Mars exploration

A vista from NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity

That one-way ticket to Mars you were hoping for may not be such a good idea

Science

The Mars One mission was once a media darling, but a critical MIT report has triggered a backlash against the project that even includes one of its own potential astronauts.

The World

A trip to Mars is a lifetime dream — and excellent reality TV

Science
NASA's Mars rover, Curiosity, is pictured in this February 3, 2013 handout self-portrait.

The Curiosity rover uncovers evidence that Mars once had a massive lake

Science
Mars

Just what is this ball the Curiosity rover found on the surface of Mars

Global Scan
Ross Lockwood. Photo by Lucie Poulet.

What would life on Mars be like? A Canadian scientist spent months in a NASA-built dome to find out

Science
NASA technicians work on a Mars-bound spacecraft. Unmanned missions to Mars have mostly been successful, but the effort to sent a human being there is proving a harder task — and a harder sell.

Plans to put a human on Mars are a mess, says a new report. Should we even try?

Environment

Will the US ever land a human on Mars? No way, says a new Congressionally-mandated report. But scientists argue we should look for a new plan, not an excuse to abandon the effort.Will the US ever land a human on Mars? No way, says a new Congressionally-mandated report. But scientists argue we should look for a new plan, not an excuse to abandon the effort.

NASA simulation of Mars evolution

NASA video says this is how Mars might once have looked

Environment

NASA has taken data from recent explorations of Mars and turned it into a cool animation showing how Mars might have evolved over the last 4 billion years. The simulation starts by flying over a beautiful, Earth-like planet with huge lakes as the planet slowly becomes today’s barren, red landscape.

Microbes below Earth’s surface could be potential link to Mars rover discovery

Environment

Carbon compounds found in a drill sample from Mars and microbes found below the Earth’s surface could be related to one another according to researchers at the Deep Carbon Observatory. Though they’re learning more about deep microbial life, some researchers say it could be the link to previous life on Mars.

NASA’s outreach efforts around rover landings capture new attention

Environment

Among the most popular videos on YouTube in 2012 there was music, an angry dad and even a guy jumping out of a space capsule. But among the hits, was an 11-minute, animated depiction of what it was like for the Mars Curiosity rover to land on Mars.

‘Mohawk guy’ becomes the new face of NASA

Environment

Bobak Ferdowsi is young, good looking and sports a stars-and-stripes Mohawk. He’s also the flight director for NASA’s Mars Curiosity rover. That Ferdowki doesn’t look like your typical rocket scientist is what made him an overnight Internet sensation, and the new face of the U.S. space program.