Project News

NASA Continues Work to Command Lunar Trailblazer, Assess Options

Lunar Trailblazer • March 12th, 2025

Efforts to reestablish communications with NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer have continued since mission operators at Caltech’s IPAC lost contact with the small satellite Feb. 27, one...

NASA Continuing Efforts to Contact, Command Lunar Trailblazer

Lunar Trailblazer • March 4th, 2025

The mission operations team for NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer at Caltech’s IPAC is continuing efforts to re-establish communications with the small satellite.

NASA Working to Reestablish Communications With Lunar Trailblazer

Lunar Trailblazer • February 28th, 2025

Following the successful deployment of NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer from a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on Feb. 26, mission operators at Caltech’s IPAC in Pasadena, California,...

Lunar Trailblazer Updates

Lunar Trailblazer • February 27th, 2025

The second stage of the SpaceX Falcon 9 completed its Earth departure burn, and NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer spacecraft has separated from it and is flying independently. The...

6 Things to Know About NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer

Lunar Trailblazer • February 26th, 2025

The small satellite mission will map the Moon to help scientists better understand where its water is, what form it’s in, how much is there, and how it changes over time.

NASA Sets Coverage for Intuitive Machines’ Next Commercial Moon Launch

Lunar Trailblazer • February 21st, 2025

Carrying NASA science and technology to the Moon as part of the agency’s CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) initiative and Artemis campaign, the Intuitive Machines IM-2...

How NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer Will Make a Looping Voyage to the Moon

Lunar Trailblazer • February 13th, 2025

Before arriving at the Moon, the small satellite mission will use the gravity of the Sun, Earth, and Moon over several months to gradually line up for capture into lunar orbit.

How NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer Could Decipher the Moon’s Icy Secrets

Lunar Trailblazer • October 29th, 2024

There’s water on the Moon, but scientists only have a general idea of where it is and what form it is in. A trailblazing NASA mission will get some answers.

NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer Spacecraft Completes Environmental Testing

Lunar Trailblazer • September 16th, 2024

NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer spacecraft recently completed the shaking, chilling, baking, and other testing needed to ensure it can survive launch and the harsh conditions of space....

NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer Gets Final Payload for Moon Water Hunt

Lunar Trailblazer • August 16th, 2023

The spacecraft’s Lunar Thermal Mapper science instrument will work with an imaging spectrometer to help researchers understand the nature of water on the Moon’s surface.