{"id":94448,"date":"2019-09-09T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-09-09T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?migration=converted-node-451481"},"modified":"2023-07-26T15:27:09","modified_gmt":"2023-07-26T19:27:09","slug":"one-giant-leap-for-lunar-landing-navigation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers-and-facilities\/johnson\/one-giant-leap-for-lunar-landing-navigation\/","title":{"rendered":"One Giant Leap for Lunar Landing Navigation"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/lunar_site_selection_globe_0.jpg\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"507\" height=\"406\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/lunar_site_selection_globe_0.jpg?w=507\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Map of moon.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/lunar_site_selection_globe_0.jpg 507w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/lunar_site_selection_globe_0.jpg?resize=300,240 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/lunar_site_selection_globe_0.jpg?resize=400,320 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 507px) 100vw, 507px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">This map of the Moon shows the five candidate landing sites chosen by the Apollo Site Selection Board in February 1968. Photographs gathered during earlier uncrewed reconnaissance missions gave NASA information about terrain features.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>When <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission_pages\/apollo\/apollo11.html\" rel=\"noopener\">Apollo 11<\/a>\u2019s lunar module, Eagle, landed on the Moon on July 20, 1969, it first flew over an area littered with boulders before touching down at the Sea of Tranquility. The site had been selected based on photos collected over two years as part of the Lunar Orbiter program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But the \u201csensors\u201d that ensured Eagle was in a safe spot before touching down \u2013 those were the eyes of NASA Astronaut Neil Armstrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cEagle\u2019s computer didn\u2019t have a vision-aided system to navigate relative to the lunar terrain, so Armstrong was literally looking out the window to figure out where to touch down,\u201d said Matthew Fritz, principal investigator for a terrain relative navigation system being developed by Draper of Cambridge, Massachusetts. \u201cNow, our system could become the \u2018eyes\u2019 for the next lunar lander module to help target the desired landing location.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This week, that system will be tested in the desert of Mojave, California, on a launch and landing of Masten Space Systems\u2019 Xodiac rocket. The rocket is scheduled to take off Wednesday, Sept. 11.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The rocket flight is made possible with support from NASA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/spacetech\/flightopportunities\/index.html\" rel=\"noopener\">Flight Opportunities<\/a> program managed by NASA\u2019s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, and the <a href=\"https:\/\/gameon.nasa.gov\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Game Changing Development program<\/a> overseen by NASA\u2019s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. It marks the first test of the system with both a descent altitude and a landing trajectory similar to what is expected on a lunar mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But <em>what<\/em> is terrain relative navigation? And <em>why<\/em> is it so important to NASA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/what-is-artemis\" rel=\"noopener\">Artemis program<\/a> to return American astronauts to the Moon by 2024, and future human missions to Mars?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Without capabilities like GPS, which is designed to help us navigate on Earth, determining a lander vehicle\u2019s location is much like comparing visual cues (e.g., road signs, important buildings, notable landmarks) while driving a car with those cues identified on road maps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe have onboard satellite maps loaded onto the flight computer and a camera acts as our sensor,\u201d explained Fritz. \u201cThe camera captures images as the lander flies along a trajectory and those images are overlaid onto the preloaded satellite maps that include unique terrain features. Then by mapping the features in the live images, we\u2019re able to know where the vehicle is relative to the features on the map.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/liveimg_wfeatures2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"922\" height=\"344\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/liveimg_wfeatures2.png?w=922\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Drone Images\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/liveimg_wfeatures2.png 922w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/liveimg_wfeatures2.png?resize=300,112 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/liveimg_wfeatures2.png?resize=768,287 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/liveimg_wfeatures2.png?resize=400,149 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/liveimg_wfeatures2.png?resize=600,224 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/liveimg_wfeatures2.png?resize=900,336 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 922px) 100vw, 922px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">When astronauts return to the Moon by 2024, a camera-aided terrain relative navigation system will provide real-time, precise mapping of the lunar surface with images laid over preloaded satellite maps on the lander\u2019s onboard computer. The image on the left, taken during a 2019 drone flight over California’s Mojave Desert, shows terrain features identified by the navigation system’s camera. These are matched to known features identified in satellite images on the onboard computer.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">Draper<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>While the Apollo Guidance Computer was a revolutionary feat of engineering for its time, today\u2019s technology would certainly have been welcome assistance. With the computer sounding alarms and Eagle quickly running out of fuel, Armstrong was doing his best to find a safe parking spot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, it\u2019s no surprise that NASA and commercial partners are relying on the most <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.nasa.gov\/bridenstine\/2019\/07\/23\/artemis-is-our-future\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">advanced technology<\/a> to upgrade navigation for future robotic and crewed missions to the Moon. The agency is developing a suite of precision landing technologies for possible use on future commercial lunar landers. NASA is already buying services for <a rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/content\/commercial-lunar-payload-services\">robotic Moon deliveries<\/a> and is planning to ask American companies to build the next generation <a href=\"http:\/\/https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/content\/commercial-lunar-payload-services\">human landing