NASA’s Maven, a spacecraft studying Mars, stopped responding six months ago. Mission teams lost contact in December after Maven passed behind Mars and never came back online. Engineers figured out the problem: Maven spun too fast, disrupting its orbit and draining its batteries. Without power, the s
Space missions face a big problem: their computers are slow and outdated. Most current chips, like the RAD750, rely on old technology that struggles with modern tasks. That’s where a new NASA-Microchip project comes in. They’ve created a small but powerful processor called HPSC, designed to handle t
Blue Origin, a company started by Jeff Bezos over 25 years ago, achieved a major milestone on Thursday. Their massive New Glenn rocket, standing 18 stories tall, successfully landed on a floating platform in the Atlantic Ocean. This landing happened nine minutes after the rocket launched from Cape C
Blue Origin is getting closer to sending its New Glenn rocket on its second trip to space. This time, the rocket might be heading to Mars. The company has already tested the second stage of the rocket in April. Right now, the first stage is being prepped at their Florida base. The second launch was
The latest budget proposal from the White House for NASA's 2026 fiscal year has sparked controversy. It suggests a major shift in the agency's focus, with significant cuts to space science and other programs. The goal? A dramatic pivot towards sending humans to Mars. However, this plan is already fa
On February 28, 2025, a unique photo was snapped of the Curiosity rover. It was moving across the Martian surface. This was a first. The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter took the picture. It used a special camera called HiRISE. This camera is known for its sharp images of the Red Planet's surface. The ro
The U. S. Geological Survey's Astrogeology Science Center in Flagstaff, Arizona, is under pressure to slash its workforce by at least 20%. This news comes from insiders who are aware of the situation. The push for these cuts is part of a broader effort to trim costs across the federal government. T
The future of space exploration is at a crossroads. A recent hearing brought to light some of the challenges and opportunities facing NASA. At the center of the discussion was Jared Isaacman, a prominent figure in the tech industry and a close associate of Elon Musk. Isaacman is known for his role a
Mars is a dusty place. This dust is not like the stuff under your bed. It's super fine and packed with nasty chemicals. This means big trouble for anyone planning to visit. The tiny particles can sneak into lungs and cause serious health issues. Think about it: astronauts already face lung problems
A spacecraft on an asteroid-chasing mission recently had a close encounter with Mars. It was a Wednesday when the European Space Agency's Hera spacecraft flew past the Red Planet. During this flyby, the spacecraft captured hundreds of stunning images of Mars and several detailed shots of Deimos, one
