Solar System

China’s Mars-bound probe returns self-portrait from deep space

October 6, 2020 Stephen Clark

China’s space agency has released images captured by a small camera ejected from the country’s first Mars-bound spacecraft, showing the probe in deep space as it nears the halfway point of its seven-month journey from Earth to the Red Planet.

NASA lays out $28 billion plan to return astronauts to the moon in 2024

September 21, 2020 Stephen Clark

NASA officials released a nearly five-year, $28 billion plan Monday to return astronauts to the surface of the moon before the end of 2024, but the agency’s administrator said the “aggressive” timeline set by the Trump administration last year hinges on Congress approving $3.2 billion in the next few months to kick-start development of new human-rated lunar landers.

Jupiter looms large in spectacular Hubble image

September 18, 2020 Stephen Clark

The Hubble Space Telescope turned toward Jupiter last month, capturing colorful views of the giant planet and its icy moon Europa more than 400 million miles from Earth.

Hints of life renew interest in Venus, and a private mission could lead the way

September 14, 2020 Stephen Clark

The announcement Monday of the discovery of phosphine gas in the clouds of Venus — an indicator of possible life — has raised hopes among scientists for new robotic missions to renew exploration of Earth’s planetary neighbor. If Rocket Lab founder Peter Beck gets his way, a privately-funded mission could get the next crack at probing Venus’s soupy atmosphere.

Elon Musk offers update on SpaceX’s Starship mega-rocket

September 1, 2020 Stephen Clark

SpaceX founder Elon Musk detailed progress on the company’s next-generation Starship program Monday, saying the huge rocket could “probably” attempt its first launch into Earth orbit next year, and adding that the Starship will fly hundreds of missions before SpaceX puts people on-board.

China’s Mars-bound probe returns self-portrait from deep space

NASA lays out $28 billion plan to return astronauts to the moon in 2024

Jupiter looms large in spectacular Hubble image

Hints of life renew interest in Venus, and a private mission could lead the way

Elon Musk offers update on SpaceX’s Starship mega-rocket

Mars missions complete first course corrections on journey to Red Planet

NASA asteroid explorer aces final rehearsal before sampling run

Video: Rocketcams show Mars-bound rover’s ride into space

Photos: Atlas 5 rocket catapults into space with Mars rover

Mars 2020 spacecraft resumes normal operations after post-launch safe mode