Explore

NASA's Curiosity Rover Advances Toward Yardang Unit for New Scientific Exploration

NASA's Curiosity Rover Advances Toward Yardang Unit for New Scientific Exploration

NASA's Curiosity rover is currently navigating towards the Yardang unit, a series of wind-sculpted, pale-colored hills on Mars, as part of its ongoing scientific exploration. The rover, which operates in two primary modes—focused science campaigns and exploratory drives—has recently completed a detailed study of a boxwork formation. Now, it is transitioning to a more exploratory phase as it moves towards its next major scientific target. The Yardang unit presents a unique geological landscape, characterized by laminated bedrock with varying colors and textures. The rover's instruments, including the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) and the ChemCam, are actively analyzing the rock formations encountered along the way. The Environmental Theme Group is also conducting environmental monitoring activities, such as dust devil tracking and atmospheric dust level assessments. This phase of the mission emphasizes the rover's role as a planetary explorer, capturing images and data from diverse geological fea...

NASA Decommissions MAVEN After Failed Contact Attempts

NASA Decommissions MAVEN After Failed Contact Attempts

NASA has officially decommissioned the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) spacecraft after six months of unsuccessful attempts to reestablish contact. MAVEN, which had been studying Mars' atmosphere since 2014, went silent in December 2025. An anomaly review board determined that the spacecraft could not be recovered due to a spin that likely prevented its solar panels from charging. MAVEN's mission provided significant insights into Mars' atmospheric loss and contributed to over 800 scientific publications. Despite its decommissioning, MAVEN's data will continue to support future research.

Asteroid Impact That Killed Dinosaurs May Have Sustained Underground Life for 8 Million Years

Asteroid Impact That Killed Dinosaurs May Have Sustained Underground Life for 8 Million Years

New research suggests that the asteroid impact which led to the extinction of the dinosaurs also created a long-lasting underground environment conducive to life. An international team of researchers analyzed samples from the Chicxulub crater in Mexico, where the asteroid struck 66 million years ago. Their findings, published in Communications Earth & Environment, indicate that the hydrothermal system created by the impact persisted for at least 8 million years, much longer than previously thought. The impact's immense heat caused fractured rocks and hot water to form a hydrothermal system beneath the crater, providing conditions suitable for microbial life. This discovery was made possible through advanced computer modeling and analysis of feldspar samples collected during a 2016 drilling expedition.

NASA's Mars Sample Return Program Faces Funding Cuts Amid Global Space Race

NASA's Mars Sample Return Program Faces Funding Cuts Amid Global Space Race

NASA's Mars Sample Return (MSR) program has been effectively ended by a fiscal 2026 spending package that declined to fund it as a retrieval mission. Instead, a smaller $110 million Mars Future Missions line has been created for related technology development. This decision follows a projected cost overrun and potential delays, with the program's full cost estimated at $11 billion. Meanwhile, China and Japan are advancing their own sample-return missions targeting Mars, Phobos, and a near-Earth asteroid. NASA's Perseverance rover has collected approximately 30 samples from Mars, but there is currently no funded mission to retrieve them.

The Next Space Race: Competing for Mars and Asteroid Samples

The Next Space Race: Competing for Mars and Asteroid Samples

The current focus in planetary science is on returning untouched samples from Mars, Phobos, and asteroids, rather than traditional space race goals like planting flags. A recent U.S. fiscal package ended NASA's Mars Sample Return mission, reallocating funds to technology development. Meanwhile, China and Japan are advancing their sample-return missions. China's Tianwen-2 is nearing an asteroid rendezvous, while Japan's MMX mission aims to collect samples from Phobos. These missions highlight a shift in space exploration priorities towards scientific research and sample retrieval.

NASA Announces Crew for Artemis III Mission to Advance Lunar Exploration

NASA Announces Crew for Artemis III Mission to Advance Lunar Exploration

NASA has announced the crew for the upcoming Artemis III mission, which is part of the agency's initiative to return humans to the Moon by 2028. The mission will be crewed by four individuals: mission specialists Andre Douglas and Frank Rubio, pilot Luca Parmitano from the Italian Space Agency, and commander Randy Bresnik. Although this mission will not involve landing on the Moon, it is designed to gather critical data by testing systems that will be used in future lunar landings. The Artemis III mission is scheduled for launch in 2027 and represents a significant step in NASA's long-term lunar exploration goals.

