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Blue Origin Shows Off Its MK1 Lunar Lander—and It’s Way Bigger Than Apollo’s

Blue Origin Shows Off Its MK1 Lunar Lander—and It’s Way Bigger Than Apollo’s

Riding the high of its show-stopping New Glenn flight earlier this month, Blue Origin is now aiming even higher—toward the Moon. Now, the company’s lunar ambitions seem more tangible than ever with the unveiling of the Blue Moon Mark 1 (MK1) lunar lander.

In an X post on Friday, Blue Origin owner and founder Jeff Bezos shared a first look at MK1. This 26-foot-tall (8-meter-tall) cargo lander is expected to embark on its first mission during the first quarter of 2026, touching down near the Shackleton crater at the Moon’s south pole.

Attempting this feat within the next four months will be high risk, high reward for Blue Origin. If Blue can pull off an uncrewed lunar landing before SpaceX, it could give the company a strategic advantage as NASA reevaluates lander providers for Artemis 3. But the tight timeline and complex hardware will present numerous challenges.

Bezos’s big lander

According to Bezos, MK1 is smaller than Blue Origin’s human lander, MK2, but larger than NASA’s Apollo lander. This single-launch spacecraft is designed to launch aboard New Glenn and ferry up to 3.3 tons (3 metric tons) of payload to the lunar surface.

The Blue Moon Pathfinder mission will demonstrate and validate the lander’s hardware and systems. This includes its never-before-flown BE-7 engine, cryogenic fluid power and propulsion systems, avionics, continuous downlink communications, and precision landing.

MK1 will also be carrying a NASA payload called SCALPSS (Stereo Cameras for Lunar Plume Surface Studies). This array of cameras will collect imagery during and after MK1’s descent, gathering critical data to assist future Moon landings and improve NASA’s understanding of how they affect the lunar surface.

MK1 is the largest commercial cargo lander ever built, capable of carrying far more payload than any of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) landers. MK1’s height could put it at greater risk of toppling over during its landing attempt, especially if its critical landing precision and control systems do not perform as expected.

Blue Origin will soon conduct “fully integrated checkout tests” of MK1, according to Bezos. This refers to ground tests that will evaluate performance for all the lander’s systems and hardware to ensure that it’s ready for flight.

This could help Blue anticipate and address issues during MK1’s deployment and landing attempt, but because it cannot fully replicate the lunar environment, unforeseen challenges could still arise.

Crunch time

Blue Origin’s goal of launching Blue Moon Pathfinder before the end of Q1 is very ambitious. Achieving an uncrewed lunar landing is a critical milestone that Blue ought not to rush, as ensuring mission success will require meticulous testing and validation of all systems.

Still, the timing appears to be right for several reasons. New Glenn achieved every single one of its mission objectives during its second test flight on November 13, indicating that it’s ready to launch a lunar landing mission. MK1’s development appears to be on track, and in theory, it could be ready to launch within the next several months—though ground testing could result in delays.

Perhaps the biggest motivator, however, is the Artemis 3 carrot dangling in front of Bezos’s face. NASA originally tapped SpaceX to build the Human Landing System (HLS) that will deliver the Artemis 3 astronauts to the Moon in mid-2027, but significant delays prompted the agency to reopen the contract in October.

Blue Origin has since stepped up to the plate. NASA Press Secretary Bethany Stevens previously told Gizmodo that the agency is evaluating plans from both SpaceX and Blue Origin for acceleration of Artemis 3 lander production. SpaceX detailed its plans to simplify the HLS architecture in late October, but leaked internal documents suggest the company still won’t be ready for an Artemis 3 launch until September 2028.

If NASA decides to go with Blue instead, it would be the company’s MK2 lander that would carry the Artemis 3 crew to the surface of the Moon. Demonstrating an uncrewed lunar landing with MK1 is a critical step toward the deployment of MK2, as these two landers share much of the same systems and hardware.

Hitting this milestone within the next four months would certainly give Blue a competitive edge, as SpaceX is nowhere close to a lunar landing. Still, Bezos ought not to let ambition get in the way of the Pathfinder mission’s success—especially with a NASA payload onboard. Failure could set the company’s lunar program back years.



