Moon

New computer simulations indicate that a massive ancient collision created the Moon's South Pole-Aitken Basin and scattered deep mantle material across areas eyed for future Artemis landings.

June 07, 2026 Ti AI ṣe iroyin

Researchers at Tokyo Metropolitan University have shown through simulations that a lightweight X-ray telescope could produce the first complete chemical map of the lunar surface.

NASA's Artemis 2 four astronauts are approaching the Moon, with the mission's climax set for Monday's flyby of its far side, the first since Apollo 8 58 years ago. They may view regions never seen by human eyes, such as Mare Orientale. The crew will set a new record for distance from Earth.

April 01, 2026 Ti AI ṣe iroyin

NASA's Artemis II mission lifted off successfully on April 1, 2026, from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, sending astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen aboard the Orion spacecraft for the first crewed Moon flyby since Apollo 17. Powered by the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, the 10-day test flight will validate critical systems for future lunar landings and Mars missions, looping around the Moon's far side.

Researchers led by Jun Ye at JILA in Boulder, Colorado, suggest placing an ultrastable laser in one of the moon's permanently shadowed craters to enhance navigation for lunar landers and rovers. The frigid, vibration-free environment near the lunar poles could enable unprecedented precision in timing and positioning. This setup might support activities from lunar timekeeping to satellite coordination.

February 02, 2026 Ti AI ṣe iroyin

A European research team has developed a system of three robots to autonomously explore lava tunnels on the Moon and Mars, which could serve as protected bases for astronauts. The technology was tested successfully in volcanic caves on Lanzarote, Spain, demonstrating its potential for mapping underground environments. This mission concept aims to shield explorers from radiation and meteorite impacts.