April 1, 2023
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Breaking News
  • [ March 30, 2023 ] Live coverage: SpaceX countdown at Vandenberg aborted at T-minus 3 seconds Falcon 9
  • [ March 29, 2023 ] First flight of astronauts on Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft slips to July Atlas 5
  • [ March 29, 2023 ] First launch for Pentagon’s own mega-constellation set for Thursday Falcon 9
  • [ March 29, 2023 ] SpaceX launches another bundle of Starlink internet satellites Mission Reports
  • [ March 28, 2023 ] Damaged Russian Soyuz capsule returns to Earth without a crew Mission Reports
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Mars Ascent Vehicle

News

Northrop Grumman to supply solid rocket motors for first Mars Ascent Vehicle

March 29, 2021 Stephen Clark

NASA awarded Northrop Grumman a contract worth as much as $84.5 million earlier this month to supply rocket motors for a first-of-its-kind launch vehicle to fire a capsule of rock samples off of Mars on a journey back to Earth.

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

NASA studies mission to return samples from Mars by end of 2020s

August 28, 2017 Stephen Clark

NASA is examining options to launch a robotic mission as soon as 2026 to pick up rock specimens from the surface of Mars and bring them back to Earth, moving forward the timeline for a sample return mission as the agency postpones plans for a new Mars reconnaissance and data relay orbiter.

News Headlines

  • Live coverage: SpaceX countdown at Vandenberg aborted at T-minus 3 seconds
    March 30, 2023
  • First flight of astronauts on Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft slips to July
    March 29, 2023
  • First launch for Pentagon’s own mega-constellation set for Thursday
    March 29, 2023
  • SpaceX launches another bundle of Starlink internet satellites
    March 29, 2023
  • Damaged Russian Soyuz capsule returns to Earth without a crew
    March 28, 2023
  • Home
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    • Antares Launcher
    • Ariane 5
    • Atlas 5
    • Delta 4
    • Falcon 9
    • Falcon Heavy
    • H-2A
    • Soyuz
    • Space Station
  • Members
    • Sign in
    • Become a member
    • Members Content
  • Shop

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