Moon

Scientists say a giant impact knocked off the raw ingredients for the moon off the primitive molten Earth and into orbit.

Related Topics: Earth, Apollo Program, Moon Phases 

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Rwanda Space Agency Director-General Colonel Francis Ngabo (L) and Nigerian Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Isa Ali Ibrahim (R) sign on to the Artemis Accords as NASA Administrator Bill Nelson (R) and Assistant Secretary of State Monica Medina watch, during the Space Forum at the U.S. - Africa Leaders Summit on December 13, 2022 in Washington, DC.

Nigeria, Rwanda become 1st African nations to sign Artemis Accords

By Andrew Jones published

The two countries are the 22nd and 23rd signatories of the NASA-led accords.

This montage of photos from South Korea's Danuri moon orbiter shows views of the Earth and moon taken on Sept. 24, 2022 as the spacecraft was between 1.5 million miles away.

South Korea's 1st moon probe Danuri begins to enter lunar orbit

By Andrew Jones published

Danuri, South Korea's first deep-space exploration mission, arrived at the moon on Friday (Dec. 16), four months after lifting off.

The last quarter moon as seen over the Moroccan capital Rabat on Aug. 6, 2012, shows the lunar face in stunning detail with lunar craters clearly visible.

See the final last quarter moon of 2022 rise tonight (Dec. 16)

By Robert Lea published

The moon will be exactly half illuminated during 2022's final last quarter moon on Friday (Dec. 16)

A piece of the moon returned by the Apollo 17 astronauts 50 years ago is finally ready for its official presentation to the people of Cyprus.

50 years late, US gifts Apollo 17 moon rock to people of Cyprus

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

It took 50 years, but a moon rock intended as a goodwill gift to the people of Cyprus is finally being presented to the island nation. The lunar sample will be handed over in Nicosia.

NASA's Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft was successfully recovered inside the well deck of the USS Portland on Dec. 11, 2022 off the coast of Baja California. The Portland made it to port in San Diego two days later.

NASA's Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft reaches port in San Diego

By Mike Wall published

NASA's Artemis 1 Orion capsule made it to port in San Diego on Tuesday (Dec. 13), two days after wrapping up its historic moon mission.

The Hakuto-R moon lander, which is operated by Tokyo-based company ispace, snapped this photo of Earth about 19 hours after separating from its SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The spacecraft launched on Dec. 11, 2022.

Private Japanese moon lander snaps 1st photos in deep space

By Mike Wall published

The Hakuto-R lander has snapped its first photos since launching atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on Sunday morning (Dec. 11).

NASA's Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft with the crescent Earth in the background on Dec. 10, 2022.

NASA's Artemis 1 moon mission was epic and you can relive it in this highlight video

By Elizabeth Howell published

Ride to space and back again in the Artemis 1 footage, which showcases views of Earth, the moon and NASA's new Space Launch System rocket.

The Earth and moon as seen from the Orion spacecraft during its Artemis 1 mission.

After Artemis 1, it will take NASA 2 years to send astronauts to the moon. Why so long?

By Josh Dinner published

With Artemis 1 now in the books, the focus is quickly shifting to the Artemis program's next phase: crewed flight. But that can't happen until several pieces fall into place.

A view of Earth from NASA's Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft as it approached its home planet on Dec. 11, 2022.

NASA is over the moon with success of Artemis 1 Orion test flight

By Mike Wall published

NASA's Artemis 1 moon mission wrapped up with a Pacific Ocean splashdown on Sunday (Dec. 11), and NASA couldn't be happier with how everything went.

NASA's Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft floats in the Pacific Ocean after a successful splashdown on Dec. 11, 2022.

VP Kamala Harris hails NASA Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft's splashdown success

By Elizabeth Howell published

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, who also chairs the National Space Council, congratulated NASA for completing the Artemis 1 uncrewed mission around the moon Sunday (Dec. 11).

earth as a crescent disk with orion in the foreground

Behold! This is the last view of Earth from space from NASA's Artemis 1 Orion (video)

By Elizabeth Howell published

NASA's Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft captured gorgeous views of our home planet in the last hours before splashdown Sunday (Dec. 11).

NASA's Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft floats in the Pacific Ocean after a successful splashdown on Dec. 11, 2022.

Watch live as NASA recovers the Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft after smooth splashdown today

By Mike Wall last updated

NASA's Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft will return to Earth on Sunday (Dec. 11) after nearly a month in space, and you can watch the homecoming live.

At 12:40 p.m. EST, Dec. 11, 2022, NASA’s Orion spacecraft for the Artemis I mission splashed down in the Pacific Ocean after a 25.5 day mission to the Moon. Orion will be recovered by NASA’s Landing and Recovery team, U.S. Navy and Department of Defense partners aboard the USS Portland ship.

Splashdown! NASA's Artemis 1 Orion capsule lands in Pacific to end epic moon mission

By Mike Wall published

An uncrewed Orion capsule splashed down in the Pacific Ocean this afternoon (Dec. 11), bringing a successful end to NASA's historic Artemis 1 moon mission.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches the Hakuto-R moon lander for the Japanese company ispace from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Dec. 11, 2022.

SpaceX launches Japanese lander, UAE rover to the moon

By Mike Wall published

On Sunday morning (Dec. 11), a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched a private Japanese moon lander that's carrying a UAE rover, among other payloads.

Tokyo-based company ispace's Hakuto-R moon lander is seen here being readied for its liftoff atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, which is scheduled for Nov. 30, 2022.

SpaceX will launch Japanese moon lander, UAE rover early Sunday. Here's how to watch.

By Mike Wall published

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a Japanese lander and UAE rover to the moon early Sunday (Dec. 11), and you can watch the action live.

NASA's Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft has carried secret messages to the moon. Now that the mission is nearing its end, NASA has revealed the meanings behind the "Easter eggs" in Orion.

Orion's 'Easter eggs' revealed: NASA flew secret messages to the moon on Artemis 1

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

It can now be revealed that NASA's Orion spacecraft carried secret messages to the moon on its Artemis 1 mission. What's more, the hidden notes were in plain sight the entire time.

NASA's Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft with the crescent Earth in the background on Dec. 10, 2022.

What time does the Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft splash down on Dec. 11 to end NASA's moon mission?

By Tariq Malik published

NASA's Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft will end a 26-day mission to the moon on Sunday, Dec. 11, and here's what time to watch.

A view from inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Dec. 9, 2022, as the mobile launcher approaches, carried atop the crawler-transporter 2 vehicle..

NASA rolls Artemis 1's huge launch tower off pad for repairs, upgrades (photos)

By Mike Wall published

The huge tower that supported the epic liftoff of NASA's Artemis 1 moon mission last month has left the launch pad.

Artist illustration of Orion skipping off the atmosphere.

Here's how NASA's Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft will splash down to end its moon mission in 8 not-so-easy steps

By Elizabeth Howell published

The Artemis 1 mission will end nearly a month in space with a series of wild landing steps, from skipping off of Earth's atmosphere to splashing down in the ocean.

orion spacecraft with moon far below. two big craters are visible amid a field of other divots

NASA's Artemis 1 moon mission is going so well that engineers added more Orion tests (video)

By Elizabeth Howell published

NASA is deep into planning the first crewed excursion of the Artemis program as Artemis 1, which surpassed expectations, targets a splashdown and end of mission Sunday (Dec. 11).