All articles tagged with #mars missions
Scientists are developing a centrifugal nuclear thermal rocket (CNTR) that uses liquid uranium to significantly increase propulsion efficiency, potentially enabling faster and safer missions to Mars and beyond, with the goal of reaching design readiness within five years.
NASA and Google are developing an AI-powered medical assistant called CMO-DA to help astronauts diagnose and treat health issues independently during long-duration space missions to Mars and the Moon, with high diagnostic accuracy demonstrated in initial tests, aiming to enhance space medicine and potentially benefit terrestrial healthcare.
NASA is testing advanced supersonic parachutes with innovative sensors to improve Mars mission safety and reliability, involving collaborations across research centers and industries, with potential applications beyond space exploration.
The Trump administration proposed cutting over half of NASA's science budget in 2026, including ending operations of key Mars orbiters like Mars Odyssey and MAVEN, which has faced widespread criticism from the scientific community and Congress. Despite resistance, the budget cuts threaten valuable ongoing missions and could hinder future Mars exploration efforts, including human missions, especially after the administration's focus on human spaceflight and recent tensions with SpaceX.
The article discusses the historical and ongoing efforts to develop nuclear power for space exploration, highlighting early ambitions from President Kennedy, current projects like NASA's DRACO, and the potential for nuclear energy to revolutionize travel to Mars and beyond, amid a shift in both government and commercial space initiatives.
Senator Ted Cruz proposed adding nearly $10 billion to support NASA's space exploration programs, including funding for the Space Launch System, Artemis missions, Mars exploration, and infrastructure improvements, amidst ongoing debates over the administration's budget and legislative support.
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California is laying off about 325 employees, or 5% of its workforce, due to budget constraints. This follows a previous round of layoffs in February, which affected 8% of the workforce, partly due to funding cuts for the Mars Sample Return mission. JPL Director Laurie Leshin stated that these layoffs are necessary to maintain budget adherence and are not related to recent political events. The lab aims to stabilize its workforce at around 5,500 employees moving forward.
SpaceX's Elon Musk announced plans for the Starship rocket to reach a height of 500 feet, with each launch estimated to cost $3 million, as the company aims for Mars missions. The rocket's reusability and cost reduction are key focuses, with Musk emphasizing the potential for thousands of launches to support eventual settlement on Mars. Despite delays impacting NASA's Artemis program, Musk remains optimistic about Starship's capabilities and envisions a future with regular launches and a "Moon Base Alpha." The next Starship flight is expected in May, with ambitions for multiple launches this year and the construction of additional spacecraft by 2024.
Chinese scientists have developed a prototype nuclear-powered engine for Mars missions, positioning China as a contender in the global space race. This technology offers benefits such as extended mission duration, increased efficiency, reduced travel time, enhanced power supply, and feasibility for more ambitious space exploration missions. While initial costs may be high, the long-term cost efficiency and potential for reuse make nuclear-powered spacecraft a promising advancement in space propulsion technology.
Scientists warn that astronauts' gut bacteria could pose a threat to future Mars missions, as four strains of bacteria commonly found in the human gut were found to survive and even thrive in simulated Mars conditions. These bacteria have the potential to cause disease in humans and could contaminate the Red Planet. The research suggests that human missions to Mars will need to take medical precautions to protect astronauts from bacterial threats brought from Earth, and robotic missions may be better suited for exploring regions that could harbor signs of life to prevent contamination.
NASA has suspended all Mars missions from November 11 to November 25 due to solar conjunction, where the Sun lies directly between Earth and Mars, causing potential disruption to radio commands. While communication will be limited, the Martian rovers, satellites, and helicopter will continue their pre-planned scientific objectives and send health checks during this period. The distance between Earth and Mars during solar conjunction increases to about 235 million miles, making communication challenging. However, NASA's robotic missions will resume normal operations after the two-week hiatus.
NASA has temporarily paused all Mars missions due to a solar conjunction event, where Mars passes to the opposite side of the sun from Earth. This event occurs every two Earth years and causes a communication blackout between Earth and Mars. During this time, mission controllers lose contact with robotic Mars missions, including the Curiosity and Perseverance rovers, the Ingenuity helicopter, and spacecraft in orbit. The pause allows for the prevention of any interference with the operations of the robots or spacecraft. Signals to Mars will resume on November 25, and Mars missions will continue to gather data during this period.
Lockheed Martin is advocating for its Mars Base Camp (MBC) concept, which involves building a Mars-orbiting station as a base for crewed expeditions and excursions to the Martian moons. The MBC program is expected to take about a decade to reach fruition and would allow for telerobotic exploration of the Martian surface and sample return. The company supports long-duration conjunction class missions, which provide more science and exploration time. The propulsion system of choice is nuclear thermal propulsion, which enables shorter trajectories for human missions. Lockheed Martin's MBC is not contingent on the success of NASA's Artemis program and aims to reduce risk and demonstrate capabilities. The challenge lies in garnering political support due to the cost and long timelines associated with Mars missions.
The Mars Society is hosting its 26th Annual International Mars Society Convention from October 5 to October 8, both in-person and online. The event will feature speakers discussing current missions on Mars, analog missions, and future plans for Mars exploration. Virtual attendees can register to access live events, submit questions to speakers, network with other participants, and view livestreams. The theme of this year's convention is "Mars for All," focusing on increasing public support and interest in human settlement on Mars.
Astronauts face challenges in sleeping during space missions due to the unique space environment and the need to establish a natural sleep cycle. NASA researchers are developing tools to help astronauts overcome sleep challenges, including managing exposure to blue light and shifting sleep schedules. Simulated missions on Earth, such as the Human Exploration Research Analog, allow for more control and data collection. NASA is also monitoring the sleep of Earth-bound scientists and engineers working on Mars missions to better understand the effects of the planet's longer day on the human body. Understanding sleep is crucial for astronaut performance, alertness, and relationships during long-duration missions to Mars.