Lunar lander

NASA Selects Intuitive Machines Team to Develop Survive the Lunar Night Technology

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, July 25, 2023
Darkness, Machine, Intuitive Machines, Lunar lander, RPS, Science Mission Directorate, Americium-241, Moon, Spacecraft, STMD, Tipping point, SSL (company), NASA, Artemis, Zeno, Longevity, Communications satellite, Mars

Intuitive Machines has been designated approximately $2.4 million of the award to assist Zeno Power in developing an interoperable americium-241 (Am-241) radioisotope Sterling generator that may be integrated into lunar landers to enable it to survive the lunar night cycle.

Key Points: 
  • Intuitive Machines has been designated approximately $2.4 million of the award to assist Zeno Power in developing an interoperable americium-241 (Am-241) radioisotope Sterling generator that may be integrated into lunar landers to enable it to survive the lunar night cycle.
  • The lunar night cycle refers to the period of darkness on the Moon that lasts approximately 14 Earth days.
  • “The ability to survive the lunar night is paramount to Intuitive Machines and the space exploration community,” said Trent Martin, Intuitive Machines Vice President of Space Systems.
  • The Zeno Power-led team’s goal is to develop flight-ready technology for a 2027 lunar surface demonstration.

Atari Taps Award-Winning Indie Studio Dreams Uncorporated for Modern Adaption of ‘70s Classic Lunar Lander

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, July 13, 2023
Gaming, Atari, Xbox One, Lunar lander, Creativity, Nintendo Switch, Planet, Series, PlayStation, Steam, Video game

Slated for a 2023 PC and console release, Lunar Lander: Beyond adds simulation and a deep narrative to the recipe along with precision gravity flier mechanics.

Key Points: 
  • Slated for a 2023 PC and console release, Lunar Lander: Beyond adds simulation and a deep narrative to the recipe along with precision gravity flier mechanics.
  • “Dreams Uncorporated has a unique vision that transforms Lunar Lander into a game with a meaningful back story and deep, modern gameplay,” said Atari CEO Wade Rosen.
  • Lunar Lander: Beyond launches in the first half of 2024 on Windows PC via Steam and Epic, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One and Series X|S.
  • To stay up-to-date on all things Atari and retro-pop culture, follow on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , YouTube , and join the community on Discord .

Westinghouse and Astrobotic Team to Power Outer Space with eVinci™ Microreactor Technology

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, June 1, 2023
Aerospace, Technology, Manufacturing, Robotics, Other Energy, Nuclear, Utilities, Defense, Alternative Energy, Contracts, Energy, Workforce, Rover, Lunar lander, Orbit, University, Electricity, Spacecraft, Space research, DOE, Book, The Electric Company, NASA, U.S. Department of Defense Strategy for Operating in Cyberspace, Westinghouse Electric Company, Heat, Astrobotic Technology, Rovers, Communications satellite, Renewable energy, Mars, Moon, Westinghouse

Last year, Westinghouse was awarded a NASA/DOE contract to provide an initial design concept for a fission lunar surface power system.

Key Points: 
  • Last year, Westinghouse was awarded a NASA/DOE contract to provide an initial design concept for a fission lunar surface power system.
  • Westinghouse is developing a scaled-down version of the 5-MWe eVinci™ microreactor to power spacecraft in orbit or for deployment on the surface of planetary bodies such as the Moon or Mars, providing continuous power for space research and other applications.
  • The inherent simplicity of the eVinci technology supports these critical space missions by providing a reliable, resilient, low-mass power generation system that can be operated autonomously.
  • “Astrobotic and Westinghouse have deep roots in Pittsburgh, and we are excited to leverage both companies’ capabilities to pioneer the future of space power technologies and services,” said John Thornton, Astrobotic CEO.

AGILE Space Industries Qualifies A110 Lunar RCS Thruster

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, April 12, 2023
Human, Launch vehicle, Lunar lander, Artemis Accords, Vibration, Front Mission 3, Shock, Moon, Lunar, Artemis program, Apollo program, NASA, System, Paraffin wax, Agile, Spacecraft, A110

DURANGO, Colo., April 12, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Agile Space Industries (Agile) has taken an important step toward the development of lunar landers for commercial lunar missions and supporting the return of humans to the Moon under NASA's Artemis Program. That important step is the successful completion of the qualification testing milestone of the Agile A110 bipropellant thruster which is designed to precisely guide Lunar Landers as they touch down on the lunar surface. The A110 is being used for the reaction control system on the ispace Mission 3 lunar lander spacecraft which will land on the far side of the lunar Moon. Agile successfully performed thruster qualification well ahead of the mission which is planned for 2025. Mission 3 will use Agile's A110 Thruster for precise attitude control, keeping the moon lander pointed in the right direction during the long journey to the moon and making sure it softly touches down in just the right place.