systems<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The agency\u2019s work to develop navigation sensors and related technologies falls under a larger effort now referred to as <a href=\"https:\/\/gameon.nasa.gov\/projects\/safe-and-precise-landing-integrated-capabilities-evolution-splice\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SPLICE<\/a>, or the Safe and Precise Landing \u2013 Integrated Capabilities Evolution project. SPLICE has evolved out of <a rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/spacetech\/flight_opportunities\/feature\/COBALT_Flight_Demonstrations_Fuse_Technologies\">other NASA projects<\/a> dating back to the early 2000s, all created to develop an integrated suite of landing and hazard avoidance capabilities for planetary missions. Contributions hail from several commercial efforts and multiple NASA centers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Terrain relative navigation is key to the overall SPLICE effort, which also includes <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/feature\/langley\/coming-in-for-a-landing-with-new-nasa-technology\" rel=\"noopener\">navigation Doppler lidar<\/a>, hazard detection lidar, and a high-performance onboard computer. Working together, the full suite of capabilities promises to give future crewed missions much safer and precise descents and landings on the lunar surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Getting there will be due in no small part to partnerships with commercial flight providers like Masten and others that enable test flights of SPLICE\u2019s many technologies\u2014essentially providing a series of dress rehearsals before their debut on the lunar surface. The Draper terrain relative navigation system will be ported directly into the SPLICE descent landing computer and eventually tested on Blue Origin\u2019s New Shepard rocket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThese types of commercial vehicles provide us a highly valuable way to test new guidance, navigation and control technologies and reduce their flight risk before being utilized in future missions,\u201d said John M. Carson III, principal investigator for the SPLICE project at NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center in Houston.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to Fritz and Carson, the benefits of commercial flight testing includes the ability to fly navigation sensors on different flight platforms at different altitudes. While Masten\u2019s vehicle enables data collection for the descent and landing part of navigation, stratospheric balloon flights are helping the team tune the terrain relative navigation algorithm for higher altitudes when a spacecraft is approaching lunar orbit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBy testing on different platforms and at different altitudes we\u2019re able to get the full range of the algorithm\u2019s capabilities,\u201d explained Fritz. \u201cThis helps us identify where we\u2019ll need to transition between satellite maps for different periods of the flight.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/47690402642_be3b4136f0_o.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1365\" height=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/47690402642_be3b4136f0_o.jpg?w=1365\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Balloon Flight\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/47690402642_be3b4136f0_o.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/47690402642_be3b4136f0_o.jpg?resize=200,300 200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/47690402642_be3b4136f0_o.jpg?resize=768,1152 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/47690402642_be3b4136f0_o.jpg?resize=683,1024 683w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/47690402642_be3b4136f0_o.jpg?resize=1024,1536 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/47690402642_be3b4136f0_o.jpg?resize=1365,2048 1365w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/47690402642_be3b4136f0_o.jpg?resize=267,400 267w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/47690402642_be3b4136f0_o.jpg?resize=400,600 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/47690402642_be3b4136f0_o.jpg?resize=600,900 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/47690402642_be3b4136f0_o.jpg?resize=800,1200 800w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/47690402642_be3b4136f0_o.jpg?resize=1333,2000 1333w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1365px) 100vw, 1365px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">In addition to testing its navigation system on Masten\u2019s rocket, Draper tested part of the algorithm on an April 2019 high-altitude balloon flight in Tucson, Arizona with World View Enterprises.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">Draper<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Earlier this year, Flight Opportunities facilitated a test of the high-altitude part of Draper\u2019s navigation algorithm on a balloon flight with World View Enterprises in Tucson, Arizona. The data from balloon flights combined with the research on Masten\u2019s vehicle will be used to better calibrate the navigation algorithms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIf we didn\u2019t have these integrated field tests, a lot of new precision landing technologies might still be sitting in a lab or on paper, being deemed too risky for flight,\u201d Carson said of the benefit of commercial flight tests. \u201cThis gives us the very necessary opportunity to get the data we need, make the necessary revisions, and build insight and confidence into how these technologies will perform on a spacecraft.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beyond test flights, SPLICE technologies are targeted for inclusion on <a rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/press-release\/nasa-selects-experiments-for-possible-lunar-flights-in-2019\">upcoming flights<\/a> to the Moon through NASA\u2019s <a rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/content\/commercial-lunar-payload-services\">Commercial Lunar Payload Services<\/a>. Other terrain relative navigation technologies developed prior to SPLICE have also made their way onto mission manifests for Mars, including the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jpl.nasa.gov\/missions\/mars-2020\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mars 2020<\/a> lander vision system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Following Apollo 11, Armstrong would go on to note that the landing was in fact his biggest concern of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission_pages\/apollo\/apollo11.html\" rel=\"noopener\">mission<\/a>. \u201cThe unknowns were rampant,\u201d he said. \u201cThere were just a thousand things to worry about.