Now that nuclear-thermal rockets are becoming a reality, we may very well be shipping off the first human pioneers to Mars (both safely and efficiently) in the not-too-distant future. This, of course, leaves the question of exactly who will become the first generation of Martian-Earthlings...
Want to be a space pioneer? Not much tying you to planet Earth? Apply today and blast off for Mars! Yes, you really could be one of the first humans to set foot on the Red Planet, as Mars One is genuinely looking for new astronauts, and anyone anywhere can apply.
The non-profit Netherlands-based Mars One is seeking a legion of applicants; anyone who fits the pretty basic requirements is wanted. The idea is that it'll begin the selection process in the first half of this year, with contestants potential astronauts whittled down into at least six teams of four, through a combination of votes from ‘a global televised programme' and a team of experts. Big Brother with a purpose, then, basically. Entrants will need...
One of the biggest bummers about Mars Rover Curiosity's epic landing is that there was no news crew on the surface to catch footage of the descent. This full resolution video of Curiosity touching down from its own point of view is the next best thing.
This isn't the first video of touchdown, but it's the best. It's the result of stringing together all the high resolution shots the rover took on its way to the surface, high resolution shots that took a lot longer to get back to Earth than the initial thumbnails. If it seems a bit choppy, that's because Curiosity only took about four pictures per second. It might not be movie quality, but this is the best video out there of what it's like to land on Mars. Incredible.
The European Space Agency' Mars Express spacecraft has discovered "large volumes of water ice" hiding only 65 feet underground the red planet's surface, in the Phlegra Montes mountain range. It could be used by future human explorers.
An unmanned Atlas 5 rocket blasted off from Florida on Saturday, launching a $2.5 billion nuclear-powered NASA rover toward Mars to look for clues on what could sustain life on the Red Planet.
Pale but smiling, an international crew of researchers on Friday walked out of a set of windowless modules after a gruelling 520-day simulation of a flight to Mars.
The all-male crew of three Russians, a Frenchman, an Italian-Colombian and a Chinese slowly emerged from the western Moscow facility, which simulated the confinement, stress and fatigue of interplanetary travel — minus the weightlessness. Dressed in blue track suits emblazoned with the mission emblem, they carefully walked down a metal ladder to a greeting crowd of officials and journalists.
