Website & Blog of Jatan Mehta, a globally published & cited space writer. Read deep dives on global lunar and space exploration.

Articles on asteroids, comets, and dwarf worlds

* Why explore asteroids, comets, and other small worlds * When to worry about an asteroid hitting Earth * Psyche, exploring a metal world * Japan wants to sample Mars’ moon Phobos with its MMX mission * Weirdest types of moons in our Solar System Related: Articles on moons other than our Moon Like my

This International Moon Day learn and share how countries worldwide have explored our stellar cosmic companion

Moon Monday #284

Slightly different articles on Mars and missions to it

I’m very much a Moon person but I’ve written a bit about Mars over the years as well, highlighting a few key aspects about the red planet’s exploration which I thought aren’t discussed as much or in detail. NASA explores Mars * Looking back at Pathfinder as

The Moon’s south pole is a place of promise and perils. Effective data sharing will benefit and save everyone.

Moon Monday #283: Some engineers and scientists are leading by example.

Achievements and shortfalls in global lunar exploration this half year | Moon Monday #282

A contextualized overview of the world’s Moon exploration efforts.

Lessons on lapses in lunar missions operations from the 20th century | Moon Monday #281

Announcement before we begin: I’m excited to welcome PierSight as a returning sponsor of my independent space writing for another year! 🌙 Ahmedabad-based PierSight is building a constellation of SAR satellites equipped with AIS sensors for persistent, all-weather ocean studies and monitoring. With $8 million raised in funds,

Smashing success: The time NASA figured out our Moon is cratered all the way down | Moon Monday #280

Plus: What the agency’s planning in the lead up to safe Apollo astronaut landings teaches us about preparing for the next frontier this century.

Artemis III, test like you won’t fly?

Moon Monday #279: “Artemis updates inside”, like “intel inside”. All puns intended.

India and the dream of an orbital launch trifecta | Part 5 of ISRO’s rocket crisis

Indian Space Progress #39-40: How a multitude of causes slow down the pace of India’s launch vehicles, and what would it take for the country to achieve an optimum “hat-trick” state given its many needs and ambitions in space.

Deep dive into India’s Chandrayaan Moon missions like never before

Moon Monday #278: A master list of organized, linked articles covering ISRO’s Chandrayaan lunar program, mission by mission.

What does Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket explosion mean for NASA’s Artemis program? A domino of timeline lapses and strategic failures.

Moon Monday #277: How quickly Blue flies New Glenn again, the timing and outcome of the first Mark 1 lander flight, and what NASA shares about the crewed Mark 2 are the key things to watch out for.

What is pending for SpaceX Starship to be a Moonship for NASA astronauts? Nearly everything.

Moon Monday #276: NASA’s road to putting humans on the Moon through SpaceX Starship continues to face a receding sea of milestones to achieve.