Tag: Mars
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SpaceX Roadmap building on its rocket business revolution
Following the recent success of the Falcon 9 launch with six ORBCOMM spacecraft, SpaceX is in the midst of speedy turnaround of its Cape Canaveral launch site, ahead of the ASIASAT-8 mission. While SpaceX remains on track for a record year, CEO Elon Musk believes the time is coming where there will be thousands of…
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Curiosity marks completion of first Martian year of operations
Tuesday marks a milestone anniversary for NASA’s Curiosity rover – one full Martian year on the surface of the red planet. In the span of just 687 short Earth-days, Curiosity has marked several firsts and important scientific discoveries on Mars as she heads toward her primary scientific target of Mount Sharp in the Gale Crater.…
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InSight into NASA’s next Mars lander
This past week, NASA announced the approval of construction of the Interior Exploration Using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport (InSight) Mars lander. Set to launch in 2016, InSight will study Mars’ interior structure and pave the way for an eventual manned mission to the Red Planet. Following Phoenix:InSight, to be constructed by Lockheed Martin, features…
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NIAC – Fostering tomorrow’s exploration technology
NASA is seeking technology proposals for Phase II of the 2014 NASA Innovative Advanced Concept (NIAC) campaign, according to the Agency’s latest drive for its forward thinking program. Innovating for the future of space exploration, NIAC requests proposals that further develop the “most promising” of the latest funded NIAC Phase I proposals. Funding the Future:…
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SpaceX advances drive for Mars rocket via Raptor power
SpaceX Co-Founder and Vice President of Propulsion Development Tom Mueller has revealed the company is deep into the development of the first “full flow methane-liquid oxygen” rocket engine. Known as the Raptor, nine of these immensely powerful engines – on one or three cores – will be utilized to send SpaceX’s Super Heavy Lift Launch…
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Lawmakers discuss potential Mars flyby mission in 2021
Experts and lawmakers reviewed an alternative plan for Orion’s first crewed mission into deep space on Thursday, claiming a Mars flyby mission in 2021 could be viable. The Science, Space and Technology hearing was held without an official NASA presence and admitted a large amount of evaluations will be required to address numerous challenges associated…
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Ten Years On: Opportunity’s unparalleled time and mission on Mars
Ten years ago, 25 January 2004, the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity slammed into the Martian atmosphere, beginning what was supposed to be a 90 Mars day (sol) mission on the surface of Mars. Ten years and 3,557 Mars days (3,653 Earth days) later, Opportunity is remarkably still functioning, unlocking the mysteries of Mars and serving…
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Large international interest in riding with NASA’s next Rover
The next NASA rover to be sent to the surface of Mars has received twice the usual amount of proposals for carrying science and exploration technology instruments. The agency is reviewing a total of 58 submitted proposals, 17 of which came from international partners, ahead of a proposed mission in 2020. The 2020 Rover: Announced…
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YIR (Part III) – Mars exploration continues; India joins an elite club
2013 was another year dominated by the increase in robotic exploration of humanity’s most sought-after and elusive terrestrial neighbor. With two active rovers, a fleet of orbiting vehicles, and two new missions in 2013, Mars exploration continues to pave the way for the next generation of crewed space exploration. ESA’s Mars Express: For the European…
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Atlas V launches MAVEN en route to Martian adventure
NASA’s MAVEN spacecraft has begun its journey to Mars following its launch atop the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket Monday. Liftoff from Cape Canaveral’s Space Launch Complex 41 (SLC-41) occurred at 13:28 Eastern (18:28 UTC), at the start of what was a two-hour window. MAVEN: The Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution, or MAVEN,…