NASA - The National Aeronautics and Space Administration
09/24/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/24/2026 10:35
Practicing for Safe Landings on the Moon and Beyond
NASA/Ryan Kline
In this Aug. 27, 2026, image, an Alta-X drone flies an advanced guidance and navigation system known as the Safe and Precise Landing - Integrated Capabilities Evolution (SPLICE) experiment near NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California.
Researchers at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston developed SPLICE, which successfully completed simulated lunar descent and landing maneuvers during recent testing. Its technologies provide safe and precise landing for the Moon, Mars, icy worlds, and other destinations using specialized navigation, guidance, and processing techniques. It enables landing in hard-to-reach and unknown areas that are of high scientific interest.
Image credit: NASA/Ryan Kline
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