China launches first mission to collect Moon rock samples since 1976

The China National Space Administration is pressing ahead with its trailblazing lunar exploration program, following last year’s historic Chang’e-4 touchdown with a new mission to bring Moon rocks back to Earth for study. The Chang’e-5 mission successf… Continue reading China launches first mission to collect Moon rock samples since 1976

HALO space habitat module passes preliminary design review

Northrop Grumman has announced that its Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO) module has passed its preliminary design review. The module, which forms a key element of NASA’s Gateway deep space outpost, will act as a way station for future missions t… Continue reading HALO space habitat module passes preliminary design review

Texas Astronomers Revive Idea For ‘Ultimately Large Telescope’ On the Moon

A group of astronomers from The University of Texas at Austin has revived an idea shelved by NASA to build a lunar liquid-mirror telescope on the moon to study the first stars in the universe. “The team, led by NASA Hubble Fellow Anna Schauer, will pub… Continue reading Texas Astronomers Revive Idea For ‘Ultimately Large Telescope’ On the Moon

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Spacing Out: A Big Anniversary, Starlink Failures Plummet, Lunar Cellphones, And A Crewed Launch

After a couple of months away we’re returning with our periodic roundup of happenings in orbit, as we tear you away from Star Trek: Discovery and The Mandalorian, and bring you up to date with some highlights from the real world of space. We’ve got a launch to look …read more

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Lunar Ark Boldly Goes

[Sebastian and Karl-Johan] are two award-winning Danish Space Architects who are subjecting themselves to harsh, seemingly uninhabitable conditions, for science. The pair set out to build a lunar base that could land with the manned Moon missions in 2024. Like any good engineering problem, what good is a solution without …read more

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New mineral discovered in Moon meteorite could lurk deep beneath Earth

Researchers have discovered a new mineral in a meteorite from the Moon. Named donwilhemsite, the mineral appears to form under high pressures and may play a crucial role in the rock cycle deep within the Earth.Continue ReadingCategory: ScienceTags: Moo… Continue reading New mineral discovered in Moon meteorite could lurk deep beneath Earth

Weird molecule found in Titan’s atmosphere hints at complex chemistry

NASA scientists have discovered a “weird” molecule called cyclopropenylidene, or C3H2, in the atmosphere of Saturn’s moon Titan. The simple carbon-based molecule has never been seen in an atmosphere before, and it could give rise to more complex compou… Continue reading Weird molecule found in Titan’s atmosphere hints at complex chemistry

NASA announces public challenge to find ways to unload lunar landers

Having conquered space toilets, NASA, with crowd-sourcer HeroX, have announced a new challenge that invites the public to submit novel ways to unload lunar payloads. NASA’s Lunar Delivery Challenge is offering US$25,000 in prizes for the best ideas for… Continue reading NASA announces public challenge to find ways to unload lunar landers