Latest news with #ArtemisProgram
DW
16-05-2025
- Science
- DW
China and Russia plan to build nuclear power station on moon – DW – 05/16/2025
Planned for 2035, the nuclear reactor would power research and exploration of the moon's south pole as part of the the International Lunar Research Station project. What you need to know: China and Russia plan to build a nuclear reactor on the moon by 2035 to power a permanent lunar base. The International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) will rely on the power plant for its scientific research. The IRLS involves over a dozen international partners and is seen as a rival program to NASA's Artemis Program. China and Russia plan to build an automated nuclear power station on the moon by 2035. A memorandum of cooperation for the project was signed between Russia's space agency Roscosmos and the China National Space Administration (CNSA) this week. The power station will be part of the proposed ILRS lunar base and will provide energy to enable long-term lunar exploration and scientific research. ILRS is seen as a rival to the US-led Artemis program, which plans to build an orbital lunar space station called "Gateway" from 2027. Artemis involves NASA and the space agencies of 55 other countries, including European Space Agency member states. What is the International Lunar Research Station? The ILRS project aims to establish a scientific research base on the moon located within 100 kilometers (62 miles) of the lunar south pole. It will feature long-term autonomous operations and short-term human missions. "The station will conduct fundamental space research and test technology for long-term uncrewed operations of the ILRS, with the prospect of a human being's presence on the Moon," Roscosmos said in a statement. Chang'e-6: Is geopolitics harming China-EU lunar mission? To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video First announced in 2017, ILRS includes involvement from Pakistan, Venezuela, Belarus, Azerbaijan, South Africa, Egypt, Nicaragua, Thailand, Serbia, Senegal and Kazakhstan. China will also invite 50 countries, 500 international scientific research institutions and 5,000 overseas researchers to join the ILRS as part of its "555 Project," said Wu Weiren, chief designer of China's lunar exploration program in a statement last year. While the ILRS aims to be a center of scientific research, the Moon's natural resources are also an enticing prospect for spacefaring nations. The moon holds valuable metal oxides, regolith (lunar soil), rare Earth metals, and potentially significant amounts of helium-3, a potential fuel for nuclear fusion power. The question of who can actually own bits of the moon is hotly debated among legal experts. Will China lead future space exploration? ILRS is part of China's mission to be come a leader in space exploration and scientific research. The first pieces are to be laid by China's Chang'e-8 mission in 2028. This will double as China's first attempt landing an astronaut on the lunar surface. China has been landing unmanned rovers on the moon since 2013 and its scientists have led missions that have mapped the lunar surface, including the 'dark side of the moon', which is the lunar hemisphere that always faces away from Earth. In June 2024, China became the first nation to successfully collect rocks from this hemisphere. The mission was hailed by China, with state news agency Xinhua describing it as "an unprecedented feat in human lunar exploration history." Edited by: Matthew Ward Agius
Associated Press
29-04-2025
- Science
- Associated Press
Lunar Resources and NASA Achieve Historic Breakthrough in Lunar Oxygen and Metal Extraction from Regolith Simulant
Houston company and NASA demonstrate full scale extraction of resources from simulated lunar soil 'This monumental achievement, 20 years in the making, is a major leap forward for the lunar community.'— Dr. Alex Ignatiev, CTO of LUNAR HOUSTON, TX, UNITED STATES, April 29, 2025 / / -- Lunar Resources (LUNAR), a Houston-based space industrial company pioneering lunar resource extraction technologies, has achieved a groundbreaking milestone in collaboration with NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC). In December, LUNAR and NASA successfully demonstrated the extraction of oxygen at a commercial scale from simulated lunar soil (regolith) at KSC's Swamp Works. The demonstration showcased LUNAR's LR-1 resource extraction reactor, an advanced system engineered to electrolytically extract oxygen and metals from lunar soil. Conducted in a simulated lunar vacuum environment within KSC's vacuum chamber, the test lasted over 36 hours, processing 25 kilograms (55 lbs) of simulated lunar soil while producing oxygen. 'This marks the first-ever production of oxygen at full scale from lunar soil simulant in a vacuum environment,' said Dr. Alex Ignatiev, LUNAR's Chief Technology Officer. 'This monumental achievement, 20 years in the making, is a major leap forward for the lunar community.' The LR-1 system employs molten regolith electrolysis (MRE), a high-temperature electrolytic process that uses only electric current to separate oxygen and metals from lunar soil. Alongside oxygen extraction, the demonstration produced valuable metals such as iron and silicon, further expanding the potential for lunar resource utilization. The project was jointly funded by NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) Game Changing Development (GCD) program and LUNAR's internal research and development initiatives. Resource extraction from lunar soil is a critical component for achieving lunar sustainability under NASA's Artemis Program. The LR-1 demonstration is the first instance of full-scale extraction of both oxygen and metals from simulated lunar soil, paving the way for a dependable and cost-effective supply of raw materials on the Moon's surface. About Lunar Resources Based in Houston, Texas, Lunar Resources, Inc. is space industrial company developing off-earth industrial technologies that advance the utilization of the resources of space for commercial, scientific, and strategic applications. For more information, please contact [email protected] or visit Elliot Carol Lunar Resources, Inc. [email protected] Visit us on social media: X Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Nominees for Navy secretary, No. 2 Pentagon post to face lawmakers
