Category Archives: South Pole Moon

Friday / 16 Feb 2024

Posted on by

Commercial USA IM-1 Lander Odysseus on Direct Course for Moon

Intuitive Machines of Houston TX working around the clock to achieve first USA Moon landing in 21st century and first commercial landing ever with Nova-C ‘Odie’ on Trans-Lunar Orbit (TLO); Odie is expected to archive Lunar Orbit Insertion (LOI) on 21 Feb, followed by landing site near the eastern rim of Malapert A crater (80.2°S, 1.0°E) 22 Feb; Carrying 6 NASA and 6 independent payloads under $118M NASA CLPS contract + undisclosed private freight charges, the IM-1 mission was inspired by Space Policy Directive-1 per CEO Steve Altemus; SPD-1 calls for public-private and international partnerships to ‘enable human expansion across the solar system’

Credits: SpaceX, Intuitive Machines, LinkedIn

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 2-5 Feb 2024

Posted on by

Intuitive Machines Set to Become First Independent Operator on Moon with US$118M Mission

Nova-C class lunar lander Odysseus may make history with expected 22 Feb landing near Malapert A crater (80.2°S, 1°E), ~175 km from the peak of Malapert Massif and ~300 km from MSP; Intuitive Machines will be the fourth commercial attempt at Moon landing, following SpaceIL (Feb 2019), ispace (April 2023) and Astrobotic (Jan 2024) and the first USA landing attempt of any type in over 51 years, since Apollo 11 (Dec 1972); In addition to 5 NASA commissioned science instruments, Odysseus will carry 6 commercial payloads (clockwise): ILO-X (International Lunar Observatory Association), Lunaprise (Galactic Legacy Labs), Independence (Lonestar Data Holdings), Moon Phases (Jeff Koons, 4Space), Omni-Heat Infinity (Columbia Sportswear), and Eaglecam (Embry-Riddle)

Credits: Intuitive Machines

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 26-29 Jan 2024

Posted on by

Stability of Moon South Pole Under Scrutiny Ahead of Artemis Human Lunar Landings

NASA-supported study Tectonics and Seismicity of the Lunar South Polar Region surveys recent LRO and historical Apollo Passive Seismic Network data to analyze 15 lobate thrust fault scarps, thought to be caused by interior cooling and Earth tidal forces, in the MSP region including in de Gerlache Rim, 1 of 13 candidate sites for Artemis 3; Modelling of associated shallow moonquakes (SMQ) indicate shaking up to 50km from epicenters, a safety concern especially for areas such as Shackleton crater which may be susceptible to regolith landslides; Further insight to be gained when Farside Seismic Suite is carried on Draper Series-2 lander to Schrödinger basin NET 2025 under CLPS

Credits: NASA / LRO

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 5-8 Jan 2024

Posted on by

Thailand Pursuing Astronomy from the Moon, Astropark Astronomy Outreach, and International Partnerships

National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT) and Mahidol University preparing to conduct cislunar cosmic ray measurement with Sino-Thai Sensor Package for Space Weather Global Monitoring payload on China National Space Administration (CNSA) Chang’E-7 launching to MSP NET 2026; 2.4-m Thai National Telescope, 40-m Thai National Radio Telescope advancing astrophysics; Princess Sirindhorn AstroPark raising public astronomy awareness through initiatives such as Night at Museum; NARIT is an independent signatory to International Lunar Research Station through Deep Space Exploration Laboratory (DSEL), as is International Lunar Observatory Association (ILOA Hawai’i), Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO) and Adriatic Aerospace Association (A3)

Credits: NARIT; Pictured: NARIT Executive Director Saran Poshyachinda (R) and DSEL Chairman of the Management Committee Guan Feng (L)
 

New Year / Holiday Edition
Fri-Tues/ 22 Dec 2023 – 2 Jan 2024

Posted on by

Japan Lander Near Moon Orbit as USA CLPS Providers and CNSA Ready Early 2024 Lunar Launches

SLIM set to perform LOI maneuver 25 Dec ahead of 20 Jan 100-m precision landing attempt near Shioli crater as JAXA engages global public with enhanced project website and amateur radio band transmissions to / from onboard LEV rover; Astrobotic Peregrine, now integrated within payload fairing atop the first fully stacked ULA Vulcan Centaur rocket, has 4-day launch window opening 02:18 EST on 8 Jan and anticipated landing 23 Feb on Sinus Viscositatis; Intuitive Machines Nova-C now targeting mid-Feb launch on SpaceX F9 due to weather / launchpad congestion with landing near Malapert A crater in the MSP region after ~7 days transit; CNSA Queqiao-2 communications relay to launch NET March 2024 followed by Chang’E-6 farside sample return NET May 2024, continuing 10+ years of China lunar surface exploration

