September 11, 2025
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Breaking News
  • [ September 10, 2025 ] Live coverage: SpaceX attempts to launch Indonesian communications satellite following three days of scrubs Falcon 9
  • [ September 10, 2025 ] Launch preview: Space Development Agency, SpaceX to launch next-gen national security satellites Falcon 9
  • [ September 8, 2025 ] Poor weather halts SpaceX launch attempt of Indonesian communications satellite for second day in a row Falcon 9
  • [ September 6, 2025 ] SpaceX passes 2,000 Starlink satellites deployed in 2025 with Saturday launch Falcon 9
  • [ September 4, 2025 ] SpaceX aces 500th Falcon booster landing amid sunrise Starlink mission Falcon 9

Earth Return Orbiter

Mission Reports

NASA narrows design for rocket to launch samples off of Mars

April 20, 2020 Stephen Clark

After years of studies, test-firings and a survey of U.S. industry in preparation for launch of a Mars Sample Return mission in 2026, NASA has settled on a solid-fueled design for a miniature rocket with a first-of-its-kind purpose: Launching a payload from Mars for a trip back to Earth.

News

NASA, ESA officials seek formal approvals for Mars sample return mission

September 16, 2019 Stephen Clark

After crystallizing a partnership to retrieve samples from the surface of Mars and return them to Earth, NASA and European Space Agency officials are seeking government funding commitments before the end of this year to carry out a multibillion-dollar robotic mission that could depart Earth with a pair of rocket launches as soon as 2026.

News Headlines

  • Live coverage: SpaceX attempts to launch Indonesian communications satellite following three days of scrubs
    September 10, 2025
  • Launch preview: Space Development Agency, SpaceX to launch next-gen national security satellites
    September 10, 2025
  • Poor weather halts SpaceX launch attempt of Indonesian communications satellite for second day in a row
    September 8, 2025
  • SpaceX passes 2,000 Starlink satellites deployed in 2025 with Saturday launch
    September 6, 2025
  • SpaceX aces 500th Falcon booster landing amid sunrise Starlink mission
    September 4, 2025
  • SpaceX launches 28 Starlink satellites on Wednesday sunrise Falcon 9 flight
    September 2, 2025
  • SpaceX’s Tuesday night Starlink features rare debut of a Falcon booster
    September 2, 2025
  • SpaceX’s Sunday morning Falcon 9 launch sends 1,900th Starlink to orbit in 2025
    August 30, 2025
  • SpaceX launches 24 Starlink satellites into polar orbit
    August 29, 2025
  • NASA, NOAA prep spacecraft trio to study the Sun and its impacts
    August 29, 2025
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