SpaceX plans to launch five uncrewed Starships to Mars in two years, setting the stage for an exponential increase in future missions focused on human exploration of the Red Planet.
Mars RSS
Elon Musk announced a new, more realistic timeline for Starship launches toward the Red Planet. While it still sounds ambitious, the company is making progress with the world's biggest space rocket.
European space mission ExoMars began in 2001. However, it came close to being canceled due to repeated delays and war in Ukraine. A new partnership with NASA aims to finally send the rover into space.
The unique mission of the Mars helicopter was halted by terminal damage, and now that we have finally seen the full extent of what had happened, it looks more dramatic than expected.
The UK Space Agency has announced £7.4 million in funding for several global space projects. This funding will help the UK play a part in upcoming space exploration while keeping costs quite low.
Technical and environmental challenges of deep space exploration are difficult, but not unsolvable. The real barrier between mankind and Mars is the level of commitment from relevant stakeholders.
The unique mission of the Mars helicopter was a huge success, exceeding all expectations. However, NASA's Ingenuity sustained damage during its final flight, grounding the rotorcraft forever.
We have two launches in the week ahead, both from SpaceX. Also, be sure to check out this week's recap section where we've included a video of dust devils on Mars filmed by a NASA rover.
China's National Space Administration (CNSA) has shared a video of Zhurong rover's descent on Mars. It is part of the Tianwen-1 mission aimed at studying the Martian geology and atmosphere.
China has successfully landed its first rover on the Martian surface. The Zhurong rover touched down in the Utopia Planitia region where it will conduct experiments on Martian rocks.
NASA has successfully flown the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter. This is the first time a powered, controlled flight has taken place on another planet and will be sure to send back some interesting photos.
SpaceX has finally managed to land a Starship rocket, however, several minutes after, the vehicle exploded due to a fire which managed to reach the propellant which subsequently ignited.
Rocket Lab has announced plans for its upcoming Neutron rocket which will deliver larger satellites to space, go to other planets and launch with human crews. Neutron will be partially reusable too.
NASA has released footage of the Perseverance rover landing on Mars last week. High definition cameras equipped to the machinery at different vantage points give great shots of Mars and the rover.
NASA has confirmed the successful landing of the Perseverance rover on Mars. In its two year mission, it will take samples from a historical lakebed which will be examing for signs of ancient life.
The UK Space Agency is going to work with Rolls-Royce to investigate nuclear propulsion. If developed, a nuclear rocket would get to Mars in half the time it currently takes with today's technology.
_medium.jpg)
Starship SN8 executed an almost perfect high-altitude flight test before plummeting towards the earth at a velocity greater than the intended threshold. SpaceX and Musk extolled the test as a success.
In a company-wide email, Musk urged SpaceX employees to shift gears, invest significant time, and focus primarily on the Starship initiative henceforth to dramatically accelerate its progress.
The Users Guide describes the crewed and uncrewed payload configurations, information on Acoustics, and the various Environments of the Starship rocket. No pricing details are given, however.
_medium.jpg)
The Mars 2020 rover is now able to support its own weight on its six aluminum wheels. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory at NASA released a time-lapse of the rover being lowered to the ground.
In a presentation, Musk announced his plans to put Starship into orbit in about six months. He also elucidated the design and mechanical details of the rocket that is meant to drive space travel.
_medium.jpg)
With the rover nearing the end of its development stages, NASA is now looking for potential names for it. The procreator of the chosen name will be invited to Florida for the rover's launch in 2020.
The tech entrepreneur, engineer, and investor, Elon Musk has made good on his promise to release t-shirts in support of his idea of terraforming Mars by quite literally nuking its poles.
Two brand new heroes for Valve's popular MOBA, Dota 2, were announced today during The International. Grimstroke has already been released, but Mars has a winter 2018 release schedule.
Scientists have discovered the first persistent water source on Mars. The water has been described as a lake 20km across and is at least one metre deep, but could go down much further.
NASA could launch its InSight mission to Mars today. The new lander will look deep below the surface of the planet to collect data so that scientists can map the planet's vast interior.
The Falcon Heavy, from SpaceX, is set for its maiden voyage today. It'll send a Tesla Roadster into orbit around the Sun, where it could stay for up to a billion years into the future.
31 products won Best of Innovation Awards for CES 2018. Four of the products included: a robot for your home, a HUD for motorcyclists, language translating earbuds, and a wireless charging system.
The eccentric billionaire plans on sending Tesla's first electric vehicle to Mars aboard a SpaceX rocket. He shared images yesterday of the car being fitted into the rocket assembly.
The first detection of gravitational waves by both LIGO and Virgo detectors was announced this week; a new type of supercomputer using polaritons was successfully tested; and more.
Elon Musk's goals for the BFR system are clear, he wants nothing short of making humanity a multiplanet species; with a moon base, a manned mission to Mars in 2024, and rocket-trips around Earth too.
The Mars Scientific City aims to be a fully functioning simulation of what it will be like on an actual Mars base. Scientists can spend a year there completely isolated from the outside world.
Elon Musk has posted a simulation video of the planned Interplanetary Transport System ahead of his main speech which he will be giving at the 68th International Astronautical Congress in Australia.
Here's the rundown of a location in space where a scientist from SETI believe extraterrestrial microbial life could be found. It largely reinforces what other scientists have said in the past.
Elon Musk has taken to Instagram to post a new picture of a working spacesuit. The spacesuit combines a cool design with functionality - features that Musk described as "incredibly hard to balance."
Musk outlines his Interplanetary Transport System which he says will be refueled in space, carry over 100 people, be the biggest rocket in history, and will be "great fun" to travel in.
Scientists revealed the first artificial photosynthesis triggered by blue light without rare materials and a new way to make bricks from Martian soil. Also, Cassini's Grand Finale has begun.
_medium.jpg)
This week SpaceX has successfully launched its first recycled rocket into space, a 'unique' variety of potato for agriculture on Mars has been found, and the latest on human brain implants.
It appears that Tesla is delivering some holiday fun via its latest update for the Model X and Model S. Model X owners can transform their vehicles into a light show and also travel to Mars.
With virtual reality on the verge of becoming mainstream, NASA has teamed up with game developers to create an VR experience that will take you to Mars without having to leave Earth.
