Articles about Moon

Illustration: Firefly Blue Ghost lander on the moon

Zeno Power reserves a spot on Firefly moon lander to demonstrate its atomic space heater

Radioisotope-powered heater will keep components in working order during the chilly lunar night, for a NASA-supported mission that’s set for as early as 2028. Read More

Prototype excavator on a rocky test range

Interlune builds on partnership with equipment company to lay the groundwork for moon infrastructure

Seattle lunar startup will collaborate with Iowa-based Vermeer to manufacture tools that can help NASA build a lunar outpost. Read More

Collage of illustrations relating to NASA research projects, including radioactive heater installed on astronaut's backpack on the moon

Could nuclear heaters keep astronauts warm on the moon? NASA is funding research to find out

Zeno Power Systems will study a concept for putting compact radioisotope heating devices in spacesuits used for extravehicular activity amid frigid lunar conditions. Read More

Two astronauts walking in the Utah desert with habitat buildings in the background

Mars Society and South Seattle College strike a deal to build a simulated space habitat

Partnership would give the Pacific Northwest a role in research missions aimed at blazing a trail to the moon and Mars. Read More

Interlune engineers working on apparatus for extracting helium-3 from industrial-grade helium

Interlune extracts helium-3 from ordinary helium, demonstrating a process it plans to use on the moon

Seattle startup uses cryogenic distillation to produce helium-3 for quantum computing and other applications — initially on Earth, and eventually on the lunar surface. Read More

NASA considers sending a spare Mars rover to the moon to rev up preparations for lunar base

Space agency provides updates on lunar lander missions — and teases a World Cup soccer-ball moonshot. Read More

Blue Moon Mark 2 lander on lunar surface with astronauts and with crescent Earth in sky above

NASA backs dozens of projects on the space frontier, including some with Northwest connections

Space agency selects 37 companies as partners to develop technologies that will support moon bases and Mars exploration. Read More

Illustration: Two astronauts embracing with Earth's disk in background

Having sex in space would be tricky, but having kids in space is riskier

Researchers say the mechanics of having sex in space would be easier to manage than the biology of pregnancy and fetal development in a reduced-gravity, high-radiation environment. Read More

Atlas 5 blasts off beneath cloudy skies, carrying Amazon Leo satellites into space

Blue Origin’s rocket blowup could cause big problems for NASA — and a satellite slowdown for Amazon Leo

With New Glenn rocket and its pad sidelined, NASA faces added complications in its moon exploration plans, while Amazon must turn to other launch providers to get satellites in orbit. Read More

Illustration: Blue Origin Blue Moon lander with Astrolab CLV-1 rover deployed to lunar surface

NASA taps Blue Origin to deliver lunar rovers for Moon Base initiative

Blue Moon lander will carry Astrolab and Lunar Outpost moon buggies, while Firefly will drop off NASA’s rocket-powered drones. Read More

Engineers work on hardware in Interlune's Regolith Lab

Interlune wins $6.9M NASA contract to create system to extract helium-3 and hydrogen from moon dirt

Seattle-based startup will build and test payload that advances its plan to bring back lunar helium-3 for use in quantum computers. Read More

Image from Orion: Thrusters in foreground to the left, Earth in center of image

Artemis 2’s trip around the moon enters the home stretch — here’s how to watch the splashdown

Sen. Maria Cantwell talks to the astronauts about Washington state’s connection to milestone test mission, and invites them to visit. Read More

Wide-angle view of Earthset during Artemis 2 lunar flyby

Earthset and eclipse, oh my! NASA releases magnificent images from Artemis mission’s moon flyby

High-resolution views of Earth, the moon and a solar eclipse rekindle the spirit of round-the-moon missions from decades ago. Read More

Earthset picture from Artemis 2: Crescent Earth dips beneath lunar horizon

‘Moon joy!’ Artemis 2’s crew sets a distance record, documents lunar far side and heads back toward Earth

The first humans to travel around the moon in more than 50 years experience hours of scientific wonder — and moments of deep emotion. Read More

‘Let’s go!’ NASA launches humanity’s first moon voyage in nearly 54 years

Artemis 2 mission will send four astronauts around the moon during the ‘opening act’ of a new age of discovery. Read More

Total lunar eclipse will turn the full moon red — but will the skies be clear enough to see it?

March weather could turn your chance to see a blood-red moon into an iffy proposition. Read More

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and other personnel at LC-39B launch pad with SLS rocket in background

Helium problem forces NASA to delay Artemis 2 launch to the moon and roll back the rocket

NASA’s chief says troubleshooting an interruption of helium flow at the launch pad will rule out a liftoff in March. Read More

SLS rocket illuminated by lights on Florida launch pad

NASA completes a smooth rehearsal for historic Artemis 2 moon launch

Countdown goes all the way down to T-minus 29 seconds in preparation for NASA’s first crewed trip to the moon since the Apollo era. Read More

Interlune digs into the development of an excavator for helium-3 and construction projects on the moon

Seattle startup takes a wider view of what it can do for NASA’s Artemis moon program in the years ahead. Read More

Illustration: Interlune harvester on the moon

Interlune brings in fresh funding to keep its mission to mine the moon moving forward

Seattle-based Interlune is raising additional investment to support its campaign to identify and extract resources on the moon that can… Read More

Illustration: Orion engine firing during lunar flyby

Year in Space: Get ready for moon missions to take center stage in 2026

In the coming year, NASA is due to send four astronauts around the moon, and Blue Origin will put a lander on the lunar surface. Read More

Illustration: Oasis-1 satellite mapping the moon

Blue Origin and its partners in Luxembourg unveil Project Oasis to map lunar resources

Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin space venture says it’s working with partners in Luxembourg on a campaign called Project Oasis, which… Read More

Blended image of Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos celebrating

The space race is tightening up for Blue Origin and SpaceX, and for America and China

A newly published book focuses on parallel space races involving Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk, and America and China. Read More

Illustration: VIPER rover and Blue Moon MK1 lunar lander on moon's surface

NASA puts in an order with Blue Origin to work on sending VIPER rover to moon’s south pole

NASA has selected Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin space venture to help it resurrect a mission to send a robotic prospector… Read More

Illustration: Astrolab FLIP rover on moon with Interlune payload

Interlune will team up with Astrolab to send a camera to the moon for helium-3 survey

Seattle-based Interlune says it’s struck a deal with California-based Astrolab to send a multispectral camera to the moon to estimate… Read More

Astrobotic CubeRover with wireless charging system undergoing testing

Astrobotic clears wireless charging system for moon missions with help from WiBotic

Astrobotic says it has completed flight model acceptance testing for a wireless charging system that incorporates technology from Seattle-based WiBotic… Read More

Interlune announces deals for moon mining equipment — and for selling lunar helium-3

Seattle-based Interlune provided a triple-barreled update today on its progress toward mining helium-3 on the moon and returning that resource… Read More

Interlune wins $4.8M grant for Texas center focusing on simulated moon dirt

Seattle-based Interlune has won a grant of up to $4.84 million from the Texas Space Commission to open a center… Read More

Illustration: Blue Moon MK1 lunar lander on moon with Earth in background

Blue Origin’s Blue Moon lunar lander is on deck to deliver NASA payload to the moon

Update: The first Blue Moon MK1 mission is currently scheduled for no earlier than 2026. NASA says it has penciled… Read More

Researcher with apparatus on zero-gravity flight

NASA awards $348,000 to Interlune to test technology for processing moon soil

Seattle-based Interlune has received a $348,000 grant from NASA to test its system for processing lunar soil on a series… Read More