter’s Storms and Moon Amalthea
NASA’s Juno probe captured vibrant, high-contrast images of Jupiter’s stormy atmosphere and an up-close view of its moon, Amalthea, during the spacecraft’s 66th flyby on October 23. The images were processed by citizen scientists, enhancing the colours to showcase Jupiter’s unique cloud formations and highlighting details of Amalthea agains...
