Space and astronomy news
The first pictures from a Chinese probe on the surface of Mars were released May 19, sparking a plea from NASA’s recently appointed chief for more funding to keep America in the lead on the space frontier. China’s Zhurong rover, which landed on the Red Planet on May 14, sent back pictures as it sat atop its …
Continue reading “Pictures From China’s Mars Rover Fuel NASA Chief’s Funding Pitch to Congress”
According to a new animation, it appears that China is hoping to build a Starship of its own, one that can provide intercontinental flights for paying customers.
Early on Thursday, a Long March 5B rocket – currently the most powerful of China’s space launch vehicles – blasted off from Wenchang, carrying the first major component of an ambitious new modular space station. The station module, dubbed Tianhe (Harmony of the Heavens), marks the next big step in China’s human spaceflight program in …
Continue reading “China Launches the Core Module of Its New Space Station”
China’s proposed next-generation rocket reached the final stage of feasibility studies this month. The planned launch vehicle, known as the Long March-9, will be capable of sending 100 tons to the Moon, and could see its first launch as early as 2030. Announced in 2018, the Long March-9 will play a key role in China’s …
Continue reading “China’s Super-Heavy Lift Rocket Will Carry 100 Tons to the Moon”
Some lucky astronomers get to work with some of the rarest material in the world. Real Martian meteorites are extraordinarily rare, but are invaluable in terms of understanding Martian geology. Now, one of the most famous meteorites, nicknamed “Black Beauty”, is helping shed light on a much more speculative area of science: Martian biology.
Now that the UAE’s Hope spacecraft and China’sTianwen-1 have successfully reached the Red Planet, next up is NASA’s Perseverance rover, set to land on February 18th. Ten operational spacecraft are currently in orbit or on the surface of Mars, ready to welcome the new rover. But one spacecraft in particular, the InSight lander, will be …
Continue reading “InSight is Going to Try and “Hear” Perseverance Land on Mars From 3,452 km Away”
Scientist find microbes in clay deposits beneath the Atacama desert, a good sign for missions looking for life on Mars
Grab your telescope: when it comes to astronomy, 2020 saved the best for last, with a fine opposition of the planet Mars coming right up next month on October 13th.
According to a recent study, the presence of acidic and alkali fluids on the surface of Mars mean that its soil is not likely to hold onto evidence of past life.
China’s mysterious reusable spaceplane recently launched and has returned to Earth after spending two days in space.