NASA and X Prize Announce Winners of Lunar Lander Challenge

aerospace companies simulate landing and lift off of a spacecraft on the moon

LRO images Apollo 17 Lunar Module Landing Site

The next pass over the Apollo 17 landing site resulted in images with more than two times better resolution than previously acquired.

LROC spots fresh crater on the southwest rim of Metius B

One of the critical goals of the LROC scientific investigation is to quantify the recent impact rate

LCROSS produces more images from Centaur Impact

LCROSS time series of images taken with the mid-infrared cameras monitored the flash of the impact, the ejecta plume and ultimately the reflectance off the floor of Cabeus.

LROC studies asymmetric ejecta around lunar craters

LROC finds distinctive asymmetrical ejecta surrounding a 140 meter diameter crater in the lunar highlands.

LROC sees Apollo 14 S-IVB Impact Crater

The Apollo 14 impact was used to send vibrations through the surface to help scientists study the internal structure of the lunar crust

LROC instruments reveal interior of a fresh crater

The NAC instrument is currently targeting many such small, fresh craters, giving us a new perspective on these amazing features.

Regolith Challenge met

Three Teams Win at NASA National Lunar Robotics Competition

NASA'S LCROSS Captures All Phases of Centaur Impact

LCROSS finds clear indication of a plume of vapor and fine debris

workshop on Lunar dust, plasma and atmosphere: The next steps

The first workshop on “Lunar dust, plasma and atmosphere: The next steps” will be held January 27 – 29, 2010 at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, USA.

MSNBC News covers LCROSS impact

Watch the NBC Nightly News coverage of the LCROSS impact event last Friday night.

Diviner Observes LCROSS Impact

The LRO Diviner instrument obtained infrared observations of the LCROSS impact.

LCROSS: Keith Cowing on PBS News Hour with Jim Lehrer

Margaret Warner’s Full Interview With Keith Cowing of NASA Watch regarding LCROSS

LCROSS impacts the moon

select photos of the impact will be released soon!

As it Happened: Apollo 17

As It Happened is a series of vodcasts that brings the Apollo missions back to life, as humankind journeyed to the Moon. Each video celebrates one mission of the Apollo Program, from Apollo 7 to Apollo 17.

NASA Closer to Power Option for Moon Habitat

NASA is developing new nuclear reactors the size of a trash can that could power a human outpost on the moon or Mars.

LOIRP Releases Lunar Orbiter III Image of Surveyor 1 On the Lunar Surface

LOIRP’s latest high-resolution image shows the Surveyor 1 spacecraft sitting on the lunar surface

LRO looks at Apollo 11 landing site

LRO sees Neil Armstrong’s tracks to Little West crater.

Where will you watch the LCROSS impact event?

Find your opportunity to witness space exploration first hand!

NASA's LCROSS Mission Changes Impact Crater

Current best understanding of hydrogen concentrations in the Cabeus region, including cross-correlation between the latest LRO results and LP data sets, prompts target adjustment

NASA Instruments Reveal Water Molecules on Lunar Surface

Chandrayaan-1’s M3 instrument, the Cassini mission and EPOXI spacecraft all reveal water on the moon

It's Official: Water Found on the Moon

New findings provide further evidence of lunar polar water ice

As it happened: Apollo 16

As It Happened is a series of vodcasts that brings the Apollo missions back to life, as humankind journeyed to the Moon. Each video celebrates one mission of the Apollo Program, from Apollo 7 to Apollo 17.

NASA Partners With California Space Authority for Regolith Challenge

The Regolith Excavation Challenge is a prize competition focused on developing improved lunar regolith handling technologies

NASA Debuts New Moon Rocket

NASA’s first version of the rocket slated to replace the space shuttle and send astronauts back to the moon will make its debut test launch Oct. 27

NASA Releases First Results from Lunar Mission

NASA showcased new images from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter’s seven instruments and provided updates about the topography of the moon’s south pole during a news conference at 1 p.m. EDT Thursday, Sept. 17.

Water on the moon?

A news conference at NASA headquarters this Thursday at 2 PM eastern by Dr. Carle Pieters of Brown University will detail findings of Chandrayaan-1.

NASA Lunar Satellite Begins Detailed Mapping of Moon's South Pole

LRO has successfully completed its testing and calibration phase and entered its mapping orbit of the moon.

NASA Concludes Robotics Tests for the Moon in Arizona

NASA has concluded two weeks of technology development tests on two of the agency’s prototype lunar rovers.

