https://spacewatch.global/tag/lunar-exploration/ AN INDEPENDENT PERSPECTIVE ON SPACE Wed, 29 Apr 2026 10:51:22 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://spacewatch.global/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SpaceWatchGlobal-Sign-90x90.png https://spacewatch.global/tag/lunar-exploration/ 32 32 https://spacewatch.global/2026/04/space-cafe-radio-with-dr-daniel-baker/ Wed, 29 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=73426 Torsten Kriening sits down with Dr. Daniel Baker, Director of the Space Policy Center at CU Boulder, recorded just hours before Artemis 2's splashdown. Discover why engineers need policy thinking, how Colorado became a unique hub for space governance, and why the Outer Space Treaty alone isn't enough for the commercial space era.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/04/space-symposium-2026-cospar-science-shaping-lunar-policy-the-next-generation/ Thu, 16 Apr 2026 08:35:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=73048 At Space Symposium 2026, Yvette Gonzalez spoke with Pascale Ehrenfreund, President of Committee on Space Research, about the growing role of science in guiding space policy and exploration.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/02/spacewatchgl-europes-space-pivot-from-esas-science-logic-to-national-security-logic/ Tue, 17 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=71269
Written by Niels Buus
Germany has signaled plans to invest around €35 billion through 2030 in space-related defence capabilities. The number matters not only because it is unprecedented in a European context, but because it is strategically framed: sovereignty, resilience, protection, and military readiness. This is the point: space in Europe is moving from “science-first” to “security-first.”]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/09/spacewatchgl-opinion-the-end-of-spectacle-the-rise-of-substance/ Wed, 10 Sep 2025 08:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=67586
Written by François Dubrulle
For nearly two decades, “New Space” has been the darling of investors, policymakers, and the media. The story was compelling: strip away the bureaucratic weight of government programs, move fast with small teams, prototype cheaply, fail quickly, and disrupt an industry that had seemed untouchable since the Apollo era. Silicon Valley’s mantras were transplanted onto the launchpad. And for a while, the narrative worked.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/09/space-cafe-radio-with-marcin-mazur/ Thu, 04 Sep 2025 08:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=67356 In this episode of Space Café Radio, host Torsten Kriening is joined by Colonel Marcin Mazur of Polish Space Agency (POLSA) to explore Poland’s fast-rising role in space. Almost half a century after its first astronaut flew into orbit, Poland has returned to human spaceflight with the AX-4 mission – a highly symbolic step that signals the nation’s ambition to be a full partner in global space exploration. But this milestone is only one part of a much broader national effort.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/09/spacewatchgl-opinion-the-stars-align-for-a-record-breaking-breaking-75th-international-astronautical-congress/ Thu, 26 Sep 2024 08:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=61156 During the week 14 – 18 October 2024 Milan transforms into the world's space capital with the arrival of thousands of experts, scientists, industry professionals, and, of course, astronauts!]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/02/spacewatchgl-geopolitics-japans-moon-landings-was-it-a-success/ Wed, 07 Feb 2024 09:30:17 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=53540 The JAXA SLIM (Smart Lander for Investigating Moon) mission soft-landed on the Moon on the night of Friday 18 to Saturday 19 January 2024 Japan Standard Time. JAXA would eventually confirm a successful precision landing for SLIM a few hours later. SLIM landed, but had an “attitude problem,” its position preventing its solar cells from receiving proper illumination.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2023/10/lunar-exploration-boost-space-exploration-funding/ Mon, 02 Oct 2023 06:00:32 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=51447 Euroconsult has published the fourth edition of its 'Prospects for Space Exploration' market intelligence report. The market report positions lunar exploration as the catalyst behind an unprecedented surge in the space exploration sector. This consequently led to a global Government investment rise to an impressive $26 billion during 2023.  Ambitious lunar missions will potentially also boost investment to nearly $33 billion by 2032, a growth trajectory which underscores lunar exploration's pivotal role in shaping the future of space exploration. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2022/08/hyundai-motor-and-kia-to-develop-lunar-surface-exploration-mobility/ Thu, 04 Aug 2022 06:00:35 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=42536 Hyundai Motor and Kia signed joint research agreements with six Korean research institutes and formed a consultative body to develop mobility solutions to explore the surface of the Moon, the companies said. The firms are planning to expand the scope of human movement beyond Earth as part of their vision for robotics and metamobility. