Moon Exploration News

Spaceflight Now • Will Robinson-Smith

Firefly Aerospace to Launch Ocula Commercial Lunar Imaging Service in 2026

Firefly Aerospace plans to launch Ocula, the first commercial lunar imaging service, as early as 2026. Hosted aboard its Elytra orbiter—initially a transfer vehicle for the Blue Ghost 2 mission—Ocula will capture high-resolution ultraviolet and visible-spectrum imagery for mapping, mineral detection and sustained ISR over five-plus years.

2025-06-18T06:07:10.181698-07:00

CNN

SpaceX Starship Test Flight 9 Breaks Up on Uncontrolled Reentry

2025-05-27T16:45:41.810943-07:00

Politico

White House Withdraws Jared Isaacman’s NASA Nomination, Citing America First Alignment

2025-05-31T12:18:00.705047-07:00

Space.com

ispace’s Resilience lander likely crashes during second lunar touchdown attempt

2025-06-05T12:52:52.576817-07:00

Moon Exploration News Timeline

SpaceNews.com

After Resilience’s Moon Landing Attempt, Openness Becomes Crucial for the Lunar Economy Following ispace’s likely Resilience lander crash during its final descent, stakeholders are emphasizing the need for a transparent governance framework for lunar operations. Open data-sharing, dispute-resolution mechanisms and clear resource-utilization guidelines are emerging as key enablers of a sustainable commercial lunar economy.

2025-06-19T04:02:34.925221-07:00

After Resilience’s Moon Landing Attempt, Openness Becomes Crucial for the Lunar Economy

Spaceflight Now

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Firefly Aerospace to Launch Ocula Commercial Lunar Imaging Service in 2026 Firefly Aerospace plans to launch Ocula, the first commercial lunar imaging service, as early as 2026. Hosted aboard its Elytra orbiter—initially a transfer vehicle for the Blue Ghost 2 mission—Ocula will capture high-resolution ultraviolet and visible-spectrum imagery for mapping, mineral detection and sustained ISR over five-plus years.

2025-06-18T06:07:10.181698-07:00

Firefly Aerospace to Launch Ocula Commercial Lunar Imaging Service in 2026

SpaceNews.com

Experts Urge International Commission to Safeguard Lunar Cultural Heritage As lunar missions multiply, experts warn Apollo-era landing sites and other historic locations face irreversible damage from increased activity. They call for establishing an international commission now to develop binding protections and governance frameworks safeguarding humanity’s cultural landmarks on the Moon.

2025-06-16T06:09:10.927073-07:00

Experts Urge International Commission to Safeguard Lunar Cultural Heritage

balerionspace.substack.com

SpaceX shifts focus to Starship, Mars and Jupiter moons as Altspace rises to fill LEO gap Having underpinned the new space economy, SpaceX is now shifting resources from Falcon 9 operations toward Starship, Mars missions and exploration of Jupiter’s moons. That pivot opens opportunities in low Earth orbit services, and orbital startup Altspace is positioning itself to capture emerging commercial demand.

2025-06-13T18:11:12.992120-07:00

SpaceX shifts focus to Starship, Mars and Jupiter moons as Altspace rises to fill LEO gap

SpaceQ

Canadian Space Agency Launches Solicitations for Lunar Rover, Synthetic-Aperture Satellite and UK Collaboration The Canadian Space Agency this week released three procurement opportunities: a lunar rover development contract to support future Moon missions, a synthetic-aperture satellite program to enhance Earth observation capabilities, and a cooperative funding call aimed at UK space companies, reinforcing Canada’s international space partnerships.

2025-06-13T16:20:07.338471-07:00

Canadian Space Agency Launches Solicitations for Lunar Rover, Synthetic-Aperture Satellite and UK Collaboration

Space.com

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Webb Captures Silicate Clouds and Moon-Forming Disk in YSES-1 Exoplanet System NASA/ESA/CSA’s James Webb Space Telescope has imaged two young exoplanets orbiting a sun-like star: YSES-1c, whose atmosphere hosts silicate clouds raining like sand, and sibling YSES-1b wrapped in a circumplanetary disk. These observations offer a rare window into early stages of planet and moon formation.

2025-06-11T09:07:15.337377-07:00

Webb Captures Silicate Clouds and Moon-Forming Disk in YSES-1 Exoplanet System

SpaceQ

ESA Selects NUVIEW-Led Team Including SFL Missions for Moonraker Lunar Mapping Concept Study The European Space Agency has selected a team led by NUVIEW GmbH, with SFL Missions Inc. as a partner, to conduct a Pre-Phase A concept study for the Moonraker lunar mapping satellite. The study will define mission architecture and sensor requirements for generating high-resolution lunar surface imagery.

2025-06-10T10:12:23.692795-07:00

ESA Selects NUVIEW-Led Team Including SFL Missions for Moonraker Lunar Mapping Concept Study

Space.com

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ispace’s Resilience lander likely crashes during second lunar touchdown attempt In its second lunar landing attempt, Japan’s ispace has likely crashed its Resilience lander after it failed to decelerate sufficiently during final descent, losing communication minutes before touchdown. Launched as a rideshare alongside Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost, Resilience had lowered its orbit to 100 km but could not achieve required landing speed.

2025-06-05T12:52:52.576817-07:00

ispace’s Resilience lander likely crashes during second lunar touchdown attempt

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