Scientific American

First Commercial Moon Landing Returns U.S. to Lunar Surface

Michael Greshko — Fri, 23 Feb 2024 15:00:00 GMT

Intuitive Machines’ IM-1 mission is the first U.S. soft landing on the moon since Apollo 17. It’s also a sign of private industry’s growing role in space

Second Private U.S. Lander Launches to the Moon

Mike Wall, SPACE.com — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 16:30:00 GMT

Odysseus, a lunar lander built by the aerospace company Intuitive Machines, launched atop a SpaceX rocket on a mission to the moon's south pole

Second Private U.S. Moon Lander Readies for Launch

Michael Greshko — Fri, 09 Feb 2024 15:00:00 GMT

Intuitive Machines’ IM-1 is aiming to be the first commercial mission to softly land on another celestial body—and the first to deliver NASA equipment to the moon

When Will We Finally Have Sex In Space?

Lee Billings, Alexa Lim — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 19:30:00 GMT

We're talking about the big bang—but not in the way you might think.

Mars Mission's Budget Problems Force NASA Layoffs

Mike Wall, SPACE.com — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 18:30:00 GMT

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory is eliminating nearly 600 workers due to funding shortfalls for the space agency's Mars Sample Return mission

Japan's SLIM Mission Is Revived on the Moon

Gemma Conroy, Nature magazine — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 17:00:00 GMT

After a nine-day shutdown, the upside-down lunar lander received enough sunlight to power up again

NASA's Mars Helicopter Ingenuity Ends Mission on the Red Planet after 3 Years

Meghan Bartels — Thu, 25 Jan 2024 23:40:00 GMT

NASA’s enterprising Mars helicopter and its remarkable 72 flights offered a new vision of planetary exploration

NASA Restores Contact with Mars Helicopter Ingenuity

Monisha Ravisetti, SPACE.com — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 20:15:00 GMT

After an unexpected communications dropout, NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter is back in business on Mars

Japan Reaches the Moon, but the Fate of Its Precision Lander Is Uncertain

Jonathan O'Callaghan — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 20:00:00 GMT

Japan’s SLIM precision-landing spacecraft—a potential game-changer for upcoming lunar exploration—may expire on the moon before fulfilling its mission

Peregrine, a Private U.S. Moon Lander, Burns Up in Earth's Atmosphere

Michael Greshko — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 15:00:00 GMT

Astrobotic’s Peregrine lunar lander, which endured a crippling postlaunch malfunction for longer than expected, could set a precedent for a coming wave of U.S. moon missions

NASA's Moon Program Faces Delays. Its Ambition Remains Unchanged

Michael Greshko — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 15:00:00 GMT

If successful, the Artemis program promises to revolutionize travel to other celestial bodies. But many more tests of hardware remain

Ailing Peregrine Moon Lander Is on Course to Crash into Earth

Tariq Malik, SPACE.com — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 19:00:00 GMT

Peregrine will likely burn up in Earth’s atmosphere, the moon lander’s builder has said

Space and Submarine Explorers Are Right to Take Risks

Rick N. Tumlinson — Mon, 15 Jan 2024 11:45:00 GMT

What lessons does the loss of the Titan submersible have for preventing spaceflight disasters?

Private U.S. Lunar Lander Suffers 'Critical' Anomaly after Launch

Michael Greshko — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 15:00:00 GMT

Astrobotic’s Peregrine lander was meant to be the first commercial spacecraft to operate on the surface of the moon. Instead it may not reach lunar orbit at all

Human Remains Are Headed to the Moon despite Objections

Meghan Bartels — Fri, 05 Jan 2024 17:45:00 GMT

The Navajo Nation has called for a delay in launching the commercial lander Peregrine, which is set to carry human remains on a private mission to the moon

India's Aditya-L1 Space Probe Heads for Gravitational 'Island'

Tom Metcalfe — Mon, 01 Jan 2024 11:45:00 GMT

Aditya-L1 will join more than four active spacecraft at the first Lagrange point, a nearly stable region in the gravitational field between Earth and the sun

Two Private U.S. Moon Landers Prepare for Historic Launches

Michael Greshko — Thu, 21 Dec 2023 15:30:00 GMT

The first vehicles to fly under NASA’s new lunar delivery initiative will aim to be the first commercial spacecraft to land softly on another celestial body

Tech Billionaires Need to Stop Trying to Make the Science Fiction They Grew Up on Real

Charles Stross — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 12:30:00 GMT

Today’s Silicon Valley billionaires grew up reading classic American science fiction. Now they’re trying to make it come true, embodying a dangerous political outlook