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#Blue #Origin #Shows #MK1 #Lunar #Landerand #Bigger #Apollos

TL;DR: Amazon has the LG 27-inch UltraGear OLED gaming monitor back on sale for $499.99, knocking $400 off its $899.99 list price. That’s a 44% discount on a QHD OLED display with a 240Hz refresh rate, a 0.03ms response time, and VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification.


$499.99 at Amazon
$899.99 Save $400

OLED gaming monitors are steadily becoming more affordable, but this returning Amazon deal on an LG model is worth jumping on right away. 

As of April 22, Amazon has cut the price of LG’s 27-inch UltraGear OLED gaming monitor by 44% — dropping to $499.99 from $899.99. This brings this LG monitor back to its lowest ever price with the retailer, as confirmed with price tracker camelcamelcamel.

At 27 inches with QHD 2560 x 1440 resolution, this monitor hits a sweet spot for both competitive gaming and everyday desktop use, while fitting nicely into any setup without taking too much space. With a 240Hz refresh rate, this UltraGear monitor promises to keep even fast-paced titles running smoothly — the 0.03ms gray-to-gray response time means motion stays crisp without ghosting. 

Effectively, these specs mean they’ll make a noticeable difference in anything you play; that’s whether you’re going for an intense multiplayer game like Overwatch or a cinematic story-driven game like Saros, Mouse: P.I. for Hire, or Pragmata.

Mashable Deals

By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

No matter what you’re playing or watching, the LG UltraGear should make the experience even better with its added picture quality. After all, the OLED panel covers up to 98.5% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, and the VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification backs up what you can see with your own eyes — blacks that are genuinely black, not the washed-out grey you get from most LCD panels.

It also plays nicely with a wide range of setups, with both NVIDIA G-SYNC compatibility and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro on board. The anti-glare coating, height and pivot-adjustable stand, and a two-year OLED warranty round out a package that’s hard to argue with at this price.

If you have a bit more space in your setup for an even bigger unit, the 45-inch curved LG UltraGear OLED gaming monitor is now over $400 off. If you want something from another brand, Samsung’s 27-inch Odyssey OLED G6 is $300 off at Amazon.

#gaming #monitor #deal #27inch #UltraGear #OLED #Amazon">Best gaming monitor deal: 27-inch LG UltraGear OLED now 0 off at Amazon
                                                            TL;DR: Amazon has the LG 27-inch UltraGear OLED gaming monitor back on sale for 9.99, knocking 0 off its 9.99 list price. That’s a 44% discount on a QHD OLED display with a 240Hz refresh rate, a 0.03ms response time, and VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification.
    
    
    
        
                                        
                                        
                    
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OLED gaming monitors are steadily becoming more affordable, but this returning Amazon deal on an LG model is worth jumping on right away. As of April 22, Amazon has cut the price of LG’s 27-inch UltraGear OLED gaming monitor by 44% — dropping to 9.99 from 9.99. This brings this LG monitor back to its lowest ever price with the retailer, as confirmed with price tracker camelcamelcamel.At 27 inches with QHD 2560 x 1440 resolution, this monitor hits a sweet spot for both competitive gaming and everyday desktop use, while fitting nicely into any setup without taking too much space. With a 240Hz refresh rate, this UltraGear monitor promises to keep even fast-paced titles running smoothly — the 0.03ms gray-to-gray response time means motion stays crisp without ghosting. Effectively, these specs mean they’ll make a noticeable difference in anything you play; that’s whether you’re going for an intense multiplayer game like Overwatch or a cinematic story-driven game like Saros, Mouse: P.I. for Hire, or Pragmata.
    Mashable Deals
        
            
            
            
            
            
                By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
            
        
    

No matter what you’re playing or watching, the LG UltraGear should make the experience even better with its added picture quality. After all, the OLED panel covers up to 98.5% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, and the VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification backs up what you can see with your own eyes — blacks that are genuinely black, not the washed-out grey you get from most LCD panels.
        
            Mashable Deals
        
        
            
                            
                    
                    
                    
                    
                    
                        By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
                    
                
                        
        
    
It also plays nicely with a wide range of setups, with both NVIDIA G-SYNC compatibility and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro on board. The anti-glare coating, height and pivot-adjustable stand, and a two-year OLED warranty round out a package that’s hard to argue with at this price.If you have a bit more space in your setup for an even bigger unit, the 45-inch curved LG UltraGear OLED gaming monitor is now over 0 off. If you want something from another brand, Samsung’s 27-inch Odyssey OLED G6 is 0 off at Amazon.

