The Moon is seriously two-faced. The near and far sides of Earth’s only natural satellite are so unlike each other, it’s a wonder they’re located on the same celestial sphere. Now, new research suggests they’re even more different than astronomers thought. A study published Tuesday in the journal Nature Geoscience found evidence to suggest that […]
NASA Couldn’t Get Its Rover to the Moon, So Blue Origin Will Do It Instead
NASA’s water-hunting lunar rover was given a second chance to reach the surface of the Moon. Blue Origin will deliver VIPER to the Moon on an upcoming lunar lander mission, resurrecting the exploration mission after it was called off last year. NASA contracted Blue Origin to transport its lunar rover to the Moon as part […]
Moon Helium Deal Is the Biggest Space Resource Grab Yet
For billions of years, solar winds have bombarded the Moon. Over time, this constant onslaught of charged particles has caused helium-3 to accumulate in the lunar surface. This isotope is rare on Earth, and rising demand from several industries—including quantum computing—has incentivized some companies to explore the possibility of lunar mining. One such company is […]
Solar-Powered Device Turns Moon Dirt Into Bricks, a Potential Breakthrough in Lunar Construction
Both the U.S. and China have set their sights on the Moon, aiming to break ground on permanent lunar bases within the next decade. Though there’s no legal basis for claiming territory in space, whichever country gets there first will gain a coveted first-mover advantage, allowing it to set certain ground rules about who can […]
Watch Live as Japanese Startup Attempts Moon Landing After Failed First Mission
The Resilience lander has spent the past six months traveling to the Moon, with plans to touch down in its far northern region. Japanese company ispace is aiming for a Thursday landing—its second attempt to reach the lunar surface. Resilience is set to land on June 5 at 3:24 p.m. ET, aiming for a smooth […]
NASA Has a Badass Moon Rover but No Way to Get It to the Moon
NASA’s VIPER is designed to search for water ice around the Moon’s south pole. But instead of exploring the lunar terrain, the fully assembled four-wheeled robot is in storage at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. After canceling its VIPER mission last year, NASA is still searching for alternatives to launch its lunar rover, and […]
NASA Needs to Build Gloves and Boots That Can Withstand Frigid Moon Temperatures
NASA’s upcoming missions to the Moon are set to be a lot more chilly than the Apollo program, and the agency is working to figure out how to keep its astronauts snug when visiting the permanently shadowed regions of the lunar south pole. A team of NASA engineers is preparing to test elbow joints in […]
Asteroid With 3.8% Chance of Hitting Our Moon Originated From an Unusual Spot
Astronomers have traced the origin of asteroid 2024 YR4, which appears to have broken off from a larger space rock. A newly discovered asteroid is on track for a close brush with Earth—and it might even slam into the Moon. Recently, astronomers got a closer look at the giant space rock, revealing its violent origin […]
NASA Scraps Promise to Land ‘First Woman and Person of Color’ on the Moon
After years of promoting its return to the Moon with the promise of inclusion, NASA has concealed its well-publicized intent of landing a diverse crew on the lunar surface as part of the Artemis program. NASA’s websites no longer include references to landing a crew that includes the first woman and first person of color […]
Firefly Bids Farewell to Its Lunar Lander After 14 Days on the Moon
Firefly’s Blue Ghost lander went gently into the lunar night after spending a full lunar day on the Moon, gathering data and beaming it back to Earth as part of the company’s first commercial drop-off mission. Blue Ghost sent its final transmission on Sunday at 7:15 p.m. ET, wrapping up the longest private mission on […]