Lunar
Stories about commercial, civil, and international missions on and around the Moon.
Orion’s Windows to the World
For astronauts who put in decades of work and training, getting to see space with their own eyes is a big part of the payoff.
CLPS Companies Excited For NASA’s ‘Opportunity Bomb’ Lunar Plan
Last week, NASA laid out a vision for a lunar base that’s built and supplied through monthly uncrewed lunar landings, with launches beginning as soon as next year.It’s no surprise that CLPS companies are raring to go.
Artemis II Is On The Way To The Moon
NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, and Victor Glover, plus Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, are on board—with Koch and Glover poised to make history as the first woman and person of color to head to the Moon, and Hansen as the first non-American.
Top Space Lawmaker on Moon Base, Artemis Plans
“What I have heard from colleagues is they’re really rallying behind the idea of going to the Moon,” he told Payload. “Once we establish a base there…that might be the best place to launch to Mars.”
Q&A With Lunar Base Manager Carlos Garcia-Galan
At the start of last week, Carlos Garcia-Galan was working on NASA’s program for a lunar-orbiting habitat. Last Tuesday, however, he became the person overseeing the space agency’s ambitious plan to build a lunar surface base at record speed. During last week’s Ignition event at NASA HQ, Payload sat down with Garcia-Galan, the program executive…
With Artemis Changes, Europe is Left Holding the Bag
ESA and European space primes were developing many of the key components of the planned lunar orbiting station.
Isaacman Plans Monthly Uncrewed Lunar Landings In 2027
“We are going to plus up for Moon base construction in a huge way,” said during an interview with Spaceflight Now that was released late Friday night.
Voyager Invests in Max Space, Projects 2026 Revenue Surge
Last month, Max Space and Voyager announced they would collaborate on the design of an expandable lunar habitat.
Astrobotic Wins Lunar Wheel Contract For Italian Habitat
The Pittsburgh, PA-based space firm won a contract of undisclosed value from Thales Alenia Space to contribute the wheels for Italy’s Multi-Purpose Habitation.
NASA Pushes Crewed Moon Landing to Artemis IV
The US path to the Moon shifted significantly on Friday, in what NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman called the “only way forward” for the American lunar program. Hit the gas: Isaacman announced multiple changes to the program, including: Timeline: In light of these structural changes, Isaacman announced a new timeline for the American return to the…
Axiom Space Raises $350M to Fuel Station, Suit Development
The company also confirmed that both pieces of hardware are on track to be ready in time to hit critical NASA deadlines.
Voyager, Max Space Team on Expandable Tech
“Expandable structures represent a step change in how surface infrastructure can be delivered and deployed,” Saleem Miyan, cofounder and CEO of Max Space, said in a statement. “Its architecture embodies increased capability, scalability, and versatility that are essential for sustained deep-space human activity, and to unleash the lunar and Martian economies.”
NASA Reaffirms Commitment to Lunar Nuclear Power This Decade
To keep the lights on through the night, NASA is exploring putting a nuclear fission reactor on the Moon’s surface. The idea has been around for years, but the agency appointed new executive leadership for the Fission Surface Power Project last year—and committed to seeing it through.
