Topic: mars exploration
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Scientists Make Case for Sending Astronauts to Mars
The primary scientific goal for human Mars missions is to definitively answer whether life has ever existed there, as only astronauts can perform the sophisticated, adaptive fieldwork needed for a conclusive search. A new National Academies strategy report prioritizes this search for life and out...
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Orbital Dynamics Saves NASA's Next Mars Mission
NASA's ESCAPADE Mars mission was saved from cancellation by an innovative orbital trajectory that allows it to launch outside the standard Mars transfer windows, using a loiter orbit to wait for planetary alignment. The mission will launch on Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket, which offers excess ca...
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NASA's Mars Rock Find: What's Next for the Sample Return Mission?
NASA's Perseverance rover has discovered a uniquely shaped rock on Mars, sparking renewed interest in the potential for ancient microbial life, though definitive analysis requires Earth-based labs. The Mars Sample Return mission, stalled for two years due to high estimated costs of $8–11 billion,...
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Solar Flare Delays Jeff Bezos' New Glenn Rocket Launch
Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket launch was postponed due to a powerful solar storm, which could interfere with satellite functions and prompted NASA to delay sending its ESCAPADE probes to Mars. NASA, as the mission customer, decided to wait for improved space weather to protect the spacecraft's s...
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The Odds of Recovering New Glenn's Second Launch
Blue Origin has moved the New Glenn rocket's first stage to the launch pad in Florida for its second mission, which will carry the ESCAPADE spacecraft to study solar wind around Mars, with a potential launch window in early November pending successful pre-launch tests. The booster, named "Never T...
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NASA's Newest Astronauts: Meet the 2025 Class
NASA has selected a new class of ten astronaut candidates from over 8,000 applicants to support future missions to the International Space Station, the Moon, and Mars. The 2025 class, notable for including six women and four men, will undergo two years of intensive training in skills like spacewa...
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Lawmakers Push for Cheaper SLS Rocket Upper Stage in NASA Budget
Lawmakers oppose retiring NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) and advocate for cost-saving modifications, with bipartisan support reflected in congressional spending bills. The upcoming Artemis II and III missions aim for crewed lunar flights, but the administration proposes ending SLS after Artemis...
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SpaceX Starship Explodes in High-Stakes Test Flight
An upgraded SpaceX Starship booster exploded during ground testing at its South Texas facility, causing significant damage to the booster's lower section during a gas system pressure test. The incident involves a critical component of the Starship V3 design, which is essential for SpaceX's plans ...
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Honda's Surprising Leap Into Reusable Rockets
Honda successfully launched and landed a reusable rocket prototype in Japan, marking a significant expansion beyond its traditional automotive products into space technology. The company's space initiative aims to support mobility and communication networks through satellites, which are essential...
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