Tag: Mars rover
-
NASA may send a backup, nuclear-powered Mars rover to the Moon
NASA officials said Tuesday that they are seriously considering sending the full-scale engineering model of the Perseverance rover, which is currently housed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, to the Moon to expedite their efforts to explore the south pole region. The car-sized rover nicknamed “Promise,” which serves as a testbed for Perseverance and…
-
Curiosity Rover uncovers fresh organic clues on Ancient Mars
In a significant step forward for the search for signs of ancient life beyond Earth, NASA’s long-lived Curiosity rover has detected a suite of organic molecules in a Martian rock sample — including several never before identified on the Red Planet. The findings, verified years after the sample was collected, add compelling evidence that Mars…
-
NASA’s Curiosity rover has found the longest chain carbon molecules yet on Mars
NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover has detected the largest organic (carbon-containing) molecules ever found on the red planet. The discovery is one of the most significant findings in the search for evidence of past life on Mars. This is because, on Earth at least, relatively complex, long-chain carbon molecules are involved in biology. These molecules could…
-
Perseverance faces challenges climbing to crater rim as sample tube supply dwindles
In August, NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover began its fifth science campaign — the rover’s most ambitious yet. The campaign has seen Perseverance climb the western rim of Jezero Crater and face its steepest and most challenging terrain yet, all the while continuing to take surface samples and look for signs of ancient microbial life. Currently, Perseverance…
-
Curiosity discovers pure sulfur rocks, continues to explore Mount Sharp on Mars
On May 30, NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover, currently exploring Gale Crater on the red planet, drove over a small rock on the Martian surface. The rock cracked open while driving over the rock, revealing its interior composition. Scientists on Curiosity’s team were stunned to find yellow sulfur crystals within the rock — the first time…
-
China releases first pictures from Zhurong rover since Mars landing
China’s Zhurong rover sits atop the Tianwen 1 mission’s landing platform on Mars. Credit: CNSA China’s space agency released the first pictures from the Zhurong Mars rover Wednesday, showing the six-wheel robot ready to drive down a ramp from its landing platform to begin exploring the Red Planet. The 529-pound (240-kilogram) Zhurong rover landed Friday,…
-
China lands its first probe on Mars
EDITOR’S NOTE: Updated at 10 a.m. EDT (1400 GMT) with more details. Artist’s illustration of the Tianwen 1 orbiter and rover at Mars. Credit: CNSA / Chinese Academy of Sciences / Nature Astronomy China’s space agency said Friday the country’s first Mars rover safely touched down and began sending data back to Earth, joining the United…
-
Chinese rover heads for landing on Mars
Artist’s illustration of the Tianwen 1 orbiter and rover at Mars. Credit: CNSA / Chinese Academy of Sciences / Nature Astronomy A Chinese rover outfitted with cameras, a weather station, and a sophisticated laser spectrometer could touch down on Mars as soon as Friday, a feat that would make China the second nation to successfully…
-
NASA releases first-of-its-kind high-definition video of Mars rover landing
NASA officials released never-before-seen views of a spacecraft landing on another planet Monday, showcasing multi-angle replays recorded by ruggedized high-definition cameras mounted on the Perseverance rover last week when it safely touched down on Mars. The $2.7 billion mission’s entry, descent, and landing cameras recorded video as Perseverance made its way to a landing site…
-
First images of Mars rover landing just a taste of what’s to come
NASA’s Perseverance rover pictured moments before landing on Mars. In this view from a downward-facing camera on the descent stage, the rover is suspended by Nylon cords. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech The first picture of NASA’s Perseverance rover landing on Mars shows the nuclear-powered robot suspended under its rocket jetpack just before touchdown. The spectacular view could…