Tag

Cislunar Space

All articles tagged with #cislunar space

space17 days ago•23 min saved

Moon Crash Sparks Debris Alarm as SpaceX Upper Stage Leaves Fresh Crater

A spent SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage from a 2025 mission struck the Moon at about 8,700 km/h, punching a new crater and blasting lunar dust into the air. Danuri orbiter images showed a darker patch at the impact site, with scientists estimating a crater roughly 20 meters wide and 5 meters deep. The event wasn’t planned, but it serves as a real-world warning about the growing amount of artificial debris in cislunar space as Moon missions increase.

via ZME Science|

#cislunar-space #lunar-crater #moon

science4 months ago•6 min saved

Cislunar Highways May Redraw the Global Economy

A new analysis warns that the Earth–Moon space between them, called cislunar space, could become a strategic chokepoint as NASA’s Artemis program and private lunar ventures boost traffic. Control over key transit points and corridors could influence navigation, communications, and the flow of lunar resources, risking disruptions or enabling expansive future space infrastructure and Earth-based supply chains, making these routes a critical geopolitical and economic concern.

via The Daily Galaxy|

#artemis-program #cislunar-space #lunar-economy

space4 months ago•74 min saved

Cislunar chokepoint: the Moon's orbit could become the next strategic space frontier

Experts warn that the space between Earth and the Moon—cislunar space—could become a strategic chokepoint similar to the Strait of Hormuz, as the US Space Force creates an office to study the region’s military/strategic value and NASA advances Artemis. Analysts say lunar resources, orbital infrastructure, and key transit corridors could drive a multi-trillion-dollar space economy, making disruptions in cislunar access potentially disruptive to lunar data centers, communications, and manufacturing—and to the broader global economy.

via Space|

#artemis #cislunar-space #moon

technology4 months ago•5 min saved

Space Force Creates Cislunar Acquisition Office to Back NASA Moon-Base Plans

The U.S. Space Force is standing up a Cislunar Coordination Office within its acquisition arm to map government players, develop roadmaps, and coordinate technology and partnerships for a NASA-backed lunar outpost by 2030, led by Jamie Stearns, aiming to enable secure, continuous comms and scalable launch infrastructure as it works with NASA, DARPA, AFRL and DNI; AFRL’s Oracle Prime cislunar monitoring satellite is planned for launch near L1 to enhance space situational awareness, alongside ongoing CAPSTONE and Artemis II efforts.

via Breaking Defense|

#cislunar-space #moon-base #nasa

space-exploration2 years ago•4 min saved

NASA Tests New "Autopilot" Software for Moon Missions

NASA's CAPSTONE mission, a cubesat launched in 2022, is testing advanced autonomous navigation and maneuvering software in cislunar space. Despite early technical issues, the spacecraft is now operational and aiding in the development of the cislunar Gateway space station. The mission, costing around $30 million, includes testing software for precision navigation, anomaly detection, and deep space maneuvering, aiming to enhance future spacecraft operations in the lunar vicinity.

via SpaceNews|

#autonomous-navigation #capstone #cislunar-space

space2 years ago•3 min saved

NASA Advances Space Sustainability Strategy

NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy reported significant progress on the agency's space sustainability strategy, including developing a framework for assessing space sustainability, analyzing collision risk uncertainties, and planning investments in debris management and space situational awareness. The strategy, initially focused on Earth orbit, is expanding to include cislunar space, with ongoing interagency and international coordination and the appointment of Trudy Kortes as interim director of space sustainability.

via SpaceNews|

#cislunar-space #nasa #orbital-debris

space-and-defense2 years ago•2 min saved

"Urgent Call for Increased US Investment in Cislunar Space Infrastructure"

A new report from the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies calls for increased U.S. military collaboration with NASA and investment in infrastructure for cislunar space to counter China's lunar ambitions. The report suggests that the Department of Defense (DoD) should allocate an additional $250 million annually for cislunar space activities to support scientific and economic endeavors and address potential threats. Former NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine endorsed the report's recommendations, emphasizing the importance of DoD investments in non-combative technologies for space security.

via SpaceNews|

#cislunar-space #dod-investments #lunar-exploration

space2 years ago•2 min saved

Quantum Space Unveils Scout-1 Satellite and Sentry Mission for Cislunar Network

Quantum Space plans to launch its first satellite, Scout-1, in March 2024 as part of its QuantumNet constellation, which aims to provide communications, navigation, and space situational awareness services in geostationary and cislunar space. The Scout-1 satellite will test a sensor that will track resident space objects and demonstrate communications between Quantum Space's ground and space infrastructures. The two-year Sentry mission will refine image-processing algorithms and serve as a stepping stone towards expanding into cislunar space. Quantum Space aims to support deep space commerce, national security, and scientific exploration by building the necessary infrastructure.

via SpaceNews|

#cislunar-space #deep-space #quantum-space