Lunar exploration — Artemis, moon missions, lunar surface science, and the race back to the Moon.

Moon

No cities on the moon — there isn't enough water, scientists say (op-ed)

# No Cities on the Moon—There Isn't Enough Water, Scientists Say The detection of water ice in permanently shadowed craters near the lunar poles has …

18h ago
Moon

On this day in space! Sept. 13, 2007: Japan launches Kaguya spacecraft to the moon to map the lunar surface in HD

Japan's JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) launched the Kaguya spacecraft on September 13, 2007, aboard an H-IIA rocket from Tanegashima Space …

Yesterday
Moon

Could the Clues to Ancient Alien Civilizations Be Hiding in a Bucket of Moon Dust?

# Ancient Alien Signatures May Lurk in Moon Dust, New Research Suggests The search for extraterrestrial intelligence faces a fundamental timing probl…

Yesterday
Moon

On this day in space! Sept. 10, 2011: NASA launches GRAIL probes to the moon to map lumpy lunar gravity

NASA launched two spacecraft known as GRAIL (Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory) on September 10, 2011, beginning a mission that would fundament…

3 days ago
Moon

NASA Calls for Proposals to Accelerate Lunar Surface Technologies

NASA opened a competition Tuesday to accelerate development of technologies essential for sustained lunar operations. The solicitation targets specifi…

5 days ago
Moon

China Postpones the Chang’e-7 Mission

China's National Space Administration has postponed the Chang'e-7 lunar mission, pushing the spacecraft past its originally targeted late-August launc…

6 days ago
Moon

Earth's moon could have formed in just 5 hours after giant impact

Scientists working from updated models of planetary formation now propose that Earth's moon coalesced in a shockingly brief window following the giant…

Sep 7, 2026
Moon

The moon might be hiding a history of ancient supernova explosions

Scientists have recovered a record of ancient supernova explosions embedded in lunar regolith. Researchers extracted radioactive isotopes from moon du…

Sep 6, 2026
Moon

On this day in space! Sept. 3, 2006: Europe's SMART-1 spacecraft crashes into the moon in lunar death dive

# Europe's SMART-1 Lunar Impactor Ends Mission with Controlled Crash The European Space Agency's SMART-1 spacecraft executed a deliberate lunar impac…

Sep 4, 2026
Moon

Penultimate Lunar Occultations Inbound for Jupiter, Venus and More in September

September brings a parade of lunar occultations across Earth's skies, with the Moon positioned to sweep in front of Jupiter, Venus, bright stars, and …

Sep 4, 2026
Moon

Rising Over Louisiana

# Rising Over Louisiana A deep partial lunar eclipse crossed Earth's shadow on August 28, 2026, bringing the Moon to within striking distance of tota…

Sep 2, 2026
Moon

When is the next lunar eclipse?

Earth's shadow will next envelop the moon during a partial lunar eclipse on August 18, 2026. This eclipse will occur when the moon passes through Eart…

Aug 29, 2026
Moon

Astronaut Microbes Might Survive at Moon's Pole, NASA Warns

NASA's concern about forward contamination at the lunar poles has escalated based on new research into microbial survival. The agency warns that hardy…

Aug 29, 2026
Moon

NASA Awards First Prize in Phase 2 of Agency’s LunaRecycle Challenge

NASA has awarded $775,000 in prize money to MIT's CERBERUZ team for winning Phase 2 of the LunaRecycle Challenge, a competition focused on solving one…

Aug 29, 2026
Moon

NASA Begins Moon Mission Plume-Surface Interaction Tests

NASA has launched a comprehensive testing program to understand the physical interactions between spacecraft engine plumes and lunar surface material,…

Aug 26, 2026
Moon

NASA Invites Media to LunaRecycle Challenge Finale Event in Alabama

NASA will announce the winners of the LunaRecycle Challenge finale on Friday, August 28, at the University of Alabama's Lee Styslinger College of Engi…

Aug 26, 2026
Moon

Bad weather delays launch of China's historic Chang'e 7 mission to moon's south pole

China postponed the launch of Chang'e 7, its most ambitious lunar exploration effort to date, after severe weather threatened operations at the launch…

Aug 23, 2026
Moon

NASA Highlights Next-Gen Cargo Landers Paving the Way for a Moon Base

NASA is accelerating development of cargo delivery systems designed to sustain a permanent lunar base, marking a decisive shift from episodic Moon vis…

Aug 23, 2026
Moon

This Week In Space podcast: Episode 224 — The Science of Artemis

# Artemis Program Sets Ambitious Lunar Science Targets for Human Exploration NASA's Artemis Program represents the most comprehensive lunar return mi…

Aug 22, 2026
Moon

Will the new moon race turn Earth's nearest neighbor into a dumping ground?

The lunar surface faces an unprecedented threat as commercial space companies accelerate their missions to the moon. Experts now warn that without enf…

Aug 16, 2026
Moon

This Week In Space podcast: Episode 223 — The Lunar Domain

# The Lunar Domain: Space Powers Navigate Moon's Future Legal Framework The Moon stands at an inflection point. As NASA prepares Artemis missions to …

Aug 15, 2026
Moon

One species, one planet: The moon is our ethical dress rehearsal for Mars

# The Moon as Humanity's Ethical Laboratory for Mars Exploration NASA's moon-to-Mars architecture presents more than a technical roadmap for deep spa…

Aug 14, 2026
Moon

NASA Completes Astronaut-Deployed Science Instrument for Lunar Surface

NASA completed construction and testing of the Lunar Environment Monitoring Station, a science instrument Artemis astronauts will deploy on the Moon's…

Aug 12, 2026
Moon

Building the Moon Base: NASA Stories at the Ion

NASA's Moon Base Program faces engineering challenges that demand innovation across multiple technical disciplines as the agency prepares sustained hu…

Aug 11, 2026

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