Lunar Exploration / Science Missions Working Toward Orbit, Surface Landings In 2022
NASA CAPSTONE Moon probe launching on Rocket Lab Electron / Photon interplanetary kick stage is set to depart Earth NET 31 May, spending 6 days accelerating to 39,429 kph in LEO for 4-month fuel-sipping journey to test NRHO; Artemis 1 set for August per Administrator Nelson, however launch opportunities extend to 2023; KARI KPLO heading for lunar orbit 1 Aug, will broadcast K-pop; Roscosmos Luna-25 targeting 22 August while CLPS providers Intuitive Machines, Astrobotic and ispace of Japan strive to land on Moon within year
First space debris to strike Moon, likely upper stage of LM-3C used to deliver Chang’e-5 T1 to lunar free return trajectory, will “use its cameras to attempt to identify the impact site”; LRO 20x165km eccentric polar selenocentric orbit is calibrated to reach perilune over the Moon South Pole (now pinpointed to “halfway between 10 and 11 o’clock” of an imaginary clock superimposed over Shackleton Crater), requiring “weeks to months” to achieve favorable conditions; Impact may be visible in Release 50C (15 June) or 51A (15 July) 
Speaking to TOI, ISRO Chair S Somanath reiterates commitment to reaching lunar surface NLT year end, claiming place in history as 4th nation with a Moon landing mission after USSR, USA, China; “Final call” on launch date will depend on orbital parameters following craft testing, including drop test / landing simulation to be carried out at Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota similar to testing of Chandrayaan-2 in Mahendragiri with 100-m crane / bungee cord used to simulate 1/6 Moon gravity, testing maneuvering; Somanath has also made clear that Chandrayaan-3 will include a stripped-down orbiter in addition to lander and rover, despite early reports that ISRO would forgo orbiter
Seeking to establish commercial access to the lunar surface, pilot phase of Lunar Transportation / Exploration Program began November 24 with MoU signing specifying 15-kg lander payload space / 5-kg rover payload space on missions beginning 2024 if ESA evaluation panel approves partnership NET 2022; Arrangement would see ispace landers launched on Ariane 6 rockets; ArianeGroup currently enjoys good working relationship with ispace EU, building propulsion elements for series 1 lander set for late 2022 launch on SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5
As prospects of sustained operations on the Moon nears, unique orbital mechanics of Earth-Moon system draw attention of mission planners and