An Australian air crew evacuated a US national in serious condition from Antarctica's McMurdo Station to a New Zealand hospital during a rare, complex midwinter mission in -43C temperatures and near total darkness.
Researchers from China's Harbin Institute of Technology have proposed a system for wirelessly powering lunar rovers using laser beams transmitted from solar-powered stations on sunlit peaks. The strategy, detailed in the Journal of Deep Space Exploration, aims to overcome limitations of cables and batteries for future lunar exploration.
Scientists found that soil studied by India's Chandrayaan-3 rover closely matches the chemical makeup of ALHA 81005, the first meteorite confirmed to be from the Moon. The finding links measurements from the "Shiv Shakti Statio" to the meteorite found in Antarctica, suggesting both represent the same broad category of magnesium-rich lunar crust material.
NASA has launched a website detailing its $20 billion Moon Base program, aiming for a permanent outpost near the lunar South Pole. The plan involves three phases: scouting and tech testing (until 2029), semi-permanent infrastructure (2029-2032), and habitation (from 2032). SpaceX's Starship is a key component.
NASA plans to establish a permanent Moonbase near the south pole by 2032, utilizing resources like water ice for fuel and life support. The multi-phase project involves robotic missions, infrastructure development, and eventually sustained human presence, serving as a stepping stone for Mars exploration and maintaining space leadership.
NASA announces several lunar missions, including three Moon Base missions, to prepare for the 2028 crewed Artemis landing, featuring various landers, rovers, and scientific payloads.
NASA awards contracts to US companies for lunar landers, rovers, and drones, aiming to establish a moon base with the first astronauts landing as early as 2028.
Scientists discovered fossils of an intact temperate rainforest near the South Pole dating back 90 million years to the Cretaceous period. The findings, including a 3-meter root network preserved in mudstone, suggest Antarctica was ice-free and supported dense vegetation with an average annual temperature of 12°C due to higher atmospheric CO2 levels.
