Snapshots from Atlas 5 launch

The cohort of ten women and men will train for the next two years to become eligible for mission assignments to low Earth orbit and beyond. This is the first astronaut candidate class to consist of more women than men.

An automated mini-helicopter driven by two fast-spinning, counter-rotating rotors took off from the surface of Mars, hovered for 30 seconds, then successfully landed Monday to complete the historic first powered flight of an aircraft on another planet.

Along with plans for a moon base, senior NASA managers also outlined work to develop nuclear power systems for use on the moon and Mars to keep astronauts, habitats and other equipment warm while providing the electricity needed for research, construction and daily operations.