NASA's LCROSS Reveals Target Crater For Lunar South Pole Impacts

Cabeus A will be the target crater for the LCROSS dual impacts scheduled for 7:30 a.m. EDT on Oct. 9, 2009.

No data lost from Chandrayaan

ISRO terminated the Chandrayaan mission on August 30 after it failed to re-establish contact with the lunar craft, but the mission enabled excellent science like solar wind interaction on a planetary body without a magnetic field.

Japanese Lunar Mission Provides a Glimpse at How the Moon Took Shape

Data from the recently retired Kaguya spacecraft support the notion that the moon’s crust congealed from an ocean of magma

As it happened: Apollo 15

As It Happened is a series of vodcasts that brings the Apollo missions back to life, as humankind journeyed to the Moon. Each video celebrates one mission of the Apollo Program, from Apollo 7 to Apollo 17.

NASA Invites Reporters to Observe Robotics Tests in Arizona Desert

NASA will hold the annual Desert “RATS,” or Research and Technology Studies, field test in the Arizona desert this fall, hosting a media day for journalists on Sept. 15.

As it happened: Apollo 14

As It Happened is a series of vodcasts that brings the Apollo missions back to life, as humankind journeyed to the Moon. Each video celebrates one mission of the Apollo Program, from Apollo 7 to Apollo 17.

LRO & Chandrayaan-1 Join Search for Lunar Water

LRO and Chandrayaan-1 undergo a novel joint experiment that could yield more information on whether ice exists in a permanently shadowed crater near the north pole of the moon.

LOIRP Releases next Lunar Orbiter 4 Image

Lunar Orbiter Image Recovery Project (LOIRP) releases new image of the Moon’s South pole.

Augustine panel Reviews U.S. Human Space Flight Plans

Videos of the presentations and discussions on physical sciences and human spaceflight at the August 5th meeting of the Augustine panel now available.

A Lunar Nuclear Reactor

Tests prove the feasibility of using nuclear reactors to provide electricity on the moon and Mars.

Space Geodesy Facility locates satellite in lunar orbit

Scientists at the UK Space Geodesy Facility (SGF) have succeeded in measuring the exact position of a satellite orbiting the Moon, some 350,000km away – 15 times further than their previous record.

LOIRP Releases new Lunar Orbiter 4 Image

LOIRP releases an image of the lunar south polar region, taken by Lunar Orbiter IV on May 24, 1967

LRO releases new images

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter’s Wide Angle Camera captures new images of the lunar surface

As it happened: Apollo 13

As It Happened is a series of vodcasts that brings the Apollo missions back to life, as humankind journeyed to the Moon. Each video celebrates one mission of the Apollo Program, from Apollo 7 to Apollo 17.

Strong Meteor Shower Expected Tues/Weds night

In North America, the Perseid metero shower can best be seen between midnight to 5 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 12, or late Tuesday night, weather permitting.

LOIRP releases four new images

Newly remastered images from Lunar Orbiter 2 and Lunar Orbiter 4 are available in high definition for the first time.

New photos of Earth from the Moon

Chandrayaan-1 and LCROSS capture new Earth images from lunar orbit.

NASA Honors Apollo Astronaut Al Worden with Moon Rock

NASA honors Apollo astronaut Al Worden with the presentation of an Ambassador of Exploration Award for his contributions to the U.S. space program.

Moonfest 2009: From Apollo to LCROSS, and Beyond

Moonfest 2009 celebrated the exploration of our Moon with a free, public festival on Sunday, July 19, 2009, at the NASA Ames Research Center. Moonfest was a family friendly event with over 10,000 people in attendance!

GigaPan posts Moon Landing Anniversary Set collection

Share and discover amazing panoramic gigapixel images from the Moon Landing Anniversary Set collection!

As it Happened: Apollo 12

As It Happened is a series of vodcasts that brings the Apollo missions back to life, as humankind journeyed to the Moon. Each video celebrates one mission of the Apollo Program, from Apollo 7 to Apollo 17.

BBC Broadcast interviews of MoonLITE and other Projects

To mark the fortieth anniversary of the moon landings, Richard Hollingham tells the story of the British MoonLITE project and the lunar ambitions and achievements of the other space-exploring nations.

University of Colorado following Apollo's footsteps

CU is preparing the next generation of moon explorers

LRO Sees Apollo Landing Sites

NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, has returned its first imagery of the Apollo moon landing sites.

Moon Orbiter to Photograph Apollo 11 Landing Site

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) is already on duty and will be using its LRO Camera to capture images that are enormously exciting to the scientific community.

