In what can only be described as a frustrating development to advocates of Mars Exploration, NASA/JPL is reportedly considering the cancellation or delay (until possibly 2008) of the twin Mars Exploration Rovers. Apparently they do not have confidence that the Pathfinder-derived airbag landing system will work due to the increased mass of the Athena rover design.
September 12th, 2002
Is NASA Capable Of Lying?
Is NASA capable of lying to the public? Did NASA get caught in a lie regarding the first images taken of the “Face on Mars” by the Viking mission back in 1976? Rochus Boerner — a freelance reporter in the field at ASU and a new addition to our staff — offers this analysis.
May 24th, 2001
Stunning New Images of the Face On Mars
Stunning new images of the controversial “Face on Mars” have been released today by NASA and their contractor for the Mars Global Surveyor. The images were taken in April 2001 using a technique designed to capture the maximum resolution possible, during optimal lighting conditions. The contractor for the MSG camera is Malin Space Science Systems. You can see their complete release, including a 3-D analglyph and very large versions of the image.
May 23rd, 2001
Bush To Announce New Mars Program In July?
Rumors are circulating in Washington DC and among the space enthusiast community that U.S. President George W. Bush will announce a new Mars program this summer. Rumors have the announcement of a new initiative to send Humans to Mars coming on July 20th, a date which has special significance, as it was the first time a probe sucessfully landed on Mars in 1976.
August 11th, 1999
UN Space Conference Drafts Mars Declaration
With the annual Mars Society conference just a day away, young professionals from around the world here pledged their commitment to the human exploration of Mars, in what was said by organizers to be the broadest international statement of such support in history.
July 11th, 1999
Space Anniversaries in July
The month of July boasts two special anniversaries for space events. On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first human being to set foot on the Moon as part of the Apollo 11 mission. On July 4, 1997, the Mars Pathfinder robotic lander mission symbolized America’s return to Mars.
May 1st, 1999
Caltech Students Develop a New Plan to Send Humans to Mars
Undergrads to Present “Mars Society Mission” to NASA. Forget the new Star Wars-an ambitious project by undergraduate members of the Caltech’s chapter of the Mars Society could be bringing an epic space saga to a solar system near you.
March 2nd, 1999
NASA Funding Threatened for Mars Surveyor 2003
NASA is considering delaying or canceling the Mars Surveyor 2003 mission because of a lack of funding by the Clinton Administration.
February 24th, 1999
Mars Global Surveyor Achieves Mapping Orbit
The Mars Global Surveyor mission has finally entered into a mapping orbit after completing a successful campaign of aerobraking. The mission was originally scheduled to complete aerobraking over a year ago, but a problem with one of the spacecraft’s solar panels prompted mission controllers to use more conservative aerobraking techniques, which took a lot longer.