SpaceX scrambles to simplify its Artemis III lunar landing mission as NASA considers alternatives. The move follows Starship development delays and Elon Musk’s recent criticism of NASA administrators. What does this mean for America’s return to the Moon?
Scientists analyzing lunar samples from China’s Chang’e-6 mission have identified fragments of an extremely rare type of meteorite that could rewrite our understanding of how water reached the Moon and Earth. The discovery marks the first time CI chondrite material has been confirmed on the lunar surface, suggesting volatile-rich asteroids are more common than previously thought.
China’s Chang’e-6 mission has yielded what scientists are calling a remarkable finding from the far side of the Moon, with researchers identifying fragments of an exceptionally rare type of meteorite that could transform our understanding of the early solar system. According to reports published in the journal PNAS, the international research team discovered carbonaceous chondrite (CI chondrite) material within lunar samples returned to Earth in June of last year.
NASA is reopening its moon-landing contract after determining SpaceX is behind schedule on the Artemis III mission. The move aims to spur competition among American aerospace companies to reach the moon before China.
NASA is reopening competition for its lunar lander contract after determining that SpaceX has fallen behind schedule on the Artemis III mission, according to reports. Acting Administrator Sean Duffy announced the decision during a Monday interview, stating that the move will help ensure NASA meets its goal of returning astronauts to the moon before the end of the current presidential term.
** Scientists discovered the Moon’s largest crater resulted from a glancing impact rather than direct hit. This finding transforms NASA’s Artemis landing strategy and reveals new insights about lunar evolution. The research provides crucial context for upcoming human missions to the lunar south pole. **CONTENT:**
NASA’s Artemis program is heading toward a surprisingly different lunar landing site than originally planned, thanks to groundbreaking research about the Moon’s largest crater formation. According to a new study published in Nature, the South Pole-Aitken basin—the massive 1,200-mile crater where astronauts are scheduled to land—was created by a glancing, southward asteroid impact rather than the direct collision scientists had assumed for decades. This revelation has “important implications” for how NASA will approach its first crewed lunar landing in over 50 years and what scientists hope to discover about the Moon’s geological history.
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