Senate leaders will hold confirmation hearings this week for a pair of senior Pentagon officials as the chamber continues efforts to get President Donald Trump's key military leadership into office. On Tuesday, the Senate Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing for Stephen Feinberg to be deputy secretary of defense, the second-highest official at the department. Feinberg is the co-founder of the private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management, with a personal net worth in the billions. On Thursday, the committee will consider the nomination of John Pehlan to be Navy Secretary. Like Feinberg, Phelan is the founder of a private investment firm and has no previous military service. Senate leaders have yet to announce the timing of a vote for Trump's pick to lead the Army, Daniel Driscoll, whose confirmation hearing was held Jan. 30. His nomination was advanced by the committee but has not made it to the full chamber floor. House Veterans' Affairs — 3 p.m. — 360 Cannon VA Health Records Department officials will provide updates on the electronic health records modernization effort. Senate Armed Services — 9:30 a.m. — G-50 Dirksen Nominations The committee will consider the nomination of Stephen Feinberg to be Deputy Secretary of Defense. Senate Homeland Security — 9:30 a.m. — 342 Dirksen Nominations The committee will consider the nomination of Troy Edgar to be Homeland Security Deputy Secretary. House Oversight — 10 a.m. — 2247 Rayburn Emerging Global Threats Outside experts will testify on emerging global threats. House and Senate Veterans' Affairs — 10 a.m. — 390 Cannon Veterans Organizations Advocates including Disabled American Veterans, AMVETS, Vietnam Veterans of America and others will present their priorities for 2025. House Veterans' Affairs — 2 p.m. — 360 Cannon Pending Legislation Lawmakers will consider several bills, including the Restore VA Accountability Act of 2025. House Foreign Affairs — 2 p.m. — 2172 Rayburn Pacific Region Outside experts will testify on U.S. policy in the Pacific region House Appropriations — 3 p.m. — H-140 Capitol Member Day Lawmakers will offer their priorities for the fiscal 2026 defense budget. House and Senate Veterans' Affairs — 10 a.m. — 390 Cannon Veterans Organizations Advocates including the American Legion, Minority Veterans of America, and Military Officers Association of America will present their priorities for 2025. House Science — 10 a.m. — 2318 Rayburn NASA Artemis Program Outside experts will discuss NASA goals for the upcoming Artemis program. House Armed Services — 10 a.m. — 2118 Rayburn Defense Industrial Base Outside experts will testify on issues with the defense industrial base. House Oversight — 11 a.m. — Visitors Center H210 U.S. Foreign Aid Outside experts will testify on concerns with U.S. foreign aid practices. House Armed Services — 1:30 p.m. — 2118 Rayburn Special Operations Officials from the services' special forces branches will testify on challenges and successes in their missions. Senate Homeland Security — 9 a.m. — 342 Dirksen Nominations The committee will vote on the nomination of Troy Edgar to be Homeland Security Deputy Secretary. Senate Armed Services — 9:30 a.m. — G-50 Dirksen Phelan Nomination The committee will consider the nomination of John Phelan to be Secretary of the Navy.
Yahoo
04-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
NASA Is In Tatters
The future of NASA is uncertain, with the chaotic start of president Donald Trump's second term raising plenty of unanswered questions regarding the space agency's fate. Amid a leadership vacuum, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk — who's effectively calling the shots for the federal government at the moment — has yet to clarify what's to become of some of the biggest hallmark projects the space agency has been working on for decades now. As Ars Technica's Eric Berger points out, it's not a stretch to assume that Musk's private space venture will determine where NASA is headed next, with both him and Trump reiterating their desire to deliver humans to Mars, which could come at the cost of NASA's Moon program. Trump also nominated billionaire tech founder — and SpaceX space tourist — Jared Isaacman as the next head of NASA, suggesting an increasingly close relationship between the agency and one of its biggest contractors. But, typifying the chaos surrounding the Trump administration, when Isaacson will actually take over the agency remains unclear. Add it all up, and there's so much uncertainty that morale at NASA is "absurdly low," as one NASA source told Berger. We don't know what will happen to NASA's already ill-fated Mars Sample Return plan, we don't know if the space agency will keep supporting operations on board the International Space Station, and we don't know what will happen to the Artemis Program, nevermind what role SpaceX will play in all of this. The agency is essentially in limbo right now, with interim administrator Janet Petro busying herself with clearing the agency of any references to the administration's current boogeyman: "diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility." The warning signs of a SpaceX takeover are certainly there. According to Ars, Petro announced on Friday that former SpaceX head of human spaceflight programs Michael Altenhofen had been appointed as a "senior advisor to the NASA administrator." Isaacman will have a busy schedule as he picks up the pieces. Many signs point toward a greatly diminished role of scientific research, with NASA directing a number of science committees to pause their work, citing recent Trump executive orders. Meanwhile, Musk has made a big deal out of "rescuing" NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who have been stranded on board the International Space Station since last summer due to issues plaguing Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. That's despite the pair having been scheduled back in August to board a Crew Dragon spacecraft for their return sometime next month. NASA's international collaborators, including the European Space Agency, are waiting in the wings, trying to get a clearer picture of the chaos going on behind the scenes and how that may affect future partnerships. Despite a geopolitically fraught couple of weeks, Isaacman has remained surprisingly quiet, retweeting archival pictures of Air Force jets instead of weighing in on the chaos in DC. Add it all up, and the state of the United States space program is in tatters. Will NASA still attempt to land the first astronauts on the surface of the Moon in over half a century in the next two and a half years? Or will SpaceX's priorities supersede the agency's? Right now, virtually any outcome seems to be on the table. In other words, we should learn to expect the unexpected. More on NASA: Trump Begins Purge of DEI NASA Employees
