NASA News

Payload

NASA launches $1 million student Moon Base Challenge and outlines lunar infrastructure plans, including a 2028 rover

NASA is inviting high school and post-secondary students to propose solutions for a long-term lunar habitat through a $1 million Moon Base Student Challenge, announced at its MAX POWER event at Kennedy Space Center. The agency also highlighted the importance of rovers and other infrastructure for sustained human presence, including the PROMISE rover planned for the Moon in 2028 and a Mars-rover sibling reassigned to lunar work.

Payload

NASA Unveils Moon Base Awards at MAX POWER

The Hill

High activity

Opinion: China outlines its strategy to reach the moon before NASA

An opinion article by Mark R. examines how China intends to beat NASA back to the moon. The available article information does not specify the strategy’s elements, schedule or how it compares with NASA’s plans.

SpaceNews.com

High activity

NASA awards lunar transport, lander and technology work to advance Moon Base plans

NASA announced a slate of awards and mission updates to expand lunar transportation, science and infrastructure capabilities. The work includes contracts for a new generation of landers, selection of eight companies for the next phase of cargo-lander development, and plans to send the PROMISE nuclear-powered rover and miniCAST technology demonstrator to the lunar south pole.

SpaceNews.com

NASA proceeds with plans to convert Mars rover engineering model into a lunar rover

NASA Spaceflight

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NASA opens astronaut applications through Dec. 3 and plans aerospace exhibition to rival Paris Air Show

NASA is recruiting for an astronaut class tied to Artemis and a planned Moon Base, with applications due Dec. 3 and final selections expected in late 2027. At a Kennedy Space Center air show featuring lunar exploration and electric aviation, administrator Jared Isaacman also outlined plans for a larger aerospace exhibition intended to rival the Paris Air Show.

Space.com

NASA launched Mars Global Surveyor on Nov. 7, 1996, to map Mars and follow the loss of Mars Observer

Mars Global Surveyor was designed to give NASA another chance to study and map the Red Planet after contact with Mars Observer was lost three days before that spacecraft was due to enter orbit. Launched 30 years ago, the mission was NASA’s first Mars mission in 20 years.

Space.com

High activity

NASA chief Jared Isaacman says Artemis mission focus is urgent as China competition intensifies

In an exclusive interview, NASA chief Jared Isaacman discusses Artemis, China and the renewed race to the moon. He says the mission’s implications are “pretty severe,” describing an unusually intense focus on executing it and expressing confidence that the U.S. will prevail.