Tag: Mars Exploration
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China Advances Tianwen-3 Mars Sample Return Mission Into Prototype Development
China’s Tianwen-3 Mars sample return mission has entered prototype development, with two Long March 5 launches planned for late 2028 or early 2029 and the return of approximately 500 grams of Martian material targeted for around 2031. If successful, Tianwen-3 could become the first mission to deliver samples from Mars to Earth, while supporting China’s…
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Air-Breathing Plasma Thruster Targets Sustained Satellite Operations in Very Low Earth Orbit
An atmosphere-breathing plasma propulsion system developed at the University of Stuttgart could allow satellites to operate for extended periods in very low Earth orbit by collecting atmospheric particles and using them as propellant. Created by Francesco Romano as part of his doctoral research, the experimental system combines a high-efficiency intake with a contactless radio-frequency helicon…
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NASA Declares MAVEN Mars Mission Ended After Spacecraft Falls Silent
NASA has officially declared the end of its MAVEN mission after the spacecraft orbiting Mars became unresponsive and could not be recovered following a communications loss that began in December. The agency confirmed the mission’s conclusion on Wednesday, bringing to a close more than a decade of scientific observations of the Red Planet. Contact Lost…
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Venturi Space Raises Toulouse Facility Investment to €250 Million
Venturi Space has increased its planned investment in a new manufacturing and technology facility in Toulouse, France, to €250 million, up from the €100 million originally announced earlier this year. The Monaco-based space technology company said the expanded investment will support the development and production of technologies for lunar and Martian mobility systems, including rover…