A single destination for timely, editor-curated robotics news from around the world.
The Griffin lunar lander, developed by Voyager Technologies, has successfully passed a series of critical tests at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California. These tests simulated the extreme conditions the spacecraft will encounter during its journey to the moon, including tempe...
Firefly Aerospace has successfully completed a preliminary design review (PDR) for NASA's MoonFall mission, which aims to deploy four robotic drones over the Moon's south pole by late 2028. This milestone allows Firefly to proceed to the next design phase before hardware production begins. The sign...
Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) has announced plans to conduct high-performance computing benchmarks on the Moon’s surface with its Spaceborne Computer-4. Scheduled for a late 2026 mission aboard Astrolab’s FLIP rover, this initiative is part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) progr...
On October 6, Jupiter will appear to vanish from the predawn sky as the crescent moon passes in front of it. This lunar occultation will be visible across parts of North America, with the best views in the eastern and central eastern U.S. and southern Canada. The event is a rare opportunity for star...
On October 5, early risers can witness a close alignment of Mars and a 30% illuminated crescent moon in the east-northeast sky after 2 a.m. local daylight time. Mars, currently 152 million miles from Earth, has been gradually becoming more prominent in the morning sky since summer began. This celes...
On October 6, 2023, observers in the eastern and central U.S. and southern Canada can witness Jupiter disappearing behind a slender crescent moon. The event will occur around 3:15 a.m. local daylight time in Memphis, Tennessee, where Jupiter will slip behind the moon's bright limb and reappear appro...
The Harvest Moon, which occurs closest to the autumnal equinox, will be fully illuminated on September 26 this year. Its name reflects its historical significance for farmers who relied on its light to harvest crops after sunset. Unlike other full moons, the Harvest Moon rises shortly after sunset f...
The SETI Institute has proposed a novel idea to search for microscopic technosignatures in moon dust, which may indicate the presence of alien technology. Led by Affiliate Scientist Lewis Pinault, the research suggests that the moon has been accumulating material from space for billions of years, po...
The humanoid robotics industry is at a pivotal transition from performance-based demonstrations to practical applications. For too long, humanoid robots have been criticized for being visually impressive yet impractical, with a focus on showmanship rather than real-world utility. The recent World Ro...
Moonshot AI has announced that the Kimi K2.8 Preview is now fully available for users of Kimi Code and Work. This update brings significant improvements, including coding and agent enhancements that are comparable to the flagship K3 model, adjustable thinking capabilities, and a context limit of 1 m...
A team from Texas A&M University has developed RoboBall, a 1.8-meter diameter inflatable robot designed to traverse diverse terrains on the Moon. This innovative approach, which began as a NASA project in 2003, aims to address the critical challenge of tipping over faced by traditional wheeled or le...
Moonshot AI is in discussions with major cloud providers Microsoft, Amazon, and Google to secure a revenue share of up to 30% from the deployment of its Kimi K3 model. This initiative marks a significant milestone as it represents the first time a Chinese AI model is being introduced to US hyperscal...
Firefly Aerospace plans to send a nuclear-powered heating technology to the Moon in 2028, aiming to test spacecraft survival during the lunar night’s extreme cold. This initiative involves Zeno Power Systems' Survive-the-Night Package, which will be launched aboard the Blue Ghost mission, addressing...
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) has successfully imaged the impact site of the Falcon 9 upper stage that collided with the moon on August 5. The spacecraft captured detailed photos of the newly formed crater near Einstein Crater, measuring approximately 60 feet wide and less than 10 feet d...
On August 5, a 4.5-ton SpaceX rocket body impacted the moon near Einstein Crater, an event recorded by South Korea's Danuri spacecraft and NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. The Falcon 9 upper stage, which had been in space for over a year, previously launched Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost-1 land...
China is preparing to send robot dogs to the Moon as part of its International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) initiative, aiming for completion by 2035. These quadruped robots are envisioned to assist astronauts in research and emotional support, enhancing the human experience in space. The integrat...
On August 9, 1976, the Soviet Union launched Luna 24, its last moon mission, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. This robotic sample return mission successfully landed on the lunar surface nine days later, collecting 6 ounces (170.1 grams) of soil samples from Mare Crisium. The significance of Luna 24 li...
The Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter, Danuri, has successfully identified the impact crater created by SpaceX's Falcon 9 upper stage on the moon. This event occurred early on August 5, 2026, when the Falcon 9, which had launched on January 15, 2025, collided with the lunar surface. Danuri conducted ei...
In the early hours of August 5, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket's upper stage crashed into the moon at approximately 5,400 mph. This incident has prompted lunar orbiters, including NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and the Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter, to capture imagery of the impact site. The availab...
On August 5, 2025, the upper stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is set to collide with the moon, creating a crater approximately 89 feet wide. This unexpected trajectory change occurred after the rocket, which launched two lunar landers, was left in a high-Earth orbit due to fuel constraints. The si...
Moonshot AI has made its Kimi K3 model available through Fireworks AI on Microsoft's Foundry platform, enabling Azure customers to utilize the model via OpenAI-compatible APIs. This integration allows companies to transition open models from evaluation to production without the need for managing the...
Moonshot AI has released a comprehensive 47-page technical report on the K3 project, highlighting several innovative technologies. Key features include the KDA+Gated MLA hybrid attention mechanism, AttnRes cross-layer retrieval, and Stable LatentMoE, which utilizes 896 experts. Additionally, the rep...
Microsoft is currently evaluating Moonshot AI's Kimi K3 for potential integration into its Copilot system, as reported by The Information. The company is assessing whether Kimi K3 could handle some inference requests currently managed by OpenAI and Anthropic models, although no final decision has be...
KAIST has unveiled its latest humanoid robot, Humanoid v0.9, which can push objects weighing up to 35 kg and lift items up to 20 kg. This was showcased in a demonstration video released on October 19, highlighting the robot's ability to manipulate objects while arranging the letters 'KAIST'. The si...
NASA's Dexterous Robotics Team is preparing humanoid robots to assist in future lunar and Martian missions. These robots will take on dangerous tasks, allowing human explorers to focus on their strengths. The initiative aims to enhance safety and sustainability in extreme environments, reducing risk...
General Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, emphasized the need for the U.S. military to prepare for engagements extending into cislunar space during a keynote address at the Air & Space Forces Association's conference on September 16. He noted that the modern battlefield now spans...
Navigating unfamiliar terrains can be difficult, particularly in environments like the Moon's surface. The use of AI technology is being explored to enhance navigation capabilities in such challenging landscapes. This advancement is significant as it could lead to improved exploration and research...
NASA has initiated a project named 'Interworld Slingshot Resource Surveys' to explore mineral mapping on celestial bodies, including the moon. This initiative aims to replicate the success of the Landsat satellites, which have been monitoring Earth for over 50 years, by providing crucial mineral int...
NASA is set to launch the Cooperative Autonomous Distributed Robotic Exploration (CADRE) mission, sending three small rovers to the Moon in late 2026. These rovers will autonomously explore a designated area, coordinating tasks and electing a leader without human intervention. This mission aims to a...
NASA is funding the SPARK project, which aims to deploy swarms of silent, spherical aerobots to explore the underground caves of Titan, Saturn's largest moon. Led by Daniel Drew from the University of Hawaii at Mānoa, the project utilizes electrohydrodynamic (EHD) propulsion, allowing for maneuverab...
NASA is funding the development of spherical 'Aerobots' known as SPARK, designed for exploring the caves of Titan, Saturn's moon. These small flying vehicles aim to navigate Titan's unique hydrocarbon terrain, which is challenging for traditional rovers. Project lead Daniel Drew from the University...
MIT Lincoln Laboratory is developing the Light High-Orbit Utility Signal Emitter (LightHOUSE) to enhance navigation in cislunar space. This initiative aims to address the limitations of current navigation systems, which rely on NASA's Deep Space Network (DSN) and can take hours for orbit determinati...
During SpaceX's quarterly earnings call on August 4, Elon Musk announced plans to establish factories on the moon, utilizing robots for heavy lifting. This initiative aims to support the production of Starmind AI satellites, with a goal of deploying a million-satellite constellation in Earth's orbit...
