May 9th, 2018
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A new and excellent report has been issued by Explore Mars, Inc. The Humans to Mars Report (H2MR) is an annual publication that presents a snapshot of current progress in mission architectures, science, domestic and international policy, human factors, and public perception regarding human missions to Mars – and highlights progress and challenges from year […]
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Mark Salvatore, a planetary geologist at the University of Michigan in Dearborn, reports Curiosity has had a stroke of bad luck. The issue prevented the science team from performing pre-planned rover science. “About half-way through planning this work, the science team got news that the rover was not only sitting at a rather steep angle, […]
Reaching Mars is the ultimate dream for humankind. And we’re up for the journey. That’s why Budweiser’s on a mission to become the first beer on Mars. #ThisBudsForYou Budweiser is celebrating its commitment to being the first beer on Mars through a just-released two minute tribute film. According to the company: At Budweiser, […]
Liftoff approaches for NASA’s next Mars mission: the Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport (InSight) lander is ready for a May 5 sendoff from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 13:05 CEST (04:05 local time). Upon its arrival on November 26, 2018, InSight will touch down just north of the equator, […]
NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover is performing Sol 2041 duties. Reports Michelle Minitti, a planetary geologist at Framework in Silver Spring, Maryland: “Curiosity continued her journey off of the ‘Vera Rubin Ridge,’ driving west along the ridge flank toward a passable route down to the bedrock north of the ridge.” Sulfate vein The current plan has […]
NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover is deep into Sol 2040 operations. A new Curiosity traverse map through Sol 2039 has been issued. The map shows the route driven by the robot through the 2039 Martian day, or sol, of the rover’s mission on Mars (May 02, 2018). Numbering of the dots along the line indicate […]
Important strides are being made in building and testing a key energy source that literally “empowers” human crews on the Moon. NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) has provided multi-year funding for the Kilopower project. This work is viewed as a stepping stone to small fission-powered planetary science missions – including how to energize a […]
NASA’s Mars Curiosity rover is now in Sol 2039, following some impressive preliminary imaging of “Red Cliff,” reports Rachel Kronyak, a planetary geologist at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. The plan now scripted calls for the robot to take additional imagery of Red Cliff “before continuing to drive toward a location where we think […]
It’s time for the U.S. Government Accountability Office’s 10th annual “Quick Look” at the status of NASA’s major projects. GAO found that many of these projects experienced significant cost and schedule growth over the past year. “The average launch delay was 12 months—the most we’ve ever reported,” the GAO explains. “However, the extent […]
NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover is now performing Sol 2038 duties. “A successful drive in the weekend plan set Curiosity up nicely for a full sol of contact and remote science,” reports Rachel Kronyak, a planetary geologist at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. “The main priority during planning today was to image the outcrop we’ve […]
