Category Archives: Lunar Landers

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 14-17 Aug 2020

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USA, China On Fast Track For Human Moon Missions Through Sustained Science, Exploration Programs

NASA LRO Surpasses 5 Years In Polar Mapping Orbit Collecting Data For Landings; Part Of Extensive Artemis SPD-1 To Achieve Humans At Moon South Pole (MSP) 2024, CLPS Program To See 1st Commercial Landings [Astrobotic, Intuitive Machines] Second Half Of 2021, Masten To MSP 2022, VIPER MSP 2023, PRIME-1 & 19D Contracts Upcoming; China / Zhongguo Chang’e-4 Operating On Farside, CE-5 Sample Return Launching 24 Nov, CE-6 Payloads Being Selected, CE-7 Collaboration With Russia Developing, CE-8 In 2027 May Be Final Robotic Landing Before Crew

Credits: NASA, CNSA, NAOC-CAS

Friday / 14 Aug 2020

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NASA SPLICE To Enable Successful Landings On The Moon, Mars And SSSBs

Safe and Precise Landing Integrated Capabilities Evolution (SPLICE) Advances Through JSC Design And Testing Of Descent & Landing Computer, Responsible For Calculating Relative Position Within 100 Meters; Langley Research Center Designing Navigation Doppler Lidar, Used To Determine Altitude & Descent Speed, Will Fly On 2 Commercial Landers 2021 (Likely Intuitive Machines And Astrobotic); GSFC Designing Hazard Detection Lidar, Capable Of 3-D Imaging From 500 Meters; Terrain Relative Navigation Is To Analyze Surface Features, Matching Live Feed To Known Topography, Under Development By JPL With Draper Providing Algorithmic Software

Pictured: Langley Researcher Aram Gragossian Credits: NASA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 7-10 Aug 2020

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Roscosmos Luna 25 To Moon South Pole Region 2021, And Japan ispace Hakuto-R 2022 Forge Ahead With Landing Plans

Russia Luna 25, Destined For Boguslavsky Crater Launching 1 Oct 2021 From Vostochny, Commences Science Instruments Integration; Its Soyuz Launch Secondary Payload Capacity Being Offered To Customers Via GK Launch Services; Hakuto-R Commercial Lander To Launch 2022 On SpaceX Falcon 9 Surpasses Critical Design Review; Now Plans For 30-kg Of Total Payloads To Be Delivered On Smaller, Light Craft (2.3-meter Tall, 2.6-meter Wide, 1,050-kg) Taking 2X As Long To Reach Moon Mid-Latitude Site; 2nd Lander On Track For 2023

Pictured: ispace Team Members; Credits: ispace, Lavochkin, Roscosmos, NASA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 24-27 July 2020

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Leaders Unveil Positions On Human Moon Missions While International Robotic Fleet Depart For Mars

As UAE / Japan, China, USA Launch Inspirational Interplanetary Expeditions, Domestic Political Dynamics Closely Monitored By Space, Lunar Community — Artemis Moon Program At Critical Stage Of Development, Needing Multipartisan Support; Scott Pace (L) Of National Space Council Releases Strategy Document ‘A New Era For Deep Space Exploration And Development’ In Which Primary Nature Of SPD-1 Emphasized, As Is Enterprise, Adequate Funding, R&D, Infrastructure; DNC Party Platform Also Expresses Support For Human Moon Landing, ISS, NOAA; John Logsdon Of GWU Credited With Influencing Emerging Consensus On Vital Nature Of Moon Activity, Habitation

Credits: Blue Origin, SpaceX, Dynetics, NSC, GWU; Also Pictured: Sen. Kamala Harris

Tuesday / 14 July 2020

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China, Argentina, USA Student Teams Design Rovers To Be Raced On Moon

Intuitive Machines, Builder Of Nova-C Lander – Set To Be (October 2021) One Of The First Commercial Craft To Land On Moon – In Conjunction With Education / Media Enterprise Moon Mark Awards 3 International Efforts From 35 Entries Spanning 11 Nations US$1000 Prizes For Lunar Race Car Design Challenge; IM VP Trent Martin Says Program Intended “Specifically To Inspire The Next Generation” And With STEM Educations “They Might Eventually Change The World”; 6 Teams Will Begin Construction (January 2021) Of Racing Rovers Totaling 10kg Out Of 100-kg Lander Payload Capacity