Key Points: 
  • DURANGO, Colo., April 12, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Agile Space Industries (Agile) has taken an important step toward the development of lunar landers for commercial lunar missions and supporting the return of humans to the Moon under NASA's Artemis Program.
  • That important step is the successful completion of the qualification testing milestone of the Agile A110 bipropellant thruster which is designed to precisely guide Lunar Landers as they touch down on the lunar surface.
  • The A110 is being used for the reaction control system on the ispace Mission 3 lunar lander spacecraft which will land on the far side of the lunar Moon.
  • Today, Agile Space Industries offers thrusters, testing services, metal 3D printing, and complete propulsion systems to its customers.

NASA Seeks Student Solutions for Managing Moon Landing Dust Cloud

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, March 21, 2023
Human, Travel, Lunar lander, University, Spacecraft, Marshall Space Flight Center, Multimedia, Langley Research Center, Student, NASA, Dust, Communications satellite, Mars, Moon, Artemis

This effect is called plume surface interaction and can increase risks caused by lunar dust on future human missions.

Key Points: 
  • This effect is called plume surface interaction and can increase risks caused by lunar dust on future human missions.
  • "The Moon is covered with granular, rocky material called regolith, which can be lifted from the surface by rocket engines during landing and ascent.
  • To establish a long-term human presence on and around the Moon for the benefit of humanity, NASA must address the challenges lunar dust presents to these complex missions.
  • Potential solutions might include development of dust shields, creating flight instrumentation dedicated to managing plume surface interactions, finding ways to see through the dust cloud during landing, or tracking dust during ascent and descent.

NASA Awards SpaceX Second Contract Option for Artemis Moon Landing

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, November 15, 2022
Astronaut, Space Launch System, Technology, Artemis 3, Starship, SpaceX, Artemis program, Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships, Marshall Space Flight Center, Industry, Multimedia, NASA, Exploration, Lunar lander, Science, Color, Transport, Communications satellite, Jet fuel, Artemis, Mars, Gateway, Moon

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA has awarded a contract modification to SpaceX to further develop its Starship human landing system to meet agency requirements for long-term human exploration of the Moon under Artemis.

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, Nov. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA has awarded a contract modification to SpaceX to further develop its Starship human landing system to meet agency requirements for long-term human exploration of the Moon under Artemis.
  • With this addition, SpaceX will provide a second crewed landing demonstration mission in 2027 as part of NASA's Artemis IV mission.
  • Known as Option B, the modification follows an award to SpaceX in July 2021 under the Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships-2 ( NextSTEP-2 ) Appendix H Option A contract.
  • As part of that contract, SpaceX will also conduct an uncrewed demonstration mission to the Moon prior to Artemis III.

Lunar Outpost Announces $12 Million Seed Investment, to Scale Mobility Technology Enabling Commercial Lunar Advancement

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, May 24, 2022
Technology, Other Professional Services, Professional Services, Other Technology, COO, Cobalt, Central African Mining and Exploration Company, Government, ICEYE, CLPS, Moonbase, Rover, Whoops, Travel, Commercial Lunar Payload Services, Twitter, Oxygen, Collection, NASA, University, IOT, News, Investment, Research, CO, APL, Growth, Cavendish Laboratory, NO2, Biophysical environment, CSO, Multimedia, Rocket Lab, Outpost, Robotics, Partnership, AngelList, Intuitive Machines, Time, Program, Lunar lander, Organization, MOXIE, LinkedIn, CH4, Applied Physics Laboratory, MAPP, Promus Hotel Corporation, View, Exploration, CTO, Soil classification, Industry, Mars Oxygen ISRU Experiment, Instagram, Technology, Solar System, Water, CEO, Renewable energy, Paraffin wax, Mars, Moon

Lunar Outpost is developing and implementing technology that enables a sustainable presence in cislunar space - the only company with two fully funded commercial rover missions to the Moon.