\u201d New technologies promise to supply astronauts with even more precise information (and fewer concerns) to increase landing safety as they navigate to the lunar surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>NASA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/artemis\" rel=\"noopener\">Artemis<\/a> lunar exploration program includes sending a suite of new <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/clps\" rel=\"noopener\">science instruments and technology demonstrations<\/a> to study the Moon, landing the first woman and next man on the lunar surface by 2024, and establishing a sustained presence by 2028. The agency will leverage its Artemis experience and technologies to prepare for the next giant leap \u2013 sending astronauts to Mars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For more information, visit: <strong><a rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/moontomars\">www.nasa.gov\/moontomars<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Sensors for Precision Landing on Other Worlds Prepares for Flight Test\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OWLQ4cJMysY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">This video shows one of a series of tether tests of a Draper terrain relative navigation system mounted on a Masten Space Systems Xodiac rocket. Tether tests like this ensure the rocket and navigation technology are communicating before the actual suborbital launch and landing. (Credits: NASA and Masten Space Systems)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>By Nicole Quenelle<\/em><\/strong><br><em><strong>NASA\u2019s Armstrong Flight Research Center, Edwards, Calif.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-topic-cards nasa-gb-align-full maxw-full width-full padding-y-6 padding-x-3 color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-topic-cards\">\t\t<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block-lg padding-x-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center margin-bottom-3\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"desktop:grid-col-8 margin-bottom-2 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"label color-carbon-60 margin-bottom-2\">Keep Exploring<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-36 line-height-sm\">Discover More Topics From NASA<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-gap-2 hds-topic-cards-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/space-technology-mission-directorate\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Space Technology Mission Directorate<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"525\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/stmd.jpg?w=525\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/stmd.jpg 525w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/stmd.jpg?resize=197,300 197w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/stmd.jpg?resize=263,400 263w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/stmd.jpg?resize=394,600 394w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/stmd-solicitations-and-opportunities\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>STMD Solicitations and Opportunities<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1161\" height=\"773\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/stmd-solicitations.jpg?w=1161\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/stmd-solicitations.jpg 1161w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/stmd-solicitations.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/stmd-solicitations.jpg?resize=768,511 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/stmd-solicitations.jpg?resize=1024,682 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/stmd-solicitations.jpg?resize=400,266 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/stmd-solicitations.jpg?resize=600,399 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/stmd-solicitations.jpg?resize=900,599 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1161px) 100vw, 1161px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/stmd-flight-opportunities\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>STMD Flight Opportunities<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/spaceworks_balloon_launch-1.jpeg?w=1536\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); 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The site had been selected based on photos collected over two years as part of the Lunar Orbiter program. But the \u201csensors\u201d that ensured [...]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":168,"featured_media":120973,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[2861,2855,10574,3333,3334,3788,2863,2879],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[],"coauthors":[],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"One Giant Leap for Lunar Landing Navigation","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers-and-facilities\/johnson\/one-giant-leap-for-lunar-landing-navigation\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers-and-facilities\/johnson\/one-giant-leap-for-lunar-landing-navigation\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/ed14-0186-058.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/ed14-0186-058.jpg"},"articleSection":"NASA Centers & Facilities","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Nancy J. Pekar"}],"creator":["Nancy J. Pekar"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["NASA Directorates","Space Technology Mission Directorate","Johnson Space Center","Armstrong Flight Research Center","Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS)","Flight Opportunities Program","Game Changing Development Program","Human Landing System Program","Langley Research Center"],"dateCreated":"2019-09-09T21:00:00Z","datePublished":"2019-09-09T21:00:00Z","dateModified":"2023-07-26T19:27:09Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"One Giant Leap for Lunar Landing Navigation\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers-and-facilities\/johnson\/one-giant-leap-for-lunar-landing-navigation\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"post\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/ed14-0186-058.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2019-09-09T21:00:00Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"NASA Centers & Facilities\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"NASA Directorates,Space Technology Mission Directorate,Johnson Space Center,Armstrong Flight Research Center,Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS),Flight Opportunities Program,Game Changing Development Program,Human Landing System Program,Langley Research Center\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"Nancy J. Pekar\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":7,"time_ago":"5 years","featured_image":{"id":120973,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/ed14-0186-058.jpg","title":"ed14-0186-058","alt":"Masten's vertical-takeoff, vertical-landing Xombie technology demonstration vehicle rockets skyward","caption":"Masten's vertical-takeoff, vertical-landing Xombie technology demonstration vehicle rockets skyward"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94448"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/168"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=94448"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94448\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":467879,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94448\/revisions\/467879"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/120973"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=94448"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=94448"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=94448"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=94448"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=94448"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}