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There's Trouble on Mars for NASA's Perseverance Rover

Gizmodo

Gizmodo · 1y ago

There's Trouble on Mars for NASA's Perseverance Rover

The Perseverance rover's ability to laser zap Martian rocks is at risk due to a malfunctioning instrument. The SHERLOC instrument, which is used to examine rocks for microscopic clues, has one of its covers partially open, interfering with data collection. NASA engineers are working to determine the cause and find a solution. The malfunction could hinder the rover's mission of searching for signs of ancient life on Mars.

Related News

Elon Musk: “We’re going straight to Mars. The Moon is a distraction.”

Arstechnica

Arstechnica · 7m ago

Elon Musk: “We’re going straight to Mars. The Moon is a distraction.”

Elon Musk critiqued NASA's Artemis Program as "extremely inefficient" and stated that the Moon is a distraction, advocating instead for a direct focus on Mars. Having an influential advisory role with the incoming Trump administration, Musk’s comments carry weight for potential policy shifts. While murmurs suggest NASA may adopt a dual strategy focusing on both the Moon and Mars, how exactly Musk’s and the new administration’s influence will shape this remains to be seen.

Trump's space budget reflects influence of Elon Musk and SpaceX

Economic Times

Economic Times · 3m ago

Trump's space budget reflects influence of Elon Musk and SpaceX

President Donald Trump's 2026 budget significantly boosts federal spending on space, favoring Elon Musk's SpaceX and potentially benefitting Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin. The plan increases Pentagon funding for a missile defense system and NASA's lunar and Mars missions, aligning with SpaceX's strategies. While boosting SpaceX's opportunities, it also proposes cuts to NASA's current programs involving Boeing and Lockheed Martin, sparking debate over the influence of Musk's ties to the Trump administration.

Elon Musk plans Mars talk ahead of first Starship launch since test failures

Economic Times

Economic Times · 3m ago

Elon Musk plans Mars talk ahead of first Starship launch since test failures

Elon Musk is set to update SpaceX's Mars mission plans ahead of a crucial Starship test flight. The presentation from SpaceX's Texas facility will outline new timelines for deploying the Starship rocket system to Mars. Following past test failures, the ninth test launch is scheduled post-speech. Despite past ambitious timelines, Musk's influence on the U.S. space agenda and NASA's cosmic strategy remains significant, showcasing Starship's pivotal role in his vision for interplanetary exploration.

Trump White House budget proposal eviscerates science funding at NASA

Arstechnica

Arstechnica · 4m ago

Trump White House budget proposal eviscerates science funding at NASA

The Trump administration's proposed budget for NASA's fiscal year 2026 suggests a significant reduction of 20% overall, targeting a 50% cut in the Science Mission Directorate. This includes severe reductions to astrophysics, heliophysics, Earth science, and planetary science funding, potentially canceling projects like the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. While NASA's continuation of projects like Hubble and Webb is supported, there's concern over potential closures and impacts on American space leadership. Fierce opposition in Congress is expected.

Europe will have to be more Tenacious to land its first rover on the moon | TechCrunch

TechCrunch · 2m ago

Europe will have to be more Tenacious to land its first rover on the moon | TechCrunch

Europe's attempt to land its first rover on the moon, Tenacious, faced a setback when its lander lost contact during a landing attempt, indicating possible failure. The mission, supported by the European Space Agency and involving collaborative efforts from Luxembourg, aimed to explore lunar resources. Tenacious, carrying a scoop for NASA's soil collection mission, also included an artistic element, The Moonhouse, symbolizing humanity's shared imagination. This endeavor highlighted Europe's commercial and cultural aspirations in space exploration.

NASA Lays Off Hundreds Amid Mars Budget Uncertainties

Gizmodo

Gizmodo · 1y ago

NASA Lays Off Hundreds Amid Mars Budget Uncertainties

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is facing budget constraints that will result in layoffs of 530 employees and 40 contractors. The space agency is implementing cost-cutting measures due to uncertain federal budget cuts. NASA requested $27.2 billion for its 2024 budget, a 7% increase from the previous year, but is expected to receive significantly less funding for the Mars Sample Return (MSR) program. The Senate Appropriations subcommittee has expressed concerns over NASA's ambitious goals and has threatened mission cancellation if funding profiles are not provided. NASA is taking action to reduce spending while awaiting final budget decisions.

Long-time advocate of SLS rocket says it’s time to find an “off-ramp”

Arstechnica

Arstechnica · 6m ago

Long-time advocate of SLS rocket says it’s time to find an “off-ramp”

Scott Pace, former executive secretary of the National Space Council, advocates for phasing out NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) in favor of commercial heavy-lift rockets from companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin. He believes this shift is necessary for a sustainable lunar program as commercial options have advanced significantly. Pace emphasizes the need for a revised Artemis campaign and calls for NASA to innovate and focus on sustainable development, targeting the Moon and Mars for human expansion.

Space startups are licking their lips after NASA converts $11B Mars mission into a free-for-all

TechCrunch · 1y ago

Space startups are licking their lips after NASA converts $11B Mars mission into a free-for-all

NASA's $11 billion mission to collect and return samples from Mars has been deemed too expensive and the return date of 2040 too far away by NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. As a result, NASA plans to shift its strategy and collaborate with commercial providers to make the mission more affordable and expedite the sample return process. This presents a significant opportunity for space startups, which could potentially secure multi-billion-dollar contracts and benefit from the redirected funding. The move aligns with the trend of industry players investing in interplanetary capabilities and could pave the way for commercial ambitions for Mars exploration.

If Congress actually cancels the SLS rocket, what happens next?

Arstechnica

Arstechnica · 3m ago

If Congress actually cancels the SLS rocket, what happens next?

The White House proposed canceling NASA’s SLS rocket, Orion spacecraft, and Lunar Gateway, which would significantly reshape NASA's exploration strategy. Despite longstanding congressional support, there are indications these changes might be accepted. The cancellation would allow NASA to save billions and pivot to a Commercial Orbital Transportation System (COTS) model, funding private industry to develop Moon and Mars landing solutions. The focus would shift towards cost-effective, sustainable lunar and Mars exploration, potentially involving companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin.

SpaceX to launch private astronauts on first crewed polar orbit

Economic Times

Economic Times · 5m ago

SpaceX to launch private astronauts on first crewed polar orbit

SpaceX is set to launch the Fram2 mission, the first human spaceflight over Earth's polar regions. Named after a famous Norwegian ship, the mission involves four astronauts conducting experiments, such as the first space X-ray and mushroom growth in microgravity, to aid future Mars travel. Led by Chun Wang, the team trained for eight months. The launch will use a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule on a Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre.

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