                    
                                            
                            
                        
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back on sale for $499.99, knocking $400 off its $899.99 list price. That’s a 44% discount on a QHD OLED display with a 240Hz refresh rate, a 0.03ms response time, and VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification.


$499.99 at Amazon
$899.99 Save $400

OLED gaming monitors are steadily becoming more affordable, but this returning Amazon deal on an LG model is worth jumping on right away. 

As of April 22, Amazon has cut the price of LG’s 27-inch UltraGear OLED gaming monitor by 44% — dropping to $499.99 from $899.99. This brings this LG monitor back to its lowest ever price with the retailer, as confirmed with price tracker camelcamelcamel.

At 27 inches with QHD 2560 x 1440 resolution, this monitor hits a sweet spot for both competitive gaming and everyday desktop use, while fitting nicely into any setup without taking too much space. With a 240Hz refresh rate, this UltraGear monitor promises to keep even fast-paced titles running smoothly — the 0.03ms gray-to-gray response time means motion stays crisp without ghosting. 

Effectively, these specs mean they’ll make a noticeable difference in anything you play; that’s whether you’re going for an intense multiplayer game like Overwatch or a cinematic story-driven game like Saros, Mouse: P.I. for Hire, or Pragmata.

Mashable Deals

By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

No matter what you’re playing or watching, the LG UltraGear should make the experience even better with its added picture quality. After all, the OLED panel covers up to 98.5% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, and the VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification backs up what you can see with your own eyes — blacks that are genuinely black, not the washed-out grey you get from most LCD panels.

It also plays nicely with a wide range of setups, with both NVIDIA G-SYNC compatibility and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro on board. The anti-glare coating, height and pivot-adjustable stand, and a two-year OLED warranty round out a package that’s hard to argue with at this price.

If you have a bit more space in your setup for an even bigger unit, the 45-inch curved LG UltraGear OLED gaming monitor is now over $400 off. If you want something from another brand, Samsung’s 27-inch Odyssey OLED G6 is $300 off at Amazon.

#gaming #monitor #deal #27inch #UltraGear #OLED #Amazon">Best gaming monitor deal: 27-inch LG UltraGear OLED now $400 off at Amazon

TL;DR: Amazon has the LG 27-inch UltraGear OLED gaming monitor back on sale for $499.99, knocking $400 off its $899.99 list price. That’s a 44% discount on a QHD OLED display with a 240Hz refresh rate, a 0.03ms response time, and VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification.


$499.99 at Amazon
$899.99 Save $400

OLED gaming monitors are steadily becoming more affordable, but this returning Amazon deal on an LG model is worth jumping on right away. 

As of April 22, Amazon has cut the price of LG’s 27-inch UltraGear OLED gaming monitor by 44% — dropping to $499.99 from $899.99. This brings this LG monitor back to its lowest ever price with the retailer, as confirmed with price tracker camelcamelcamel.

At 27 inches with QHD 2560 x 1440 resolution, this monitor hits a sweet spot for both competitive gaming and everyday desktop use, while fitting nicely into any setup without taking too much space. With a 240Hz refresh rate, this UltraGear monitor promises to keep even fast-paced titles running smoothly — the 0.03ms gray-to-gray response time means motion stays crisp without ghosting. 

Effectively, these specs mean they’ll make a noticeable difference in anything you play; that’s whether you’re going for an intense multiplayer game like Overwatch or a cinematic story-driven game like Saros, Mouse: P.I. for Hire, or Pragmata.

Mashable Deals

By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

No matter what you’re playing or watching, the LG UltraGear should make the experience even better with its added picture quality. After all, the OLED panel covers up to 98.5% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, and the VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification backs up what you can see with your own eyes — blacks that are genuinely black, not the washed-out grey you get from most LCD panels.

It also plays nicely with a wide range of setups, with both NVIDIA G-SYNC compatibility and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro on board. The anti-glare coating, height and pivot-adjustable stand, and a two-year OLED warranty round out a package that’s hard to argue with at this price.

If you have a bit more space in your setup for an even bigger unit, the 45-inch curved LG UltraGear OLED gaming monitor is now over $400 off. If you want something from another brand, Samsung’s 27-inch Odyssey OLED G6 is $300 off at Amazon.

#gaming #monitor #deal #27inch #UltraGear #OLED #Amazon

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