July 23rd, 2020
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China’s Mars mission Tianwen-1 is now en route for a targeted landing in May 2021, reportedly within the southern part of the Utopia Planitia – a relatively flat area selected for a safe touchdown spot and for scientific payoff. The Mars mission is an all-in-one attempt to orbit the Red Planet, dispatch a lander that […]
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China’s first Mars exploration mission, known as “Tianwen-1” appears to have a targeted Thursday liftoff expected between just after midnight and 3 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, assuming the weather cooperates. Meanwhile, more details on China’s Mars rover have been reported. The rover will work for over 90 days on Mars. The robot is equipped with […]
NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover is now performing Sol 2830 tasks. Reports Ryan Anderson, Planetary Geologist at USGS Astrogeology Science Center in Flagstaff, Arizona: “Our weekend observations of the target Breamish showed some interesting chemistry results (which always make our scientists exclaim “O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!”)” The plan on Sol 2829 was set to start […]
Following the completion of multiple integrated rehearsals, China is ready for the launch of its first orbiter, lander, rover Mars exploration mission. Tianwen-1 is scheduled for liftoff in late July or early August, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA). Speculation is that the liftoff may occur July 23, the opening of the […]
“Curiosity has arrived near her next drill location and will spend the weekend analyzing a series of interesting targets in our workspace,” reports Mark Salvatore, a planetary geologist at the University of Michigan. “The rover will also acquire a series of high-resolution color images, both to identify a suitable drill location in the near-field […]
The Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) has been awarded a contract by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to repurpose the company’s Shooting Star transport vehicle as an Unmanned Orbital Outpost – essentially a scalable, autonomous space station for experiments and logistics demonstrations. DIU is a Department of Defense organization that contracts with commercial companies to […]
The fourth Long March-5 rocket, to be used to launch China’s first Mars exploration mission — the Tianwen-1 — was vertically transported to the launching area at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China’s Hainan Province on Friday. Long March-5 Y4, is planned to be launched in late July or early August, according […]
NASA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) released today a report: NASA’s Management of the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle Program. Among the findings, the OIG found that Orion has continued to experience cost increases and schedule delays. Since the cost and schedule baseline was set in 2015, the program has experienced over $900 million in […]
NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover is now performing Sol 2824 tasks. “Curiosity continues its cross-country trek today, looking for our next drill site,” reports Sean Czarnecki, a planetary geologist at Arizona State University in Tempe. A recently drawn up plan includes a long drive that should put the rover within view of potential drill targets. Clay-rich […]
A just-released study underscores the promising outcome from establishing a “Galactic Harbour” anchored in developing space elevator technology. The International Space Elevator Consortium (ISEC) has issued “Space Elevators are the Transportation Story of the 21st Century – A Primer for Progress in Space Elevator Development.” New paradigm The study suggests that a new paradigm has […]