As it Happened: Apollo 11

On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 became the first mission to land humans on the Moon. This documentary, produced just after the mission ended, recounts the historic voyage.

Grand Plans for Moon and Mars, Budget Permitting

NASA’s program to send astronauts back to the Moon by 2020 could result in exciting research activities, like building a radio telescope on the far side, shielded from the noise from Earth, or looking for layers of frost in shadowed craters near the poles.

Video: Interview with Manuel Grande

Manuel Grande talks about the moon as a destination to return to after four decades.

Web site recreates Apollo 11 mission in real time

The Web site — WeChooseTheMoon.org — goes live at 8:02 a.m. Thursday, 90 minutes before the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 launch from Cape Canaveral, Fla.

Dr. Kring named as fellow of the Geological Society of America

Dr. David A. Kring, Senior Staff Scientist at the Lunar and Planetary Institute, has been named as a Fellow of the Geological Society of America (GSA).

NASA's LRO Spacecraft Sends First Lunar Images to Earth

NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, has transmitted its first images since reaching lunar orbit June 23.

2009 Robotic Recon field test concludes

The 2009 Robotic Recon field test achieved all of its objectives, and returned a significant amount of data that will help NASA improve future lunar and planetary exploration.

Previously unheard recording of Luna 15 landing released

A dramatic and previously unheard recording of the moment the Russians tried to beat the American’s Moon landing in 1969 has been released by The University of Manchester’s Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics.

As It Happened: Apollo 10

As It Happened is a series of vodcasts that brings the Apollo missions back to life, as humankind journeyed to the Moon. Each video celebrates one mission of the Apollo Program, from Apollo 7 to Apollo 17.

Release of High-Resolution Radar Image Mosaic for the Moon's South Pole

A high-resolution radar view of the lunar south pole, obtained using the NAIC Arecibo Observatory and the NRAO Green Bank Telescope (GBT), is now available for download.

New Image of the Moon's South Pole Released

Lunar Orbiter Image Recovery Project (LOIRP) Releases New Image of the Moon’s South Pole

New High Resolution Image of The Apollo 14 Landing Site With EVA Details Released

Lunar Orbiter Image Recovery Project (LOIRP) Releases New High Resolution Image of The Apollo 14 Landing Site With EVA Details

New High Resolution Image of the Ocean of Storms Released

The Lunar Orbiter Image Recovery Project (LOIRP) has released a newly-retrieved, high resolution image taken of the lunar surface 42 years ago.

First image from lunar mission LCROSS lunar fly by

Fly me to the moon, we said—and NASA complied. Shown here—the first live streaming image from LCROSS, taken early today from slightly more than 5,000 miles above the lunar surface.

LRO & LCROSS Launch a Success!

LCROSS and LRO successfully launch into orbit at ~2:32pm PDT on June 18, 2009 after a short weather delay.

Robotic Recon

Follow the exciting Robotic Recon experiment at Black Point Lava Flow in northern Arizona!

As It Happened: Apollo 9

As It Happened is a series of vodcasts that brings the Apollo missions back to life, as humankind journeyed to the Moon. Each video celebrates one mission of the Apollo Program, from Apollo 7 to Apollo 17.

NASA Ames Hosts Screening Event for Launch to the Moon

Come see a live broadcast of the launch of LCROSS from 11:30-2:00 pm PDT on Wednesday, June 17, 2009 in the Exploration Center at NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.

Kaguya probe impacts the moon

Japan’s Kaguya lunar orbiter, nicknamed ‘Selene,’ ended its nearly two-year mission when it impacted the moon on Wednesday at ~14:25 EDT (18:25 UT).

NASA Announces Winners in Second Annual Lunar Art Contest

The Lunar Art Contest, sponsored by NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., allows students from the creative arts disciplines to become involved with and excited about the nation’s space exploration program.

NASA Sets Lunar Spacecraft Launch Events

NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite spacecraft are set to launch together to the moon aboard an Atlas V rocket on June 17.

As It Happened: Apollo 8

As It Happened is a series of vodcasts that brings the Apollo missions back to life, as humankind journeyed to the Moon. Each video celebrates one mission of the Apollo Program, from Apollo 7 to Apollo 17.

Robotic recon may improve human exploration of the Moon

Robotic Recon experiment will investigate how robots can improve the productivity and science return of human missions.

LOIRP releases Ranger 8 impact crater image

Latest LOIRP image has immediate applicability to the LCROSS mission.

Surveyor proved the Moon safe for man

History of NASA Surveyor mission: paveing the way for human exploration of the moon.

