News Archive / Tagged: Journey to Mars

• VASIMR plasma engine: Earth to Mars in 39 days?

  Collin SkocikJuly 19th, 2017

  In Arthur C. Clarke’s classic science fiction novels and movies "2001: A Space Odyssey" and "2010: Odyssey Two", the spaceships Discovery and Alexei Leonov make interplanetary journeys using plasma drives. Nuclear reactors heat hydrogen or ammonia to a plasma state that’s energetic enough to provide thrust.

• NASA scientists designing Martian dust filter

  Collin SkocikJuly 7th, 2017

  One of the challenges that astronauts will face on Mars is the presence of the fine Martian dust. Not only can the dust get into equipment and cause damage, but also it is extremely toxic with perchlorates.

• NASA’s human spaceflight plans come into focus with announcement of Deep Space Gateway

  Curt GodwinApril 1st, 2017

  With NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) well into development, the agency has finally laid out plans for the early missions of its super-heavy-lift rocket. After an initial shakedown flight for Exploration Mission 1 (EM-1), the SLS will deliver components of what has been designated a "Deep Space Gateway" to lunar vicinity.

• Bill introduced to redirect NASA to Moon, establish sustained presence

  Derek RichardsonFebruary 7th, 2017

  A bill that would direct NASA to return to the Moon and establish a sustained presence was referred to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space, and Technology on Feb. 3, 2017.

• President Obama reaffirms NASA’s Mars-centric exploration plan

  Curt GodwinOctober 12th, 2016

  In an opinion piece written for CNN on Oct. 11, 2016, President Barack Obama reiterated his support for NASA's Journey to Mars. Under current plans, the U.S. space agency hopes to send astronauts to the Red Planet in the next 15–20 years.

• ULA’s workhorse Atlas V selected for Mars 2020 mission

  Curt GodwinAugust 26th, 2016

  NASA has again called upon United Launch Alliance (ULA) to provide launch services for a flagship mission to Mars. The agency announced that ULA has been awarded the contract to launch the Mars 2020 rover atop an Atlas V 541 vehicle and is aiming for liftoff in July 2020.

• NASA discusses SLS and Orion progress at ‘Day of Mars’ event

  Curt GodwinAugust 22nd, 2016

  NEW ORLEANS — Before wowing onlookers with the sights and sounds related to testing an RS-25 engine, NASA sought to educate members of traditional and social media outlets about agency and industry efforts related to the Journey to Mars.

• NASA officials, astronauts outline NASA’s crewed Mars efforts at NASA Glenn event

  Michael ColeMay 30th, 2016

  CLEVELAND, Ohio — Visitors from large and small technology-based businesses and organizations were treated to a first-hand update on NASA's effort to put humans on Mars during NASA Glenn Technology Day at the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, last Tuesday.

• NASA’s Deputy Administrator discusses agency’s road-map to Mars in exclusive interview

  Jason RhianNovember 17th, 2015

  NASA has posted great images of crews exploring Mars. Now? NASA is consistently saying it plans to send crews to Mars. Does it plan to do so alone? With other agencies? What role will private firms play? NASA's Deputy Administrator, Dava Newman, answered these questions in an exclusive interview with SpaceFlight Insider.

• NASA report outlines steps in its Journey to Mars

  Jim SharkeyOctober 11th, 2015

  NASA has announced the release of a 36-page report – NASA’s Journey to Mars: Pioneering Next Steps in Space Exploration – outlining the agency's plans for human exploration of Mars. The report discusses challenges that astronauts will face on lengthy space missions, including current and future research that will help NASA address these challenges.