Credits: Intuitive Machines, Moon Mark

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 10-13 July 2020

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USA And Japan Sign Joint Exploration Declaration Of Intent On Artemis

NASA Administrator Bridenstine Signs JEDI With Koichi Hagiuda, Japan Minister Of Education, Culture, Sports, Science And Technology; Specific Commitments Yet To Be Formalized, JAXA Will Likely Collaborate On International Habitation Module, Energy And Gas Storage On Gateway; Also Will Contribute Mission Data From 2022 Smart Lander For Investigating Moon And Offer Next Generation Cargo Capacity Via Uncrewed HTV-X Powered By H3 Rocket In 2022; Crewed Rover Being Developed In Conjunction With Toyota Motor Company For 2029

Credits: NASA, JAXA, Toyota

Tuesday / 2 June 2020

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Europe Takes Steps Toward Robotic Moon Landings, Solicits Input

ESA Director General Jan Wörner Asks For Ideas On How To Utilize European Large Logistics Lander (EL3) In Development By European Exploration Envelope Programme, Part Of International HERACLES System In Which JAXA Contributes Lunar Descent Element, CSA/ASC Contributes Rover; Concepts Currently Under Consideration Per Wörner Include Astrophysical Observation, Cave/PSR Exploration, Cargo Supply, Human Support; EL3 Is Planned To Be Used Frequently For Global Lunar Build-out In Coming Decade, With 1.5-ton Capacity Launched Via Ariane 64; Ideas Submitted By 3 July To Be Considered

Credits: ESA, NASA, Arianespace

Memorial Day Weekend Edition
Fri-Tues / 22-26 May 2020

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New Astronaut Jessica Watkins May Become First Woman On Moon And / Or Mars

Planetary Scientist Jessica Watkins, Youngest Member Of Recently Graduated NASA Astronaut Candidate Group 22 Dubbed ‘The Turtles’ And 10th Stanford Woman Astronaut, Is Experienced In Off-World Simulation Habitats From Time In Mars Society Desert Research Station In Utah, NASA Desert Research And Technology Studies In Arizona And Researching Lunar Conditions In NEEMO (NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operation) Underwater Research Station ‘Aquarius Reef Base’ On Sea Floor Off Florida Coast; Watkins Tells Nature She Is Currently Studying “Lunar Geology And What It’s Going To Be Like On The Surface”

 

Credits: NASA, Bill Ingalls, SPC, ILOA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 17-20 Apr 2020

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Artemis Human Lunar Lander Contract Award Expected NLT 30 April

NASA To Announce Funding Through Next Space Technologies For Exploration Partnerships (NextSTEP-2), Lander Is A Missing Key Element To Human Moon Return Currently Consisting Of SLS And Orion; Contenders Include Boeing, Blue Origin, Dynetics; In Multi-Partisan Letter of Support, Senators Blumenthal (D-CT) And Rubio (R-FL) Reiterate Importance Of HLS Contracts As Originally Planned When Solicited Sep 2019; Suggest Furthering Ties With Industry In Preparation For Large Scale Cargo Transport To Moon Surface In Similar Manner As NextSTEP, Citing Lander Investment In SpaceX, Astrobotic, Blue Origin, Lockheed Martin

Credits: NASA, Lockheed Martin Corp., Blue Origin, Golden Spike Co

Friday / 10 April 2020

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NASA Provides Moon Funding Through CLPS, NIAC And ‘Honey, I Shrunk the Payload’ Initiatives

Masten Space Systems To Be Awarded US$75.9M For Building 4-Engine XL-1 Lander, Fulfilling 19C Task Order Of Commercial Lunar Payload Services Program And Joining Awardees Intuitive Machines, Astrobotic; XL-1 Craft To Soft-Land Near Moon South Pole NLT December 2022 With NASA And Commercial Payloads; Institute For Advanced Concepts Awards $7M Between 23 Academic And Industry Researchers For Lunar Proposals Including Radio Astronomy From Within A Crater On The Far Side, Deployable Landing Pads, Propellant And Water Extraction; $160,000 To Be Awarded For Miniaturized (<400g) Lunar Payload Ideas Submitted By June 1 In Mini Moon Contest

Credits: Masten, NASA, Saptarshi Bandyopadhyay, Matthew Kuhns