Solar System – Page 18 – Spaceflight Now

NASA boss pleads for funding to ensure 2024 moon landing

July 17, 2019 William Harwood

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine told a Senate panel Wednesday that a budget impasse and subsequent spending freeze later this year would be “devastating” to the agency’s goal of sending the first woman and next man to the moon by the end of 2024.

Launch of Indian moon lander postponed by ‘technical snag’

July 14, 2019 Stephen Clark

Indian engineers called off the launch of the Chandrayaan 2 lunar landing mission Sunday after observing a “technical snag” during the final hour of the countdown, India’s space agency said.

Video highlights from Chandrayaan 2’s launch campaign

July 14, 2019 Stephen Clark

These video highlights released by the Indian Space Research Organization show the launch campaign to prepare for liftoff of the Chandrayaan 2 moon mission aboard a GSLV Mk.3 rocket.

Live coverage: Indian moon launch scrubbed

July 14, 2019 Stephen Clark

Indian officials postponed the launch Sunday of the Chandrayaan 2 moon mission from a spaceport on the country’s southeastern coast with the Bay of Bengal. The robotic Chandrayaan 2 mission will lift off aboard the GSLV Mk.3, India’s most powerful rocket, but officials have not announced a new target launch date.

India seeks to join exclusive company with ambitious moon mission

July 13, 2019 Stephen Clark

India’s ambitious $142 million Chandrayaan 2 moon mission, comprising a orbiter, lander and rover, is set for liftoff Sunday to begin a nearly two-month transit culminating in a touchdown near the lunar south pole in September.

GSLV Mk.3 rolls out for launch of Indian moon mission

July 12, 2019 Stephen Clark

The 142-foot-tall rocket that will send aloft India’s Chandrayaan 2 moon mission Sunday has arrived on its launch pad on the Indian east coast.

Japanese spacecraft snags second sample from asteroid

July 11, 2019 Stephen Clark

Scientists celebrated another success with Japan’s Hayabusa 2 spacecraft late Wednesday (U.S. time), when the robot explorer accomplished a second pinpoint touch-and-go landing on asteroid Ryugu, this time to collect a sample of pristine dust and rock excavated by an explosive impactor earlier this year.

Firefly to build U.S. version of Israeli Beresheet lunar lander

July 10, 2019 Stephen Clark

Firefly Aerospace, a Texas-based company which is already developing a small satellite launcher, has signed an agreement with Israel Aerospace Industries to build lunar landers in the United States and carry NASA science instruments to the moon, officials announced Tuesday.

India’s first moon lander stacked for launch

July 9, 2019 Stephen Clark

India’s first lunar lander has been hoisted on top of its GSLV Mk.3 rocket ahead of a liftoff scheduled for Sunday.

Hayabusa 2 cleared for second touchdown on asteroid

July 3, 2019 Stephen Clark

Ground teams have approved plans for Japan’s Hayabusa 2 sample return mission to briefly land on asteroid Ryugu for the second time July 11, aiming for a targeted touch-and-go to gather material exposed by an explosive impactor released by the robot explorer in April.