Trending

Griffin-1 Moon lander clears shake, roar and vacuum tests at NASA JPL ahead of launch

By /

Griffin-1, the commercial Moon lander built by Voyager Technologies, has passed a series of critical tests at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, NASA said on 13 October. The tests simulated the extreme heat, cold and vacuum of space as well as the shaking and roar of launch.

Griffin-1: The lander in a JPL clean room during testing
The lander in a JPL clean room during testing Photo: NASA/JPL-Caltech (public domain).

Voyager Technologies lander bound for the lunar South Pole

Griffin-1 flies under NASA’s CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) initiative within the Moon Base Program. It is expected to launch later this year on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy and deliver more than 1,100 pounds (455 kg) of cargo to Nobile Crater near the lunar South Pole. It carries 10 science and technology payloads from six countries, including Astrolab’s FLIP rover, the largest commercial payload ever sent to the Moon.

Key Facts

  • Lander mass: 2,789 lb (1,265 kg)
  • Cargo to Moon: 1,100+ lb (455 kg)
  • Payloads: 10 from 6 countries
  • Acoustic test: up to 153 dB
  • Target: Nobile Crater, lunar South Pole

“We're proud to provide our expertise and facilities to support this new phase of commercial lunar exploration.”

— Charles Whetsel, NASA JPL

Inside the NASA JPL test campaign

Testing began in July after the 2,789-pound (1,265 kg) spacecraft was driven from Voyager’s plant in Pittsburgh to JPL. Engineers spun it to measure mass properties, checked that its electronics do not interfere with each other in an anechoic chamber, and rattled it on a shaker table in three directions. Giant horns blasted it with up to 153 decibels to mimic launch. JPL said thermal tests swung from 167 F to minus 148 F in its historic 25-Foot Space Simulator.

Griffin-1 and the CLPS Moon Base timeline

JPL’s Charles Whetsel said the lab’s test facility has been checking robotic explorers since the Ranger missions of the 1960s, and is proud to support commercial lunar exploration. Voyager says Griffin-1 is on track for the Moon. The next steps are shipping the lander to Florida and integrating it with the Falcon Heavy. NASA has not yet announced an exact launch date.

Why It Matters: Griffin-1 is one of the first heavy commercial landers aimed at the South Pole, where NASA plans its Moon Base, so a successful flight would prove a key supply route.

Also on TrendDesh: Perseverance driving record: NASA rover beats Opportunity with 28.10 miles on Mars · NGC 1275 black hole flared in X-rays, then fired radio jets about 300 days later

Source: NASA · NASA JPL · Voyager Technologies

Share

Today’s News 14 Oct 2026 · 21 stories

  1. INS Samarthak to be commissioned at Karwar on 16 October as Navy’s first multi-purpose vessel1INS Samarthak to be commissioned at Karwar on 16 October as Navy’s first multi-purpose vesselOct 14, 2026
  2. India Czech defence cooperation to expand as Rajnath Singh meets Czech deputy PM Karel Havlicek2India Czech defence cooperation to expand as Rajnath Singh meets Czech deputy PM Karel HavlicekOct 14, 2026
  3. Bloomberg New Economy Forum: PM Modi pitches ‘Power to Empower’ at the forum’s first India edition3Bloomberg New Economy Forum: PM Modi pitches ‘Power to Empower’ at the forum’s first India editionOct 14, 2026
  4. Indian Oil boxing deal: Rs 40 crore over two years for talent, coaching and sports science4Indian Oil boxing deal: Rs 40 crore over two years for talent, coaching and sports scienceOct 14, 2026
  5. ESTIC 2026: DRDO to lead semiconductor and next-gen chips session at Bharat Mandapam5ESTIC 2026: DRDO to lead semiconductor and next-gen chips session at Bharat MandapamOct 14, 2026
  6. Himalayan ecosystem is a national responsibility, says Jitendra Singh at Srinagar mountain summit6Himalayan ecosystem is a national responsibility, says Jitendra Singh at Srinagar mountain summitOct 14, 2026
  7. 66th NDC course meets President Murmu: decision making cannot be outsourced to AI, she says766th NDC course meets President Murmu: decision making cannot be outsourced to AI, she saysOct 14, 2026
  8. Rajasthan police action: SHO suspended, six on APO as CM Bhajanlal Sharma orders zero tolerance8Rajasthan police action: SHO suspended, six on APO as CM Bhajanlal Sharma orders zero toleranceOct 14, 2026
  9. Flipkart Minutes Jaipur dark store found dirty in Diwali food safety raid; ghee, ketchup sampled9Flipkart Minutes Jaipur dark store found dirty in Diwali food safety raid; ghee, ketchup sampledOct 14, 2026
  10. Adi Bazaar Jaipur opens at KK Square Mall: TRIFED tribal crafts fair runs till 20 October10Adi Bazaar Jaipur opens at KK Square Mall: TRIFED tribal crafts fair runs till 20 OctoberOct 14, 2026
  11. V Srinivas IIAS role takes Rajasthan Chief Secretary to Athens for global governance conference11V Srinivas IIAS role takes Rajasthan Chief Secretary to Athens for global governance conferenceOct 14, 2026
  12. UN budget 2027: Guterres proposes slimmer .3 billion plan, says need for UN ‘never greater’12UN budget 2027: Guterres proposes slimmer $3.3 billion plan, says need for UN ‘never greater’Oct 14, 2026
  13. Kharkiv attack kills four, injures 41 as Russian missiles also hit Kyiv, UN says13Kharkiv attack kills four, injures 41 as Russian missiles also hit Kyiv, UN saysOct 14, 2026
  14. 800 million young people face a future without jobs, UNDP warns as it launches two new initiatives14800 million young people face a future without jobs, UNDP warns as it launches two new initiativesOct 14, 2026
  15. Disaster housing losses hit 8 billion a year, UN says on Disaster Risk Reduction Day15Disaster housing losses hit $228 billion a year, UN says on Disaster Risk Reduction DayOct 14, 2026
  16. CRS-35 launch: SpaceX Dragon carries final ISS solar arrays and 6,300 pounds of cargo16CRS-35 launch: SpaceX Dragon carries final ISS solar arrays and 6,300 pounds of cargoOct 14, 2026
  17. Christina Koch named NASA acting deputy chief engineer, ends her spaceflight career17Christina Koch named NASA acting deputy chief engineer, ends her spaceflight careerOct 14, 2026
  18. Griffin-1 Moon lander clears shake, roar and vacuum tests at NASA JPL ahead of launch18Griffin-1 Moon lander clears shake, roar and vacuum tests at NASA JPL ahead of launchOct 14, 2026 · Reading now
  19. Sentinel-3C sends first images of Italy and Greenland two weeks after launch19Sentinel-3C sends first images of Italy and Greenland two weeks after launchOct 14, 2026
  20. West African migrants reaching Europe fall 59%, but routes are deadlier, IOM says20West African migrants reaching Europe fall 59%, but routes are deadlier, IOM saysOct 14, 2026
  21. Farthest fast radio burst traced to a tiny dwarf galaxy by Webb, hinting at a magnetar origin21Farthest fast radio burst traced to a tiny dwarf galaxy by Webb, hinting at a magnetar originOct 14, 2026

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top