Mars
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NASA abandons InSight mission to crack the surface of Mars
Martian soil does not behave in the way NASA engineers expected.
The ExoMy is a programmable $600 Mars rover you can build yourself
From Sojourner to the much bigger Curiosity, robotic rovers tend to come in all shapes and sizes, but few will go down as adorable as the European Space Agency’s new ExoMy rover.
Curiosity rover finds evidence of ancient megafloods on Mars
Previous images of large channels on Mars and giant wave-like features on its surface called “megaripples” indicate that the planet suffered from catastrophic floods in the past. Now, a team of scientists has used data gathered by the Curiosity rover to prove that megafloods swept across the Gale crater around 4 billion years ago. “We identified megafloods for the first time using detailed sedimentological data observed by the rover Curiosity,” said Alberto G. Fairén, co-author of the paper published by Nature.
After Math: Sonos sues Google again while Facebook keeps cleaning house
Really, Google, we expect this sort of behavior from the likes of Facebook, not you. Amazon reveals 19,816 employees have had COVID-19 If you thought that Trump campaign rallies were rife with COVID, let me introduce you to a little place called an Amazon distribution warehouse.
Scientists find evidence of multiple underground lakes on Mars
Scientists believe they’ve found more evidence confirming the presence of a large reservoir of liquid water under the surface of Mars first discovered back in 2018. In fact, they believe they’ve found three more subsurface saltwater lakes surrounding that main one — a huge discovery, seeing as those lakes are potential habitats for life. The team used data from a radar instrument on the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Mars Express spacecraft to investigate the planet’s southern polar region.
Japan will send an 8K camera to Mars and its moons
Japan's JAXA and NHK are sending an 8K camera to Mars and its moons to capture images in unprecedented detail.
NASA's Perseverance rover is on its way to Mars (updated)
The Perseverance rover mission successfully launched and is on its way to Mars.
Chernobyl mold could shield astronauts from deep-space radiation
One of the biggest dangers of interplanetary travel is radiation exposure. In a single round trip to Mars, for instance, you may absorb 60 percent of the maximum recommend lifetime dosage. One surprising solution may be mold, according to researchers from Stanford and North Carolina universities. They discovered that fungus thriving in the nuclear fallout of Chernobyl blocked radiation on the international space station (ISS), and could be adapted for trips to the Moon and Mars.
China successfully launches its Tianwen-1 Mars rover
China has launched its Tianwen-1 lander, rover and orbiter mission and successfully reached a pre-determined transfer orbit, according to CASC, the nation’s main space contractor.
NASA's Mars 2020 rover and helicopter are nearly ready for launch
Ahead of next week’s launch window opening --wherein NASA will have from July 30th to August 15th to get the mission underway -- The Space Foundation sat down with NASA leadership to discuss the goals, challenges and opportunities afforded by NASA’s ninth mission to the surface of Mars. This time NASA plans to send its most capable rover to date, Perseverance, Zurbuchen continued.
UAE successfully launches its Hope Probe on a mission to Mars
The UAE’s Mars-bound Hope mission has successfully launched from Japan's Tanegashima Space Center aboard a Mitsubishi H-2A rocket. About an hour after liftoff, the Hope Probe separated from the rocket to rapturous applause from controllers and engineers at the UAE Space Agency.
Watch the UAE launch its first Mars mission at 5:58PM ET
The UAE is launching its first mission to Mars at 5:58PM Eastern, and you can watch it live.
NASA-backed project could automatically fix 3D printing for Moon bases
NASA has chosen a project that could automatically fix 3D printing for Moon bases, helping colonies reduce their dependence on Earth.
NASA wants to protect Moon and Mars from human contamination
NASA wants to make sure we don’t unknowingly take organisms or other contaminants from Earth to other worlds (and vice-versa) when humans start exploring space beyond Low Earth Orbit. In a tweet, NASA Administrator Jim Brindestine has announced that the agency has updated its policies to reflect that commitment ahead of the upcoming Artemis missions. “We will protect scientific discoveries and the Earth’s environment, while enabling dynamic human exploration and commercial innovation on the Moon and Mars,” he wrote.
Curiosity rover starts its 'summer trip' to next Martian destination
The Curiosity rover’s next stop is Mount Sharp’s “sulfate-bearing unit.”
NASA delays Mars rover launch until at least July 30th
NASA and ULA have postponed the Mars Perseverance rover's launch until July 30th due to launch vehicle delays.
SpaceX plans seaborne spaceports for Mars missions and hypersonic flights
SpaceX is hiring for planned spaceports that would launch Mars and Moon missions, not to mention hypersonic flights here on Earth.
NASA's Mars helicopter is ready for the red planet
NASA is done attaching the Mars helicopter to the Perseverance rover.
NASA reveals the next company to deliver expedition tech to the Moon
Masten Space Systems will deliver scientific kit to the Moon ahead of astronauts' arrivals in 2024.
The company behind the robotic arms that help us explore Mars
Despite best efforts, we're still decades if not generations away from regularly living and working off-planet -- whether that's in LEO habitation rings, moon bases, or on the Martian surface. Until humans can colonize space ourselves, we must rely on robotic orbitals, landers and rovers to physically interact with the galaxy around us. As Lucy Condakchian, General Manager of Robotics at Maxar, noted to an assembled audience at TechCrunch Sessions on Tuesday, actually touching the stars is still no easy feat.