All articles tagged with #moon orbit
NASA's Artemis II mission aims to orbit the moon with a crewed spacecraft in 2026, marking the first human lunar orbit since 1972, as a crucial step towards returning humans to the lunar surface by 2027. The mission involves extensive testing and training to ensure safety and success, with astronauts practicing spacecraft operations and recovery procedures.
NASA is on track to send astronauts to orbit the Moon in early 2026 with the Artemis II mission, marking the first crewed lunar orbit in over 50 years, as part of the US efforts to beat China in the renewed space race and prepare for future lunar surface missions.
In 1968, the Soviet Union's Zond 5 spacecraft became the first to circle the Moon, carrying two steppe tortoises along with worms, flies, and seeds, beating NASA's Apollo 8 mission, which carried humans. The tortoises' successful journey marked a significant milestone in space exploration, demonstrating that even slow-moving creatures could achieve lunar orbit before humans did.
Firefly Aerospace announced its Ocula service, offering high-resolution lunar and cislunar space imagery using telescopes on its Elytra spacecraft, aiming to supplement or replace aging NASA assets and support government and commercial needs with low-cost, high-quality data starting with missions in 2024 and 2028.
June's full moon will appear unusually low in the sky due to the Moon's orbit tilt and precession cycle, reaching its lowest point in decades, especially affecting viewers in the Northern Hemisphere, with notable occultations of bright stars occurring around this time.
Victor Glover, an astronaut with North Texas ties, is set to pilot a crew during NASA’s Artemis II mission, becoming the first Black man to orbit the moon. He aims to inspire future generations of astronauts with his participation and the diverse team accompanying him. Glover's journey from meeting a Black faculty member in college to obtaining three engineering-related master's degrees has led him to this historic mission, expected to launch by the end of next year.
NASA and the United Arab Emirates are collaborating on a lunar project to construct the first space station that will orbit the moon, marking a significant milestone in space exploration.
Frank Borman, the commander of NASA's Apollo 8 mission in 1968, which became the first manned spacecraft to orbit the moon, has passed away at the age of 95. Borman, along with his fellow astronauts James A. Lovell Jr. and William A. Anders, captured the iconic image known as Earthrise and delivered a Christmas message from space. He also commanded the Gemini 7 mission in 1965, setting a record for time spent in space. Borman, known for his exceptional piloting skills, later served as the chairman of Eastern Airlines.
Frank Borman, the Apollo astronaut who commanded the first mission to orbit the moon, has passed away at the age of 95. Known for his no-nonsense demeanor and dedication to beating the Soviet Union in the space race, Borman played a critical role in NASA's early missions. He piloted Gemini 7 and later served as the mission commander for Apollo 8, which successfully circled the moon in 1968. Borman's disciplined approach and attention to detail contributed to the overall success of the Apollo program.
August 2023 will feature two supermoons: the sturgeon supermoon on Tuesday and a rare blue supermoon at the end of the month. A supermoon occurs when the moon is full during its closest orbit to Earth, making it appear larger and brighter. The sturgeon supermoon will peak at 2:32 p.m. ET on Tuesday, while the blue supermoon will peak at 9:36 p.m. ET on August 30. The blue supermoon won't occur again until 2032.