Credits: JAXA, Intuitive Machines, IM, Astrobotic

Friday / 22 Dec 2023

Posted on by

Artemis 2 Astronauts Train for Moon Flyby as VP Harris Announces International Astronaut to Join Landing Mission

While Artemis 2 NASA crewmembers Christina Koch, Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman and Jeremy Hansen (CSA-ASC) undergo emergency preparedness exercises at JSC and build public excitement for the first human mission to the Moon in 51+ years with White House press event, Vice President Kamala Harris makes firm commitment to include an international astronaut on future Artemis 3+ surface mission at 20 Dec National Space Council meeting attended by representatives of the 33-nation Artemis Accords coalition; Europe, Japan, or India are likely nations from which as-yet-unannounced crewmember will originate

Credits: NASA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 8-11 Dec 2023

Posted on by

3 Lunar Missions Set to Land on Moon Near Side NET January

JAXA SLIM on lunar-bound trajectory as 2 commercial landers supported by NASA CLPS contracts, Astrobotic and Intuitive Machines, prepare for launch: SLIM set for lunar orbit insertion 25 Dec with mid-Jan orbit adjustment followed by landing (13.3°S, 25.2°E) NET 20 Jan 2024 (00:20 JST); Astrobotic Peregrine to launch on ULA Vulcan Centaur NET 24 Dec (1:50 EST), landing near Gruithuisen Domes NET 25 Jan (03:30 EST); Intuitive Machines Nova-C launching on SpaceX Falcon 9 NET 12 Jan, possibly landing (80.3°S, 1.2°E) 19 Jan within hours of SLIM

Credits: NASA, ESA, STScI

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 1-4 Dec 2023

Posted on by

USA Returns to the Moon, Part 1: Commercial Lunar Payload Services

Two Moon landings from USA, first in 51 years, set for new year; Astrobotic Peregrine launching NET Dec 24 / landing NET 25 Jan, Intuitive Machines Nova-C launching NET 12 Jan / landing NET 17 Jan; Both missions are independent efforts with NASA support through CLPS, conceived in May 2018 as commercial alternative to proposed Resource Prospector cancelled in April 2018; The $2.6B / 10-year program announced Nov 2018, with first awards including Astrobotic US$79.5M (TO2-AB), Intuitive Machines $77M (TO2-IM), with initial expected launch in July 2021; In total 8 CLPS landing missions are slated for launch between 2024-2026

Credits: Astrobotic, Intuitive Machines, NASA

Tuesday / 7 Nov 2023

Posted on by

NASA and Boeing Making Progress on Artemis Moon Rocket Block 1B Configuration

Despite concerns from NASA Office of Inspector General over supply chain transparency, Artemis team continues to advance SLS, with major work on LOX tank weld confidence article (5 of 7 such test pieces) for SLS exploration upper stage proceeding at Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans; SLS Block 1B with exploration upper stage / Orion crew capsule features 40% additional payload capacity vs Block 1 (27 / 38 t) as is slated to carry 4 astronauts to Gateway station (including 1 ESA astronaut) and 2 to lunar surface via SpaceX HLS during Artemis 4 NET September 2028

Credits: NASA / Michael DeMocker, Boeing

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 3-6 Nov 2023

Posted on by

Astrobotic and Intuitive Machines Prepare for Tandem Approach to Lunar Surface

Task Orders 2-AB and 2-IM, the first of the NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services, set to be fulfilled soon: 1.9-m tall, 2.5-m diameter Astrobotic Peregrine awaiting integration with ULA rocket at Astrotech Space facility in Titusville FL with launch planned for 24 Dec from SLC-41, CCSFS carrying 21 payloads (6 NASA, 15 independent); 4.3-m tall, 1.5-m diameter Intuitive Machines Nova-C lander now targeting late Nov shipping to KSC and 12 Jan 2024 launch from LC-39A carrying 11 payloads (5 NASA, 6 independent); With Peregrine taking ~1-month transfer vs Nova-C ~1-week, the 2 USA landers may reach Moon surface mere days apart

Credits: Astrobotic, Intuitive Machines