Kaguya Impact Information Released

Today JAXA annouced expected Kaguya impact information. Details may be updated because of new orbit determination and/or satellite conditions.

As It Happened: Apollo 7

As It Happened is a series of vodcasts that brings the Apollo missions back to life, as humankind journeyed to the Moon. Each video celebrates one mission of the Apollo Program, from Apollo 7 to Apollo 17.

NASA Book Chronicles Apollo Missions Through Astronaut Photos

Apollo missions 7 through 17 are documented with photographs selected by each of the surviving Apollo astronauts.

LRO & LCROSS launch date set for June 17th

LCROSS and LRO now have a June 17, 2009 launch date. The four-day launch window leads to a an impact at the lunar South Pole in the range of October 7-11, 2009.

Erupting gas may cause lunar flashes

Bright flashes of light seen on the Moon could be gaseous eruptions; scientists hope future lunar missions will provide additional supporting evidence.

International Year of Astronomy salutes Galileo

Four hundred years ago, Galileo and his telescope brought the heavens into focus, setting the stage for modern astronomy

NASA Science Definition Team Issues Report for International Lunar Network (ILN)

The Science Definition Team for the ILN Anchor Nodes has released its 2009 report

2009 Robotic Lunar Recon Experiment

Desert RATS to Field Test Utility Robots for Lunar Surface Operations at Black Point Lava Flow, Arizona

OAKLAND AVIATION MUSUEM TO HOST ASTRONOMICAL IMAGE EXHIBIT

The Oakland Aviation Museum will be presenting the From Earth to the Universe (FETTU) astronomical exhibit from May 26 to June 4.

California House of Representatives Honors LOIRP

As with the Lunar Orbiter’s images themselves, the efforts of those who have devoted themselves to this project should not go unnoticed or unrecorded.

NASA’s Optimizing Science and Exploration Working Group (OSEWG) Workshop Registration on line now!

The OSEWG Workshop on Robots Supporting Human Science and Exploration will be held August 5–6, 2009, at the Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI) in Houston, Texas

Chandrayaan proves lunar highlands were formed by magma

Investigators behind Nasa’s Moon Mineralogy Mapper instrument flying onboard India’s Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft report validation of the lunar magma ocean hypothesis

NASA Names 16th Annual Great Moonbuggy Race Winners

MTSU students took home the NASA Safety Systems Award at this month’s Great Moonbuggy Race held at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala.

Apollo-era physicist correlates lunar dust stickiness to sun angle

The principal investigator for the Dust Detector Experiment on several Apollo lunar landing missions details his findings in Geophysical Research Letters.

Buzz Aldrin Visits NLSI

Astronaut, Explorer, Lunar Ambassador, Rocket Scientist and Space Advocate Buzz Aldrin shares ideas at NLSI

Ask a Lunar Scientist

New Feature— Watch video answers to common lunar questions!

Call For Proposals: Field Science Analog Testing

NASA to fund concepts of operations and hardware (including
instrumentation) for future human lunar exploration. 5 page proposals due May 11, 2009

Chandrayaan’s first image of Earth in its entirety

Chandrayaan-1 has sent back its newest full-Earth image.

Kaguya satellite has shown no exposed ice in Lunar crater

Images from Japan’s KAGUYA lunar explorer satellite reveal no icy patches inside Shackleton crater

Crescent Moon in Kazakhstan

NASA Image of the Day shows moon over Kazakhstan before Soyuz rocket launch

LA Times article features newest lunar images

Pictures from the mid-1960s Lunar Orbiter program lay forgotten for decades. But one woman was determined to see them restored.

Lunar Orbiter Image Recovery Project Update

LOIRP digitizes Copernicus image, reproduces “one of the great pictures of the century”

Canadian Lunar Research Network (CLRN) partners with NLSI, invites others to join

The Canadian Lunar Research Network (CLRN) partners with the NASA Lunar Science Institute and invites other Candadian Scientists to join them.

Robots May Start Moon Base Construction

Robots might be the first construction workers on the moon, according to a recent NASA-sponsored study.

The Solar System's Big Bang

Finding signs of a lost beginning: how inner solar system debris collided with the moon, Earth and the other planets.

Chang'e-1 Crashes into Moon

China’s lunar probe Chang’e-1 has impacted the moon after completing its mission

NASA-Industry Lunar Surface Systems Workshop

A workshop on lunar surface system concepts to support human and robotic exploration on the moon by 2020 will be held on February 25-27.

