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Moon Landing

Space trackers and trailblazers reunite to celebrate Australia's starring role in lunar history

It's been six decades since NASA first touched down in outback WA, and it's given current and former residents of Carnarvon plenty of reasons to celebrate.
A large rocket and satellite dish point upwards into the evening sky.

Apollo 8 astronaut William Anders dies in plane crash aged 90

The 90-year-old was piloting the plane when it crashed in Washington state.
Three men in space suits, crouch down while smiling.

Footage shows China's spacecraft landing on far side of the Moon

Footage of China's uncrewed spacecraft landing on the far side of the Moon has been released by Chinese media. 
Grainy footage of the lunar surface with Chinese news graphics overlayed on it.

US Moon lander mission cut short after landing sideways as Japan's lander survives another lunar night

A private US Moon lander is expected to stop working days before originally planned, while a Japanese one is again showing signs of life.
A close up photo taken by a lunar lander near the surface of the Moon

US back on the Moon for the first time in 52 years, and Australian scientists helped it get there

Scientists from the CSIRO and Parkes Observatory have helped the United States land a craft on the Moon, part of a plan to send humans there for the first time since the Apollo missions.
Updated
A spaceship looking back to Australia

Private company makes first US Moon landing in more than 50 years — as it happened

Intuitive Machines has become the first private company to land on the Moon, and the first US mission on the lunar surface in decades. 
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A close up of a robotic lander in space orbiting the Moon, which is in the background

Private US moon lander reaches lunar orbit ahead of touchdown attempt

A moon lander has reached lunar orbit, heading for an attempt at the first US touchdown on Earth's nearest celestial neighbour in more than 50 years.
A spacecraft with the earth in the background

After initial failure, Japan successfully launches new H3 space rocket

The launch further enhances the country's space credentials, following the historic "pinpoint" moon landing of Japan's SLIM spacecraft last month.
An H3 rocket lifts off at Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima, southern Japan.

SpaceX launches Intuitive Machines' lunar craft in latest attempt for first successful commercial Moon landing

Only five countries have scored a successful lunar landing and no private business has done it yet. 
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A large rocket launch platform at night

Japan becomes fifth country to land on the Moon, but probe can't generate solar power

Japan's space agency says it hopes a shift in the sunlight's angle will hit the solar panels of its 'Moon sniper' in a way that can restore its functions.
The SLIM spacecraft is mounted onto a large launcher that is illuminated while at a launch site in the dark night sky.

First US lunar lander in more than 50 years rockets towards the Moon, carrying miniature cars and human remains

Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic Technology aims to be the first private company to successfully land on the Moon, something only four countries have accomplished.
A large white rocket blasts off a launchpad in a cloud of smoke and flames at night.

Two companies will attempt the first US Moon landings since the Apollo missions

Two private companies in the US are attempting the country's first Moon landing since its Apollo program ended more than five decades ago.
A space craft in a room with an American flag on the wall

The race to build a petrol station on the Moon

The Moon used to be cool, then not so much. But after the discovery of water at the Lunar poles, a new race is on to claim the caps as a potential fuel source for deeper space exploration. India, China, USA and Russia are all planning missions to Moontarctica to stake their claim. The 100-year-old work of a scientist is to thank for many of the discoveries powering modern space travel, even though he was dismissed in his own time. In this episode of ‘If You’re Listening’ Matt Bevan looks at the past, present and future of space exploration.
ABC News Current
Duration: 15 minutes 45 seconds

Robert Goddard's ideas were mocked a century ago. Now, his ideas will help build a petrol station on the Moon

When Robert Goddard thought he'd figured out how to get humans into space in 1920, the press called his ideas "absurd". Now, his ideas about rocket propulsion will help us create a petrol station on the Moon.
Man in suit points to chalkboard.

Japan is aiming to be the fifth country on the Moon, but that's not why this landing is significant

Dubbed the "moon sniper", Japan aims to land the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon within 100 metres of its target site on the lunar surface — significantly more precise than the usual landing range of several kilometres. 
A rocket with fire and smoke coming out from under in a white sand land

'Witnessing history': India celebrates being first to ever land on south pole of the Moon

India becomes the first country to land near the Moon's south pole, just days after a Russian spacecraft crashed trying to reach the area.
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India moon lander's view of the moon from space.

It's been more than 50 years since humans walked on the Moon. So what's behind the new lunar race?

The race to land on the Moon has started again, with countries like India and Russia eyeing its resources. Here's what we know about past landings, and what future missions will focus on.
A large space craft rocketing through clouds in the sky, with flames coming from its engine exhausts

Indian lunar rocket looking for safe landing place, systems working 'perfectly'

India launched a Moon rocket for less than the cost of a Hollywood space film and it's sent back new pictures of the far side of the lunar surface as it looks for a safe place to land. 
A grey and white image shows craters and ridges on the surface of the moon.

India and Russia expected to land on Moon in coming days, amid race to find water on lunar south pole

India's space agency releases images of the Moon as its craft approaches the lunar south pole, a previously unexplored region where Russia is trying to land first.
A large space craft rocketing through clouds in the sky, with flames coming from its engine exhausts

'A safe and soft landing on lunar surface': India's latest mission to Moon blasts off

India aims to become just the fourth nation, along with the United States, the former Soviet Union and China, to land spacecraft on the Moon as it tests technology it hopes to use in future interplanetary missions.
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A large white space rocket leave a trail of flames and smoke as it flies into clouds and up into the sky.

NASA's Orion homeward bound after approaching the Moon

The capsule is returning to Earth after sailing within 130km of the lunar surface, taking the closest photos of the Moon from a 'human-rated' spacecraft since Apollo.
ABC News Current
Duration: 1 minute 57 seconds

NASA's Artemis marks 'brand-new era' of civilisation

NASA's next-generation rocket has launched to the moon, and Astrophysicist Dr Sara Webb says it marks a "brand-new era" in civilisation.
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ABC News Current
Duration: 3 minutes 59 seconds

Branson plans space trip for next month, pipping Bezos by a week

British mogul Richard Branson has one-upped rival Jeff Bezos, announcing he will blast into space as many as nine days ahead of the Amazon founder.
Richard Branson standing at a podium about to do a press conference.

China's Chang'e 5 probe returns to Earth with 2kg of Moon rocks

A Chinese lunar capsule returns to Earth with the first fresh samples of rock and debris from the Moon in more than 40 years.
Graphic image of an orbiter in space

China unfurls flag on Moon during Chang'e 5 mission

Images released by China's space agency appear to show the communist country's flag flying on the moon shortly before a probe sent to collect lunar rocks launched its return mission to Earth.
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Chinese flag on moon