Latest news with #CharlieDuke
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Lunar Lander to launch from Florida's Space Coast
Intuitive Machines is about to launch its second Lunar Lander named Athena. The commercial IM-2 mission will land Athena near the moon's South Pole. Scientists suspect the area may have water ice, a potential resource that can be converted into breathable air, drinking water, or rocket fuel for future missions. The uncrewed lander will carry both NASA and commercial payloads to the lunar surface in preparation for future missions. Apollo 16 Astronaut Charlie Duke is one of only a dozen men to have ever walked on the moon. He also has a special connection to the IM-2 mission. His likeness and the silhouette of retired NASA astronaut Nicole Stott are headed to the lunar surface as part of a Lonestar payload on Athena. 3-D technology was used to create the housing for a data center. At lunar sunrise, it will cast a shadow that forms an image of Duke, and at lunar sunset, it will cast an image of Stott. She told us, 'When you look at what's going on right now, the question about the commercial activities, it's a public private partnership right now that is successful, that is thriving really.' Space Florida President and CEO Rob Long said, 'I think long term you're going to just continue to see growth. I think we see it daily. We've seen it are increase even internally in the clients that we deal with. We have increased year over year. We're going to see maybe close to 140 to 150 launches this year alone.' Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Kansas flags from moon mission donated to Cosmosphere
HUTCHINSON, Kan. (KSNW) – A former NASA astronaut has donated state of Kansas flags that made trips to the moon and back to the Cosmosphere. The space museum and science center has received a donation of 15 Kansas state flags from Charlie Duke, a former NASA astronaut who is one of only 12 men to have walked on the moon. Duke took the flags with him during the Apollo 16 mission in 1972. 'Tangible artifacts that have been to the moon strengthen the connection between present and past, solidifying historic events in our collective memory,' Cosmosphere CEO Jim Remar said in a statement. 'The Cosmosphere will use these flags to continue to inspire the future through space exploration.' How could the halt on pennies affect collectors? At least one of the flags will become part of the Cosmosphere's collection, which includes artifacts from NASA's Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs, along with the largest collection of Soviet space artifacts outside Moscow. Where the remaining flags will go next has yet to be announced. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
