Mars

NASA’s InSight lander inside one month to launch toward Mars

April 8, 2018 Stephen Clark

NASA’s InSight Mars lander will be buttoned up for launch in the coming weeks at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, in preparation for its hoisting atop an Atlas 5 rocket for blastoff in the predawn hours of May 5.

Atlas 5 rocket assembled for first Mars mission launch from Vandenberg

March 23, 2018 Stephen Clark

Ground crews at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California raised a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket on its launch pad earlier this month in preparation for liftoff May 5 with NASA’s InSight lander heading to Mars.

NASA to decide soon whether flying drone will launch with Mars 2020 rover

March 15, 2018 Stephen Clark

Testing of a lightweight robotic helicopter designed to fly in the alien atmosphere of Mars has produced encouraging results in recent months, and NASA officials expect to decide soon whether the aerial drone will accompany the agency’s next rover to the red planet set for liftoff in 2020.

Europe’s ExoMars orbiter nears start of methane-sniffing science mission

March 7, 2018 Stephen Clark

Nearly a year-and-a-half after arriving at the red planet, Europe’s ExoMars orbiter is finally approaching a planned perch around 250 miles over the rust-colored world after repeatedly dipping into the Martian atmosphere to lower its orbit.

InSight lander flown to California for final launch preps

March 2, 2018 Stephen Clark

NASA’s robotic InSight Mars lander arrived at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California this week aboard a U.S. Air Force cargo plane, ready for final testing, fueling and launch aboard an Atlas 5 rocket May 5, two years later the originally planned.

NASA gears up for brisk launch pace, starting with weather satellite

February 14, 2018 Stephen Clark

Engineers at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center tasked with overseeing launches of scientific satellites and interplanetary probes will be responsible later this year for ensuring six major missions safely get into space over a span of a little more than six months, beginning with the launch of NOAA’s new GOES-S weather observatory on an Atlas 5 rocket March 1.

NASA’s InSight lander inside one month to launch toward Mars

Atlas 5 rocket assembled for first Mars mission launch from Vandenberg

NASA to decide soon whether flying drone will launch with Mars 2020 rover

Europe’s ExoMars orbiter nears start of methane-sniffing science mission

InSight lander flown to California for final launch preps

NASA gears up for brisk launch pace, starting with weather satellite

Elon Musk says SpaceX will try to launch his Tesla Roadster on new heavy-lift rocket

Scientists suggest streaks on Martian hillsides are dry flows

NASA confirms contribution to Japanese-led Mars mission

Engineers hopeful Mars rover’s drill can return to service