Key Points: 
  • Lunar Outpost is developing and implementing technology that enables a sustainable presence in cislunar space - the only company with two fully funded commercial rover missions to the Moon.
  • Were living at a time where dependable and repeatable commercial access to the lunar surface with lunar landers is a reality.
  • As the U.S. government deepens support for commercial space activity, Lunar Outpost has emerged as a leader in advancing the lunar economy.
  • Founded in 2017, Lunar Outpost is an industry leader in commercial space robotics, lunar surface mobility, and in-situ resource utilization.

Stellar Solutions Wins NASA 2020 Small Business Industry Award

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, October 7, 2021
Stellar, Lunar lander, Achievement, Washington, Moons of Mars, NASA, SBAA, Moon, Solution, OSBP, Program, Artemis program, SpaceX, Industry, PALO, Small business, Human, QuakeFinder, Agency, International, Risk management, Commercial, SBIA, HLS, NASA Headquarters, Intel, NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge, Partnership, Acquisition, Lockheed, Intelligence, Technology, Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships, Communications satellite

PALO ALTO, Calif., Oct. 7, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Stellar Solutions, the global aerospace engineering company, has won a NASA 2020 Small Business Industry Award in the category of the Center-Level Small Business Prime Contractor of the Year.

Key Points: 
  • PALO ALTO, Calif., Oct. 7, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Stellar Solutions, the global aerospace engineering company, has won a NASA 2020 Small Business Industry Award in the category of the Center-Level Small Business Prime Contractor of the Year.
  • The award recognizes Stellar Solutions' work at NASA Headquarters to support the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate's Human Landing System (HLS) acquisition and Space Technology Mission Directorate's Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative.
  • About the NASA Small Business Awards and Achievement: The NASA Office of Small Business Programs recognizes civil servant and industry achievement in, and in support of, the Agency's Small Business Program each fiscal year.
  • https://osbp.nasa.gov/award.html
    About Stellar Solutions, Inc.: Stellar Solutions is a global aerospace and systems engineering services provider to commercial, defense, intelligence, civil and international sectors.

NASA Selects Five U.S. Companies to Mature Artemis Lander Concepts

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, September 14, 2021
Moon, Program, Science, Headquarters, Solar System, Lunar lander, Technology, Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships, Marshall Space Flight Center, Dynetics, Safety, Transport, Color, NASA, Learning, Goal, Leadership, Communications satellite, Hunting

These companies will make advancements toward sustainable human landing system concepts, conduct risk-reduction activities, and provide feedback on NASA's requirements to cultivate industry capabilities for crewed lunar landing missions.

Key Points: 
  • These companies will make advancements toward sustainable human landing system concepts, conduct risk-reduction activities, and provide feedback on NASA's requirements to cultivate industry capabilities for crewed lunar landing missions.
  • The companies that received awards and their award values are:
    Blue Origin Federation of Kent, Washington, $25.6 million.
  • The selected companies will develop lander design concepts, evaluating their performance, design, construction standards, mission assurance requirements, interfaces, safety, crew health accommodations, and medical capabilities.
  • The companies will also mitigate lunar lander risks by conducting critical component tests and advancing the maturity of key technologies.

NASA Awards Firefly Aerospace $93.3M to Deliver Suite of Payloads to the Moon in 2023

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 4, 2021
Air, Transport, Aerospace, Manufacturing, Spaceflight, Exploration of the Moon, Commercial Lunar Payload Services, Outer space, Private spaceflight, CLPS, Lunar lander, Google Lunar X Prize, Artemis program, OrbitBeyond

Fireflys Blue Ghost lunar lander will deliver the payloads to the lunar surface in 2023 in fulfillment of Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) task order 19D, managed by NASAs Science Mission Directorate.

Key Points: 
  • Fireflys Blue Ghost lunar lander will deliver the payloads to the lunar surface in 2023 in fulfillment of Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) task order 19D, managed by NASAs Science Mission Directorate.
  • The CLPS 19D mission represents the third pillar in Fireflys plan to become Americas premier end-to-end space transportation company.
  • Its extremely gratifying to know that NASA recognizes the tremendous talent weve assembled at Firefly.
  • In addition to the NASA-sponsored payloads, the lander will carry more than 50 kg of commercial payloads.