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2021/06/brazil-is-the-twelfth-country-to-sign-artemis/ Wed, 16 Jun 2021 06:00:28 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=33689&preview=true&preview_id=33689 Brazil is next: the country signed the Artemis Accords, “affirming its commitment to ensuring sustainable space exploration that adheres to a common set of principles benefiting all of humanity”, the U.S. space agency NASA said. Marcos Pontes, Brazil’s Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, signed the document during a ceremony with President Jair Bolsonaro and other officials, NASA said.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2020/09/boeing-to-face-independent-ethics-probe-over-lunar-lander-bid-reuters-reports/ Mon, 14 Sep 2020 05:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=26063&preview=true&preview_id=26063 Boeing to face independent ethics probe over lunar lander bid, Reuters reports]]> https://spacewatch.global/2020/08/space-cafe-webtalk-recap-christopher-johnson-on-lunar-exploration-governance/ Thu, 06 Aug 2020 14:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=24910&preview=true&preview_id=24910 In this week’s Space Cafè WebTalk, Christopher Johnson, Space Law Advisor at the Secure World Foundation talked about issues of developing the next phase of governance for space activities.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2020/06/esa-seeks-ideas-for-exploring-the-moon-with-a-large-european-lander/ Mon, 01 Jun 2020 05:00:41 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=23035 The European Space Agency (ESA) is asking "What would you do with a large European lander on the Moon?"]]> https://spacewatch.global/2020/05/maxar-to-support-dynetics-in-designing-and-building-lunar-human-landing-system-for-nasa/ Tue, 05 May 2020 05:00:41 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=22139 Maxar Technologies, a trusted partner and innovator in Earth Intelligence and Space Infrastructure, announced on 1 May 2020 that it has been selected to support Dynetics, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Leidos, in designing and building a Human Landing System for NASA's Artemis program, which will send the first woman and the next man to the Moon by 2024 and enable future crewed missions to Mars.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2020/05/luxembourg-joins-the-international-space-exploration-coordination-group/ Mon, 04 May 2020 05:00:52 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=22116 The International Space Exploration Coordination Group (ISECG), which has recently released its annual report, is an international forum for promoting coordinated efforts toward human and robotic space exploration on and around the Moon and Mars.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2020/05/nasa-names-companies-to-develop-human-landers-for-artemis-moon-missions/ Mon, 04 May 2020 05:00:49 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=22118 NASA has selected three U.S. companies to design and develop human landing systems (HLS) for the agency’s Artemis program, one of which will land the first woman and next man on the surface of the Moon by 2024. NASA is on track for sustainable human exploration of the Moon for the first time in history.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2020/04/nasa-cubesat-will-shine-a-laser-light-on-the-moons-darkest-craters/ Wed, 29 Apr 2020 05:00:31 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=22003 As astronauts explore the Moon during the Artemis program, they may need to make use of the resources that already exist on the lunar surface.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2020/04/help-pave-the-way-for-artemis-send-nasa-your-mini-moon-payload-designs/ Tue, 14 Apr 2020 05:00:47 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=21493 Future exploration of the Moon and beyond will require tools of all shapes and sizes — from sweeping orbiters to the tiniest of rovers.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2020/04/nasa-awards-artemis-contract-for-gateway-logistics-services-to-spacex/ Wed, 01 Apr 2020 05:00:53 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=21093 NASA announced on 27 March 2020 hat it has selected SpaceX as the first U.S. commercial provider under the Gateway Logistics Services contract to deliver cargo, experiments and other supplies to the agency’s Gateway in lunar orbit.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2020/03/orion-spacecraft-for-artemis-i-mission-successfully-completes-major-testing/ Thu, 19 Mar 2020 06:00:28 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=20704 The Orion spacecraft for NASA’s Artemis I mission has successfully completed several months of simulated space environment system level testing in the NASA-owned thermal vacuum chamber at Plum Brook Station in Ohio, according to a 16 March 2020 announcement by Airbus.]]>