Tag: Mars
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Opportunity’s eight years on Mars: A story of science and endurance
Eight years ago today (January 25, 2004), the Mars Exploration Rover -B (MER -B) slammed into the Martian atmosphere and executed a successful Entry, Descent, and Landing on the Red Planet – beginning what was supposed to be 90 days of science operations on the surface of Mars. Eight years and 2,922 Earth-days later, Opportunity…
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SLS Exploration Roadmap evaluations provide clues for human Mars missions
As NASA managers continue to work through the evaluations into an exploration roadmap for the agency, the end goal of sending humans to Mars is starting to show a level of consistency. Per documentation, the key Design Reference Mission (DRM) evaluations are pointing to the “Flexible Path” approach of visiting a Martian moon, prior to…
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SLS capability touted for Europa Lander capability, Enceladus sample return
As the Space Launch System (SLS) teams head into their first full year since the vehicle was finally announced, fascinating – albeit well into the future – Exploration Systems Development (ESD) Design Reference Mission (DRM) options for deep space have been outlined in the SLS Concept Of Operations (Con Ops), options which include ambitious missions…
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Atlas V launches NASA’s MSL Rover ahead of journey to Mars
NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory has begun its mission to the Red Planet Saturday, with a launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. Liftoff from Space Launch Complex 41 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station was on schedule, at the begining of the one-hour and 43 minute window, which opening at 15:02 UTC (10:02 local…
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Russian Zenit-2 launches Fobos-Grunt – Battle on to save mission
A Russian Zenit-2 launch vehicle lofted Russia’s Fobos-Grunt spacecraft into orbit – launching at 02:16 local time on Wednesday from the Baikonur Cosmodrome – ahead of its sample return mission to Phobos, along with China’s first Mars probe, Yinghuo-1. However, both of the two planned burns to send it on its way to Mars failed, related to problems with the flight computer.…
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The search for life on Mars – MOD involved in mission sims via PLRP
NASA’s Mission Operations Directorate (MOD) are continuing to expand their involvement in exploration training and simulation by working with the international Pavilion Lake Research Project (PLRP) team on multi-hour missions – a precursor to deep space exploration missions, which will one day involve humans searching for signs of life on Mars. PLRP and MOD: PLRP…
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Tech Demos: NASA preparing for full ISS utilization in post-Shuttle era
With the US Segment of the International Space Station (ISS) now complete, NASA managers are turning their attention away from the era of construction and maintenance of the station and toward the new era of utilization, which includes advanced technology demos ranging from beam energy transfer to robotic servicing. ISS heading into its next phase: As noted…
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Tech Demos: NASA preparing for full ISS utilization in post-Shuttle era
With the US Segment of the International Space Station (ISS) now complete, NASA managers are turning their attention away from the era of construction and maintenance of the station and toward the new era of utilization, which includes advanced technology demos ranging from beam energy transfer to robotic servicing. ISS heading into its next phase: As noted…
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Taking aim on Phobos – NASA outline Flexible Path precursor to man on Mars
With the official opening statements on the overhaul of NASA’s future expected “soon”, the realignment of NASA’s future goals will create a Human Space Flight path that will likely stretch out for decades. The end goal remains footsteps on Mars, but the approach may involve the use of deep space and Phobos as the precursor…