NASA is moving ahead with PROMISE, a lunar rover mission built largely from hardware originally meant to support Mars exploration. The agency says the vehicle will aim to launch in 2028 and spend 18 months exploring the Moon’s south pole.
A Mars testbed heads to the Moon
PROMISE will draw on the testbed rovers engineers have used to troubleshoot problems encountered by the Perseverance and Curiosity missions on Mars. These Earth-based vehicles will be combined with copies of the science instruments developed for NASA’s VIPER rover, along with other hardware.
The approach was initially presented as a way to save money. The Planetary Society has since concluded that PROMISE would cost more than that original framing suggested. The source material does not give a figure for the mission’s cost.
NASA opens a new astronaut application round
NASA has also begun accepting applications for its next group of astronauts. The deadline is Dec. 3, and the agency plans to announce selections next year.
Voyager 1 nears a one light-day milestone
Voyager 1 is set to reach a distance of one light-day from Earth on Nov. 18, meaning light from Earth would take a full day to reach the spacecraft. It will be the first human-made object to reach that mark.
The Planetary Society plans to mark the occasion with a livestream featuring Voyager mission leaders and members of the science team. It will be available through the organization’s online member community and on YouTube. Space artist Don Davis, a recent guest on the society’s Planetary Radio podcast, will also take part and unveil a new artwork commemorating the milestone.
Source: www.planetary.org