NASA's Juno spacecraft has successfully measured temperatures beneath the surface of Jupiter's moon Io, marking the first time scientists have glimpsed the hidden heat that drives its intense volcanic activity. During close flybys in late 2023 and early 2024, Juno's Microwave Radiometer (MWR) instru...
Moonshot AI has introduced Kimi K3, a groundbreaking 2.8 trillion-parameter open-source AI model, marking it as the largest of its kind to date. This model is designed to handle complex workflows and features a one-million-token context window, enabling it to perform tasks significantly faster than...
As humanity explores the possibility of reaching Titan, Saturn's largest moon, a debate has emerged regarding the potential for human presence versus the use of AI-powered humanoid robots for the journey. Experts in space exploration are considering the feasibility of sending humans to Titan, a loca...
IEEE Spectrum robotics has released its latest edition of Video Friday, showcasing a variety of innovative robotics videos and announcing upcoming events in the field. Notable events include the RSS 2026 conference in Sydney from July 13-17, the Summer School on Multi-Robot Systems in Prague from Ju...
On June 3, 2023, stargazers around the globe were captivated by the sight of the full moon, which rose low in the sky, creating a breathtaking celestial spectacle. This event drew the attention of astronomy enthusiasts and casual observers alike, who shared their stunning photographs of the moon's a...
Amateur astronomers captured remarkable footage of the Tiangong space station as it made its transit near Tycho Crater on the Moon. This event took place recently, showcasing the station's impressive journey across the lunar landscape. The footage highlights the growing interest and involvement of a...
In June, the Northern Hemisphere will witness the rise and set of the Strawberry Moon, which is notable for its unusually low trajectory across the sky. This celestial event challenges the perception that all full moons appear identical, as the Strawberry Moon takes on a distinct path that highlight...
A spent upper stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is expected to collide with the moon in August, raising questions among experts about the visibility of the event from Earth. The impact, resulting from the upper stage's trajectory, highlights the growing concern over space debris and its potential ef...
Surgical Robotics Technology announced the winners of the Surgical Robotics Industry Awards 2026 today, highlighting outstanding achievements in the field. The awards celebrate the significant contributions made by individuals, organizations, and innovative technologies that have advanced the surgic...
Engineers at the European Space Agency (ESA) are currently in the process of assembling a highly sophisticated robotic arm designed for future space missions. This advanced technology aims to enhance the capabilities of European spacecraft, allowing for more complex tasks in orbit and on planetary s...
Astrobotic has officially introduced its Griffin-1 lunar lander, which has been chosen by NASA for future lunar missions. The unveiling took place during a recent event, showcasing the lander's advanced technology and design aimed at facilitating exploration and research on the Moon. This selection...
Astrobotic has announced the launch of its latest lunar lander, Griffin-1, which is set to deliver one of the heaviest payloads to the moon's surface. This significant development was revealed recently, highlighting Astrobotic's ongoing commitment to advancing lunar exploration. The mission aims to...
The SORA-Q, a lightweight lunar rover weighing 228 grams, successfully operated autonomously on the Moon for 108 minutes following its release from the SLIM lander. During its mission, the rover transformed from a compact sphere into a two-wheeled vehicle, demonstrating advanced robotics and autonom...
In 2024, a groundbreaking autonomous rolling rover demonstrated its innovative design by transforming from a sphere into a robot during a successful exploration of the moon's surface. This mission marks a significant advancement in lunar exploration technology, showcasing the rover's ability to navi...
A groundbreaking development in robotics has emerged from Japan, where researchers have created a microscopic, shape-shifting robot inspired by children's toys. This innovative technology successfully demonstrated its potential by aiding in the preservation of Japan's rich historical narrative. The...
China is integrating its robotic Chang'e lunar probe initiatives with its human spaceflight program, aiming to achieve a manned moon landing by 2030. This strategic move reflects the country's commitment to advancing its space exploration capabilities and establishing a more comprehensive approach t...
In May 2026, a groundbreaking study published in Science Robotics highlights advancements in robotic technology aimed at enhancing human-robot collaboration in various industries. Researchers from leading universities and tech companies conducted extensive experiments to develop robots capable of ad...
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