The far side of the moon offers a unique opportunity to radio astronomers: an observatory built there could peer into the early universe, shielded from electromagnetic interference from Earth. Illustration: Peter Sanitra

Rovers Will Unroll a Telescope on the Moon’s Far Side

July 10, 2019

From IEEE Spectrum: For decades, astronomers have gazed up at the moon and dreamed about what they would do with its most unusual real estate. Because the moon is gravitationally locked to our planet, the same side of the moon always faces us. That means the lunar far side is...

Peaks within the moon’s Tycho Crater.

Three projects tapped by NASA for lunar exploration have Boulder ties

July 4, 2019

From the Daily Camera: NASA has announced a dozen science and technology payloads that will be at the core of the nation’s mission to put humans back on the moon by 2024, and two of them are led by investigators based in Boulder, while a third also has local ties...

Ascent Abort-2 successfully launched at 7 a.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex 46

Successful Orion Test Brings NASA Closer to Moon, Mars Missions

July 2, 2019

From NASA: NASA successfully demonstrated Tuesday the Orion spacecraft’s launch abort system can outrun a speeding rocket and pull astronauts to safety during an emergency during launch. The test is another milestone in the agency’s preparation for Artemis missions to the Moon that will lead to astronaut missions to Mars...

Orion Launch Abort System launch photo

Ensuring Astronaut Safety: Lockheed Martin And NASA Successfully Demonstrate Orion Launch Abort System In Flight Test

July 2, 2019

From Lockheed Martin/PRNewswire: KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla., July 2, 2019 The critical launch abort system for NASA's Orion spacecraft was put to its hardest test today, and it demonstrated its capability to pull the crew module and future astronauts to safety during a launch if there is an emergency. Lockheed...

LuSEE graphic

Scientists scramble to build payload for 2021 moon landing

July 2, 2019

From Berkeley News: Scavenging spare parts and grabbing off-the-shelf hardware, University of California, Berkeley, space scientists are in a sprint to build scientific instruments that will land on the moon in a mere two years. NASA announced yesterday that it has selected 12 scientific payloads to fly aboard three lunar...

Illustration of the Moon with Earth in view

NASA Selects 12 New Lunar Science, Technology Investigations

July 1, 2019

From NASA Release 19-053: NASA has selected 12 new science and technology payloads that will help us study the Moon and explore more of its surface as part of the agency’s Artemis lunar program. These investigations and demonstrations will help the agency send astronauts to the Moon by 2024 as...

Photo of Jack Burns with SOS Moon in background

Heading Back to the Moon (This Time, For Good)

June 28, 2019

From the Coloradan Alumni Magazine: On Dec. 13, 1972, Apollo 17 astronaut Eugene Cernan stepped off the surface of the moon and onto a ladder leading up the Challenger lunar module. “We leave as we came,” he’d proclaimed a moment earlier, “and, God willing, as we shall return, with peace...

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Colorado Public Radio, Colorado Matters Podcast - CU scientist is shaping the new U.S. plan to go to the Moon

May 15, 2019

Colorado Public Radio, Colorado Matters Podcast: Denver voters decriminalized psychedelic mushrooms—now what? Then, homelessness is an issue in Denver's mayoral runoff. Next, a CU scientist is shaping the new U.S. plan to go to the moon. Plus, Dixie Rinehart designed space gloves. Also, Chinese tariffs could impact agriculture. Then, recalling...

An Orion crew module, part of NASA’s Space Launch System

For Artemis Mission to Moon, NASA Seeks to Add Billions to Budget

May 13, 2019

From The New York Times: NASA officials on Monday evening unveiled an updated budget request to Congress, seeking more than $1 billion in additional funding in what they called a down payment to accelerate the return of astronauts to the moon by 2024. Jim Bridenstine, NASA’s administrator, also said that...

Photo of Jack Burns

American is ready to explore

May 6, 2019

From SpaceNews: Commentary by Jack Burns - At the recent National Space Council meeting, U.S. Vice President Pence challenged the nation to begin exploring space again with a human mission to the moon’s south pole by 2024. Public-private-academic partnerships will help us accelerate a new lunar program. Such successful collaborations...

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