Planetary surface missions currently operate cautiously. On Mars, communication delays between Earth and rovers (typically between four and 22 minutes), as well as data transfer constraints due to uplink and downlink limitations,

The mission, called Space Reactor-1 Freedom (SR-1 Freedom), is set to launch in December 2028. This mission aims to showcase the use of nuclear fission in space to power electric thrusters. While nuclear technology has been around for decades, it lacked the drive, purpose, destination, and leadership—until now.

The U.S. space agency will aim to send a nuclear-powered spacecraft to Mars—a first—in a bid to show that nuclear propulsion can be used to send missions into deep space

The first astronauts who walk on Mars are now being told to go as planetary detectives, not just pathfinders. A sweeping new scientific blueprint argues that the central task of those early crews should be to search directly for life, past or present ...

Astronaut Don Pettit recently shared a photo of a tentacled purple object that set social media ablaze. But this is far from an extraterrestrial threat; it’s actually an earthly treat. The “alien” is actually a potato.

The vision of Mars colonization is moving from science fiction into real-world planning, with multiple space agencies preparing for long-term human presence. Modern Mars missions focus on testing landing systems, developing life support, and building ...

The key to solving the mystery of the Viking results is the discovery of perchlorate on the Martian surface in 2008. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. Breaking space news, the latest ...