NASA’s car-sized Curiosity rover is searching the Jezero Crater on Mars for signs that once supported life. Engineers write commands giving Curiosity an up-close 3D view of hazards such as large rocks and steep slopes. But when a spaceship crash lands on another world, debris from its landing often scatters everywhere – one piece even…
Since scientists started studying Mars, much has been learned about it. Robotic spacecraft have even orbited it and touched down on its surface. Mars is a smaller planet than Earth with lower mass, leading to reduced gravity forces and thus lower gravity forces on this world. Mass Mars, also known as “the Red Planet,” is…
Unmanned spacecraft include satellite communications, weather and military surveillance satellites as well as telescopes. Landing on Mars can be an enormously complex challenge. NASA’s Curiosity rover demonstrated how difficult this task could be in 2012 by performing flawlessly through an incredibly complex sequence, including successfully deploying an elaborate sky crane system to lower itself onto…
Spacecraft images over five decades have revealed our planet’s history, climate and geology to us while inspiring artists. By the close of the 19th century, astronomers had amassed a vast library of written and painted depictions of Mars. These works could be considered works of astronomical realism. Paint by Numbers Paint by Numbers (PBN) is…
Scientists have long studied Mars by peering through telescopes, orbiting it with spacecraft and sending rovers onto its surface. Through their work they’ve discovered many similarities between our world and Mars’. Planet Venus shares similar dimensions, gravity and composition with Earth; yet has unique features of its own such as an oblate spheroid shape and…
Spacecraft are vehicles designed for space travel that may or may not require pilotage, with each maneuver using limited fuel to speed towards its destination. NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity arrived on Mars in 2012 to search for evidence of past life. Equipped with its Mastcam-Z camera, Curiosity captures stunning panoramic and stereooscopic photos of Mars….
Studies on human settlement on Mars have been ongoing since at least 1960; however, only recently has there been any realistic chance for such an endeavor to become reality. Travel to Mars poses numerous risks. Astronauts could experience bone loss as they remain immobile for long stretches. Life on Mars Mars’ surface is inhospitable to…
Mars experiences temperatures as low as -140deg C in its winters; during its summers however, temperatures can reach +20degC. Humans looking to explore Mars will have to adapt to its extreme temperatures, but finding water may prove even harder. Temperature Mars, as the fourth planet from the sun, is much colder than Earth due to…
Orion is the spacecraft designed to transport astronauts between Earth, the International Space Station, lunar orbit and Mars. It was specifically developed with safety, durability and affordability in mind. Orion will launch on top of a Space Launch System rocket and feature an escape tower to protect astronauts during reentry. When Orion returns to Earth,…
