Orchestrating a swarm of robots for exploration of canyon on Mars
An enormous canyon stretches across Mars: Valles Marineris is 3,000 kilometers long, 600 kilometers wide and on average 8 kilometers deep. Its Latin name goes back to the Mars orbiter Mariner, which discovered the valley in the early 1970s......»»
Astronauts stranded in space: Unexpected eight-month stay highlights risks of space exploration
Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams took off for the International Space Station in June. The test flight aboard Boeing's Starliner was supposed to last a week, but they have yet to return......»»
NASA"s Europa Clipper gets set of super-size solar arrays
The largest spacecraft NASA has ever built for planetary exploration just got its "wings"—massive solar arrays to power it on the journey to Jupiter's icy moon Europa......»»
NASA"s Perseverance rover on Mars begins steep climb to rim of a crater
NASA's Perseverance rover is tackling a steep new challenge on Mars......»»
NASA has to be trolling with the latest cost estimate of its SLS launch tower
"NASA officials informed us they do not intend to request a fixed-price proposal." Enlarge / Teams with NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems Program and primary contractor Bechtel National, Inc. continue construction on the base o.....»»
SpaceX Polaris Dawn launch pushed back after helium leak
SpaceX on Monday pushed back the historic launch of an all-civilian crew on an orbital expedition set to mark a new chapter in space exploration with the first spacewalk by private citizens......»»
Blue Origin confirms target date for maiden flight of New Glenn rocket
Blue Origin has confirmed that it's targeting no earlier than October 13 for the inaugural launch of its New Glenn rocket for a NASA mission to Mars......»»
Researchers identify effective materials for protecting astronauts from harmful cosmic radiation on Mars
Researchers have identified specific materials, including certain plastics, rubber, and synthetic fibers, as well as Martian soil (regolith), which would effectively protect astronauts by blocking harmful space radiation on Mars. These findings could.....»»
Unveiling glycoRNAs: New study proves they do exist
In a groundbreaking exploration of cell surface biology, Ryan Flynn has uncovered a surprising role for RNA outside the confines of the cell. Flynn's research, which focuses on the biology of cell surface RNA, led to the discovery that certain RNAs a.....»»
A European lander could return an ice core for a fraction of the cost of Europa Clipper
Cost is a major driving factor in the development of space exploration missions. Any new technology or trick that could lower the cost of a mission makes it much more appealing for mission planners. Therefore, much of NASA's research goes into those.....»»
Rocket Lab entered “hero mode” to finish Mars probes—now it’s up to Blue Origin
In order to send NASA's ESCAPADE mission to Mars, Blue Origin must launch in September or October. Enlarge / The two spacecraft for NASA's ESCAPADE mission at Rocket Lab's factory in Long Beach, California. (credit: Rocket Lab).....»»
Mars-bound payload on way to Florida for 1st launch of Blue Origin New Glenn
The Mars-bound twin spacecraft for NASA's ESCAPADE mission were packed up in California to be shipped out to Florida this week ahead of what would be the first ever launch of Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket from Cape Canaveral......»»
How to See the Conjunction Between Mars, Jupiter, and the Moon
On the 27th, the celestial bodies will form an unusual triangle in the sky just before dawn......»»
Research team releases a 76 m-per-pixel global color image dataset and map of Mars
Remote-sensing images of Mars contain rich information about its surface morphology, topography, and geological structure. These data are fundamental for scientific research and exploration missions of Mars. Prior to China's first Mars exploration mi.....»»
Scientists characterize shale cap rocks at tiny scales
A team of researchers is working on a multidisciplinary approach to advancing the exploration of shale rock as a suitable geological seal for resource recovery and underground storage. Given that the pore space in shale rock is predominantly sub-micr.....»»
Perseverance rover gears up for a big climb to the rim of the Jezero Crater
The Perseverance rover on Mars is set to begin its newest challenge: a slog up the rim of the Jezero Crater that will take months to complete......»»
Apple’s next secret project sounds absolutely wild — and it involves robots
With the Apple Car being canned, a new report claims Apple could be pivoting to robotics in a fascinating new way......»»
Bumblebees" sense of direction rivals that of humans, study shows
Bumblebees have a great capacity to navigate despite their small brain size. This is borne out of new research conducted at Lund University in Sweden. The research results can potentially benefit the development of navigation robots in crisis situati.....»»
Rocks collected on Mars hold key to water and perhaps life on the planet: Researchers urge bringing them back to Earth
Over the course of nearly five months in 2022, NASA's Perseverance rover collected rock samples from Mars that could rewrite the history of water on the red planet and even contain evidence for past life on Mars......»»
"Killer robots" are becoming a real threat in Africa
The use of drones in the Sahel, a region of Africa that has been plagued by violence driven by jihadist insurgency for much of the past decade, has become a real problem. In April, for example, Al Qaeda's affiliate in the Sahel, Jama'at Nusrat al Isl.....»»
Novel anemometer tracks sound travel for speedier, more precise wind speed calculations on Mars
Mars has a notoriously inhospitable environment, with temperatures that fluctuate dramatically over the course of a Martian day and average minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Its surface is mostly covered in red dust, with terrain typified by craters, cany.....»»