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Artemis Program

All articles tagged with #artemis program

Artemis Crew Face Mobility and Dust Challenges That Deep-Sea Tech Could Solve

An opinion piece by Dennis Meredith argues that NASA’s Artemis program should look to deep-sea exploration for solutions to current spacesuit limitations. The author notes that current bulky suits restrict astronaut mobility, limit task time, and allow hazardous lunar dust to enter capsules. He suggests that technologies developed for high-pressure, confined deep-sea environments could offer better design principles for future lunar operations.

via SpaceNews|

#artemis-program #deep-sea-technology #lunar-dust

space-policy18 days ago•5 min saved

Isaacman Rejects Diplomatic Optics for 'Good Deals' in Lunar South Pole Race

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman has declared that the agency will only pursue international space partnerships that offer tangible, mission-critical contributions, rejecting previous models that prioritized diplomatic optics. Speaking at the Air, Space & Cyber Conference, Isaacman emphasized the urgency of securing positions at the lunar south pole before China and Russia can block access to water ice and power sources. He cited Italy and Japan as successful partners due to their significant financial and hardware commitments, while criticizing the European Space Agency for offering delayed or redundant capabilities. This shift aligns with a broader strategy to accelerate the 'Moon Base' program and pivot away from the canceled Gateway station to maintain a competitive edge in the new space race.

via Ars Technica|

#artemis-program #international-partnerships #jared-isaacman

military1 month ago•3 min saved

Jonny Kim Returns to Active Duty as Navy Lieutenant Commander

Jonny Kim, a former Navy SEAL who became a NASA astronaut and physician, is returning to active-duty Navy service as a lieutenant commander to work in naval aviation training after leaving NASA. He spent eight months aboard the ISS in 2025, contributed to the Artemis program, and has earned the Silver Star and Bronze Star with Combat V for valor.

via Navy Times|

#artemis-program #harvard-medical-school #jonny-kim

space-and-astronomy1 month ago•48 min saved

China Delays Chang’e-7 Moon Mission, Emphasizing Safety Over Timelines

China’s China Manned Space Agency said the Chang’e-7 lunar mission will be postponed as launch conditions were not met, highlighting prudence and the goal of absolute mission success. Weather factors (including Typhoon Narra) and potential technical issues are cited, reflecting a broader, safety-focused sprint in the Moon race against NASA’s Artemis program that is likely to extend beyond this year in pursuit of a permanent lunar presence.

via Yahoo|

#artemis-program #change-7 #china-manned-space-agency

politics2 months ago•25 min saved

NASA Chief Says Moon-to-Mars Ambitions Are Funded Without a New GOP Request

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman told a GOP lunch he isn’t asking for more money as NASA pursues Artemis and other missions, citing a funding path that includes a roughly $25 billion topline for 2026 plus $10 billion from last year’s reconciliation package. With the White House proposing a 25% cut for 2027 and House appropriators aiming to restore the topline, lawmakers are hashing out funding as Artemis targets a 2028 Moon landing and broader space exploration; Isaacman stressed he has the cash to move forward and spoke to influential Republicans, including Rep. August Pfluger and Newt Gingrich.

via Politico|

#artemis-program #house-republicans #jared-isaacman

space3 months ago•96 min saved

Blue Origin eyes year-end New Glenn comeback after LC-36 blast

Blue Origin says it will relaunch its New Glenn rocket from Cape Canaveral’s Launch Complex 36 later this year after last month’s fueling-test explosion; debris was cleared in nine days and reconstruction is underway, a rapid turnaround that underscores the high-stakes timeline as NASA weighs Artemis-era lunar-lander options and considers Starship/Blue Moon for future missions.

via Space|

#artemis-program #blue-origin #launch-complex-36

technology3 months ago•6 min saved

Robotic lunar rovers move into Artemis 4 prep to bolster Moon Base mobility

NASA selected Astrolab and Lunar Outpost to develop two crewed lunar terrain vehicles (CLV-1 and Pegasus) aimed at deployment by 2027 to support Artemis 4 and early Moon Base operations. The LTVs will operate about 2 km from landers, can conduct missions up to 10 km away during crewed phases, and collectively cover up to 400 km over their lifetimes. The effort complements the FLIP rover and Griffin-1 lander, with Lunar Outpost and Astrolab progressing toward full-scale prototypes and flight hardware. Surviving the Moon’s frigid nights (down to ~-400°F) relies on onboard energy storage and radiator strategies, including using solar arrays to shield radiators. A major hurdle remains launch access, as NASA shifts to an launch-vehicle-agnostic approach after Blue Origin’s New Glenn setbacks and a blast gate delayed schedules, with resumption expected in late 2026 to early 2027.

via Spaceflight Now|

#artemis-program #astrolab #lunar-outpost

space3 months ago•10 min saved

New Glenn Fallout: Blue Origin’s Pad Explosion Tests Artemis and Heavy-Lift Plans

Nearly a month after Blue Origin’s New Glenn exploded on LC-36A, destroying the Florida launch pad and leaving no place to launch, officials warn that diagnosing the failure and returning to flight may slip past year-end, complicating NASA’s Artemis plans and other heavy-lift customers, with Ars Technica hosting an Ars Live discussion on June 30 featuring space-industry experts to unpack the implications.

