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Firefly Aerospace Targets Late 2026 for Blue Ghost Mission 2 to Lunar Far Side

Firefly Aerospace Targets Late 2026 for Blue Ghost Mission 2 to Lunar Far Side

Firefly Aerospace is preparing its Blue Ghost Mission 2 for a late 2026 launch, aiming to send a lander to the far side of the Moon. This mission is part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. The Blue Ghost lander will carry the LuSEE-Night radio telescope and an ESA lunar relay satellite. The primary objective is to study the Moon's geology and explore the Cosmic 'Dark Ages' by leveraging the radio-quiet environment of the lunar far side, which naturally blocks radio noise from Earth. The mission also includes an orbiter, Elytra, which will slightly increase the radio noise on the lunar far side. The combined system, with the lander stacked on Elytra, will stand 6.7 meters tall. This mission is one of several commercial lunar landers targeting the Moon in 2026, alongside Intuitive Machines' IM-3 and Astrobotic's Griffin Mission One.

Lunar Orbiter 1 Developed Its Photographic Film Without Returning to Earth

Lunar Orbiter 1 Developed Its Photographic Film Without Returning to Earth

Lunar Orbiter 1, NASA's pioneering spacecraft, was not only the first American probe to orbit the Moon but also a testament to advanced imaging and...

NASA's Starling Mission Extends GPS-Free Navigation Experiment to 2028

NASA's Starling Mission Extends GPS-Free Navigation Experiment to 2028

NASA's Starling mission, a swarm of four cubesats in low Earth orbit (LEO), has extended its GPS-free navigation experiment until at least 2028. The mission, which began three years ago, tests a technology called FALCON (Fast Autonomous Lost-in-space Catalog-based Optical Navigation). FALCON enables satellites to navigate by using other satellites as moving landmarks, a crucial capability for missions operating beyond Earth's orbit where GPS signals are unavailable. The experiment involves using Starling's cameras to observe other satellites and space objects, matching this data with an onboard catalog of thousands of known objects, and then using these verified objects as reference points to determine Starling's orbit. This method also contributes to space situational awareness (SSA), allowing spacecraft to understand their surrounding environment and avoid debris. The extension aims to maximize the data and insights gained from this innovative navigation technique.

NASA Tests Self-Guided Terrain Camera in Near Space for Artemis Missions

NASA Tests Self-Guided Terrain Camera in Near Space for Artemis Missions

NASA has successfully conducted a balloon test of its Compact Large-sensor Imaging Camera (CLIC 2), a self-guided terrain camera designed for future Moon and Mars missions. Launched from Fort Sumner, New Mexico, the payload reached an altitude of approximately 126,000 feet, operating for nearly four hours in a near-space environment. The CLIC 2 system is crucial because it processes terrain data autonomously and in real-time during descent, without requiring signals from Earth. This capability is vital for safe landings in rugged, scientifically interesting terrains that are inaccessible to older spacecraft. The test is part of NASA's broader Safe and Precise Landing Integrated Capabilities Evolution (SPLICE) program, which aims to develop a full suite of sensors and computing power to achieve highly accurate landings, such as the 50-meter target for Artemis crewed lunar missions.

China Postpones Ambitious Chang'e-7 Lunar Mission Due to Unmet Launch Conditions

China Postpones Ambitious Chang'e-7 Lunar Mission Due to Unmet Launch Conditions

China has announced the postponement of its ambitious Chang'e-7 lunar mission, which was originally scheduled to launch in the coming days from the Wenchang Space Launch Site on Hainan island. The China Manned Space Agency stated that the mission does not meet the necessary launch conditions and therefore cannot proceed during its planned window this year. The decision was made after a comprehensive assessment, adhering to principles of prudence, reliability, and ensuring absolute mission success. The Chang'e-7 mission is the seventh in China's lunar exploration program and was intended to explore permanently shadowed craters on the Moon, conduct environmental and resource surveys of the lunar South Pole, and search for water ice. The mission includes an orbiter, a lander, a mini-hopping probe, and a rover, making it China's most complex single lunar mission to date.

NASA-Funded Project Develops Edible Cookies from Upcycled Plastic and Plant Waste

NASA-Funded Project Develops Edible Cookies from Upcycled Plastic and Plant Waste

Scientists at Southern Illinois University (SIU) Carbondale, funded by NASA, have developed a method to create edible, protein-rich cookies from upcycled plastic bottles and plant waste. This innovative process uses specially designed yeasts to convert polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic and agricultural biomass into proteins, fats, and flavorings. The PET plastic is first broken down into carbon-rich molecules using an oxidative hydrothermal dissolution process, which involves water and oxygen at high temperature and pressure. These molecules are then fed to genetically programmed yeasts, which transform them into new biological molecules. The resulting mixture is combined with fiber, starch, and sweeteners, and then extruded through a 3D printer to form 'µBites' (microbites). While taste tests are pending institutional approval, the cookies have received high marks for aroma. This research is part of NASA's Deep Space Food Challenge, aiming to create sustainable food sources for astronauts on long-d...

On This Day: Voyager 2 Made Its Historic Flyby of Neptune

On This Day: Voyager 2 Made Its Historic Flyby of Neptune

The Voyager 2 spacecraft embarked on an ambitious journey that redefined humanity's understanding of the outer Solar System. Launched in 1977, its ...

Florida Times-Union

Will I be able to watch August lunar eclipse in Jacksonville, Florida?

Will I be able to watch August lunar eclipse in Jacksonville, Florida?

While Jacksonville, Florida, residents won't see a total lunar eclipse, the Earth's shadow will cover almost 94% of the moon.

Southern Illinois University Carbondale Scientists Develop Edible Cookies from Recycled Plastic Bottles for Space and Disaster Relief

Southern Illinois University Carbondale Scientists Develop Edible Cookies from Recycled Plastic Bottles for Space and Disaster Relief

Scientists at Southern Illinois University (SIU) Carbondale, with funding from NASA, have successfully developed edible, protein-rich cookies from recycled plastic bottles and other biomass. This innovative process utilizes microbial fermentation to convert waste materials, specifically polyethylene terephthalate (PET) from plastic bottles and plant waste, into food. The research team programmed various yeasts, including baker's yeast, to transform molecules from these waste products into proteins, vitamins, and flavorings. The process involves breaking down tough materials using oxidative hydrothermal dissolution, then feeding these pieces to the programmed yeasts. The resulting ingredients are then combined with fiber, starch, and sweeteners and extruded through a 3D printer to form 'µBites' (microbites). While taste tests are pending institutional approval, participants have given high marks for aroma and expressed willingness to consume them in resource-limited scenarios. The current production cost is...

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Will I be able to watch August lunar eclipse in Tampa, Florida?

Will I be able to watch August lunar eclipse in Tampa, Florida?

While Tampa, Florida, residents won't see a total lunar eclipse, the Earth's shadow will cover almost 94% of the moon.

On This Day: Lunar Orbiter 1 Overcame Early Trouble to Map the Moon

On This Day: Lunar Orbiter 1 Overcame Early Trouble to Map the Moon

The journey of Lunar Orbiter 1, the first American spacecraft to orbit the Moon, was not without its complexities. Launched in 1966 as part of NASA...

China abruptly postpones ambitious Chang’e-7 lunar mission launch

China abruptly postpones ambitious Chang’e-7 lunar mission launch

China has postponed its planned ambitious Chang’e-7 lunar mission