All articles tagged with #moon water
Scientists are developing methods to extract and convert frozen water on the Moon's south pole into rocket fuel, which could significantly reduce space mission costs and support permanent lunar bases and deeper space exploration, amid increasing competition between the US and China for lunar resources.
NASA has officially declared the Lunar Trailblazer moon orbiter dead after losing contact shortly after launch in February 2025. The mission aimed to map lunar water resources to support future Artemis missions, but the spacecraft's solar arrays likely failed to point correctly, leading to battery depletion. Despite efforts to reestablish contact, the mission was ended in July 2025, marking a setback in lunar exploration efforts.
NASA's Lunar Trailblazer mission to study moon water ended in failure after losing contact with the spacecraft a day after launch in February, with efforts to regain communication unsuccessful. Despite the setback, the mission contributed valuable data and technology for future lunar exploration, and upcoming missions like Artemis aim to return humans to the moon.
Argo Space, a startup founded by three SpaceX veterans, plans to build spacecraft powered by water harvested from the moon. The company recently closed a $2 million funding round and plans to conduct a demonstration flight in Earth orbit in 2024, with commercial service starting in 2025. The company's initial vehicle, the Argonaut, will be a water-propelled vehicle that offers high-altitude orbits and on-orbit pickup of payloads. Argo Space plans to expand to the moon later in the decade, using lunar water as propellant for transportation and partnering with lunar lander companies to extract and transport resources.