via Ars Technica|

#artemis-program #blue-origin #new-glenn

science3 months ago•11 min saved

Moon Dust Smell: Apollo Astronauts’ Gunpowder Scent That Fades Before Earth Arrival

Apollo astronauts who brought lunar dust into the cabin repeatedly reported a fresh, burnt-gunpowder smell, but the odor vanished by the time samples reached Earth labs; the scent is believed to come from a one-time reaction as the dust’s reactive surfaces oxidize in cabin air, not from the powder itself, and no specific molecule was identified. Lunar dust remains a hazard due to its tiny, abrasive, reactive grains (causing irritation and equipment wear), informing Artemis-era design changes in cabin filtration, suits, and airlocks. Future missions may finally identify the chemistry behind the smell and how to live with the dust without harming lungs or hardware.

via Space Daily|

#apollo-missions #artemis-program #gunpowder-scent

technology4 months ago•21 min saved

Blue Origin Clinches First Moon Base Mission as NASA Shifts Focus to the Moon

NASA has moved to establish a permanent Moon Base near the South Pole, with Phase One through 2029 planning up to 25 missions and 21 lunar landings to test infrastructure and technologies. Blue Origin won the inaugural Moon Base mission, Moon Base I, with a $188 million contract to deliver payloads and demonstrate precise landing and propulsion technologies, launching no earlier than fall 2026. SpaceX remains a major NASA partner and the agency’s second-largest prime contractor, but it was not chosen to lead Moon Base I. The milestone marks a shift in NASA’s lunar strategy toward near-term robotic cargo, surface infrastructure, and international collaboration ahead of future crewed missions, as the Moon Base roadmap progresses and funding continues.

via 24/7 Wall St.|

#artemis-program #blue-origin #moon-base-i

space4 months ago•76 min saved

Blue Origin's Fireball Delays NASA's Moon Mission Timeline

Blue Origin’s New Glenn exploded during a May 28 static-fire test at Cape Canaveral, destroying LC-36 and grounding the heavy-lift rocket, prompting NASA to reassess Artemis timelines since the Blue Moon lunar lander relies on New Glenn; Artemis 3’s first lunar landing could slip from late 2027 and Artemis 4 to late 2028, while SpaceX’s Starship may gain leverage in the lunar-lander race—the speed of LC-36 repairs and Blue Origin’s recovery will determine how quickly Moon plans can stay on track.

via Space|

#artemis-3 #artemis-program #blue-moon

space4 months ago•7 min saved

Blue Origin pad explosion could push Artemis moon mission timeline into 2028

A catastrophic launch-pad explosion at Cape Canaveral destroyed Blue Origin's New Glenn during a hot-fire test, potentially delaying NASA's Artemis moon program by months or years. The incident damages the pad and rocket, raises questions about return-to-flight timelines, and could shift Artemis III to 2028–2029 if SpaceX's Starship and other plans can't compensate, while NASA conducts a thorough investigation and Blue Origin assesses repairs.

via CBS News|

#artemis-program #blue-origin #nasa

science4 months ago•14 min saved

Blue Origin's New Glenn Explodes on Cape Canaveral Pad During Engine Test

Blue Origin's large New Glenn rocket exploded on the Cape Canaveral pad during a pre-launch engine-firing test. No injuries were reported, though nearby homes shook and the sky briefly glowed orange. Bezos said Blue Origin will investigate and rebuild, as the company pushes ahead with plans tied to NASA's Artemis program and a future lunar lander. The incident comes after a previous April setback for New Glenn, but Space Force officials said it will not derail other launches from the pad or nearby missions.

via KSL.com|

#artemis-program #blue-origin #cape-canaveral

technology4 months ago•7 min saved

New Glenn setback upends Artemis timelines and US space capacity

Blue Origin’s New Glenn failed during a static-fire test, causing a spectacular explosion that damaged LC-36A in Florida and leaving the company with no immediate alternative launch pad. Rebuilding is expected to take more than a year, forcing a rethink of US heavy-lift capacity as SpaceX’s Falcon lineup dominates and ULA’s Vulcan remains offline. The setback also threatens NASA’s Artemis plans, delaying the Blue Moon lunar lander and complicating crewed lunar missions in the near term, likely pushing more reliance onto SpaceX’s Starship for Moon objectives.

via Ars Technica|

#artemis-program #blue-origin #lc-36a

space4 months ago•5 min saved

Lunar Rovers Jumpstart Artemis: NASA Bets on Fast, Modular Moon Transportation

NASA revealed two next‑gen lunar rovers—CLV‑1 by Astrolab and Pegasus by Lunar Outpost—designed for human piloting, teleoperation, or autonomous use, about a ton in weight, roughly 6 mph, and costing ~$220 million each with a 20‑degree incline capability and a ~1‑year lifespan; the agency aims to have them on the Moon by 2028 as part of an iterative Moon Base plan funded largely through private contractors (Blue Origin, Astrobotic, Intuitive Machines) delivering landers and equipment, while MoonFall drones map sites and potentially mark a base perimeter under the Outer Space Treaty; the broader goal is frequent, affordable launches to rapidly build a lasting lunar outpost.

via Jalopnik|

#artemis-program #clv-1 #lunar-rovers