NASA Announces Artemis 3 Crew and Mission Redesign for Earth-Orbit Testing

NASA Announces Artemis 3 Crew and Mission Redesign for Earth-Orbit Testing

NASA has officially announced the crew for the Artemis 3 mission, which has been rescheduled for late 2027. The mission, originally intended to return astronauts to the lunar surface, has been restructured to focus on Earth-orbit operations. This decision was made to address engineering challenges and supply chain issues related to commercial landing vehicles and spacesuits. The Artemis 3 crew includes Commander Randy Bresnik, Pilot Luca Parmitano, and Mission Specialists Andre Douglas and Frank Rubio. The mission will test vehicle integration, docking procedures, and life support systems in low Earth orbit, serving as a precursor to the planned lunar landings in 2028.

NASA Announces Artemis III Crew for 2027 Mission to Test Lunar Landers

NASA Announces Artemis III Crew for 2027 Mission to Test Lunar Landers

NASA has announced the crew for the Artemis III mission, scheduled for 2027, which will test lunar landers from Blue Origin and SpaceX. The mission will involve a two-week test flight in Earth orbit, with the crew consisting of Randy Bresnik, Luca Parmitano, Frank Rubio, and Andre Douglas. This mission is a critical step in NASA's plan to return humans to the moon, with Artemis IV aiming for a lunar landing in 2028. Despite a recent setback with Blue Origin's rocket, NASA remains confident in meeting its commitments.

NASA Announces Artemis III Crew for Upcoming Moon Mission Testing

NASA Announces Artemis III Crew for Upcoming Moon Mission Testing

NASA has announced the crew for its Artemis III mission, which is set to test the flight and docking capabilities of a new lunar lander. The mission, scheduled for 2027, will include NASA astronauts Randy Bresnik, Andre Douglas, and Frank Rubio, along with Italian Space Agency's Luca Parmitano. This mission follows the Artemis II mission, which recently sent astronauts around the moon for the first time since the 1970s. The Artemis III mission will remain in low Earth orbit to test the docking of NASA's Orion spacecraft with a lunar lander developed by Blue Origin. However, Blue Origin recently faced a setback when a rocket explosion damaged its launchpad.

NASA's Artemis III Astronauts to Meet SpaceX and Blue Origin Landers in Earth Orbit

NASA's Artemis III Astronauts to Meet SpaceX and Blue Origin Landers in Earth Orbit

NASA has announced that the Artemis III mission, scheduled for 2027, will involve astronauts meeting two private spacecraft in Earth orbit. SpaceX and Blue Origin are both set to provide landers for this mission, which will serve as a precursor to Moon landings planned for the following year. John Couluris, Senior Vice President of Lunar Permanence at Blue Origin, expressed confidence in the readiness of their New Glenn rocket despite a recent explosion. The mission will see astronauts docking with Blue Origin's Mark 1 and SpaceX's Starship V3, with the Orion spacecraft facilitating these maneuvers. NASA aims for both landers to be ready for the Artemis IV Moon landing in 2028, with SpaceX's Starship slated for the trans-lunar injection. The Artemis III crew includes experienced astronauts such as NASA Commander Randy Bresnik and ESA Pilot Luca Parmitano.

NASA to name Artemis III crew for high-stakes lander test

NASA to name Artemis III crew for high-stakes lander test

NASA is set to reveal the astronauts selected for the Artemis III mission, which aims to advance plans for future lunar landings and Mars exploration.

NASA's Artemis II Mission Achieves Historic Communication Milestone with ISS

NASA's Artemis II Mission Achieves Historic Communication Milestone with ISS

NASA's Artemis II mission has marked a significant milestone by completing the first-ever 'ship to ship' call between a human moon mission and the International Space Station (ISS). The crew aboard the Orion spacecraft, traveling near the Moon, communicated directly with astronauts on the ISS. This historic call involved Christina Koch on Artemis II speaking with Jessica Meir on the space station, both of whom had previously participated in the first all-female spacewalk in 2019. The mission, which set a new record for the farthest distance humans have traveled from Earth since Apollo 17, reached approximately 252,752 miles from Earth during a flyby of the Moon's far side. This surpassed the Apollo 13 record of 248,655 miles set in 1970. The Artemis II mission is a crucial step in NASA's plan for future lunar exploration, with the crew expected to return to Earth after a 10-day mission, splashing down near San Diego.