Lunar Eclipse Seen by Japan’s lunar orbiter

The Kaguya lunar orbiter’s high definition camera has recorded a spectacular movie of Earth eclipsing the sun

SELENE data suggests no perpetual sunlight on lunar poles

Research by a National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) team has shown that no areas of the moon’s surface receive perpetual sunlight.

Dr. Morrison on Planetary Radio

David Morrison, Interim Director of the Lunar Science Institute, airs on Planetary Radio.

NASA Quest and the LCROSS mission challenge students

Student Registration is now open for the NASA Quest Navigation Challenge: Charting a Course to the Moon

NASA Selects Teams for Moon Impact Observation Campaign

NASA has selected four teams to observe the impact of the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS)

NASA Science Definition Team Report Released

The NASA Science Definition Team for the Lunar Atmosphere And Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) Study Report is now available.

Lunar Science EPO Forum July 19-20th

An opportunity for EPO professionals working on lunar science related projects to meet, discuss projects, and develop opportunities for future collaborations.

Chandrayaan-1 detects lunar X-ray signals

X-ray signals characterize the composition of lunar regolith near NASA’s old Apollo landing site.

Lunar Orbiter Image Recovery Project

LOIRP produces the highest resolution images of the lunar surface to date.

Moon Buggy to Appear in Obama's Inaugural Parade

NASA’s new moon rover prototype will participate in president-elect Barack Obama’s inaugural parade on January 20th, in Washington DC.

Scientists able to extend mission life of Chandrayaan-I

Scientists are able to extend the duration of India’s Chandrayaan-I mission beyond its planned two-year period.

NASA scientist Jen Heldmann describes how the Earth's moon was formed

How did the moon form? NASA scientist Jennifer Heldmann describes the most popular theory of how the Earth’s moon and solar system was formed.

NASA TO RECOGNIZE WINNER OF LUNAR LANDER CHALLENGE

Armadillo Aerospace wins $350k first prize in the level one competition

China Publishes First Full Map of the Moon Surface

China completes Chang’e-1 lunar mission and publishes full lunar map

Chandrayaan spacecraft sends back pictures of Earth

The Terrain Mapping Camera (TMC) instrument onboard the Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft captures black and white pictures of the Earth.

Apollo 8 Crew Reuniting For NASA TV Event

Apollo 8 Crew Remembers Historic Mission Live On NASA TV

Indian Space Research Organization launches first lunar orbiter

The unmanned lunar orbiter Chandrayaan-1 launched at 6:20 a.m. (8:50 p.m. ET) from the Sriharikota space center in southern India.

NLSI Student Poster Competition Winners

NLSI announces winners of the Student Poster Competition at the NLSI Lunar Science Conference, July 20-23, 2008, Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA.

NLSI Announces Canada is First International Partner

NASA’s Lunar Science Institute announced Canada’s University of Western Ontario is its first international affiliate partner for conducting lunar science activities.

Send your name to the moon on the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter!

The LRO mission is the first step in NASA’s plans to return humans to the moon by 2020— and your name can reach there first! Names entered into the database that will be placed on a microchip that will be integrated onto the LRO spacecraft.

NASA Tests Lunar Habitat in Extreme Antarctic Environment

NASA will use the cold, harsh, isolated landscape of Antarctica to test one of its concepts for astronaut housing on the moon. The agency is sending a prototype inflatable habitat to Antarctica to see how it stands up during a year of use.

Common Spacecraft Bus for Lunar Explorer Missions

NASA will include the Modular Common Spacecraft Bus in the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) mission. Watch a video of researchers testing the prototype compressed air propulsion system in a hover flight demonstration.

Phoenix landed on May 25, 2008

Watch the Phoenix landing! On May 25, 2008, the Phoenix Mars Lander will approach its final destination. The Entry Descent and Landing (EDL) will be a real nail-biter for engineers as the Phoenix spacecraft performs a series of challenging maneuvers right before it lands on Mars.

NLSI Grand Opening Event

The dedication of the NASA Lunar Science Institute took place at Ames Research Center on Friday, April 11, 2008. Presentations were given by David Morrison (interim director of NLSI), Jen Heldmann…

NASA Ames to Host Lunar Science Institute Dedication Ceremony

Media briefing and dedication ceremony for the new NASA Lunar Science Institute at NASA Ames Research Center on Friday, April 11, 2008

NASA Sets Sights on Lunar Dust Exploration Mission

NASA is preparing to send a small spacecraft to the moon in 2011 to assess the lunar atmosphere and the nature of dust lofted above the surface.

Inaugural NLSI Lunar Science Forum

2008 NLSI Lunar Science Forum archives