Practicing for Safe Landings on the Moon and Beyond

NASA researchers at Johnson Space Center in Houston have developed a new guidance and navigation system called SPLICE to prepare for safe landings on the moon and beyond. The SPLICE experiment utilizes an Alta-X drone that conducted tests near NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, on August 27, 2026. This advanced system simulates lunar descents, focusing on precision landing capabilities. Initial results from the SPLICE experiment demonstrate successful simulated lunar descent performance. Further development of this technology is crucial as NASA prepares for future missions to the Moon and other celestial bodies.