A question has intrigued astronomers for decades: are the moons of Mars, Phobos and Deimos, captured asteroids or fragments ...

It is a hot debate bracketed by cold hard facts: What are the best methods for handling Mars samples here on Earth? Planetary protection is a measure to safeguard our world from any contamination that ...

Bringing samples from Mars back to Earth is one of NASA's most ambitious goals. The plan goes back to the 1970s, with NASA's robotic exploration program, when the first spacecraft landed on the ...

NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover took this selfie, made up of 62 individual images, in July 2024. (NASA / JPL-Caltech / MSSS) A rock sample collected by NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover may contain ...

The new test proved the capability of a new propellant that will enhance the rocket's performance, making a sample return mission from Mars increasingly viable. Share on Facebook (opens in a new ...

Northrop Grumman has successfully ground tested the motor that could be used for the historic first orbital rocket launch from another planet. The solid rocket booster is intended to help return the ...

NASA's Perseverance Mars rover captured this image of a rocky area nicknamed "Cheyava Falls" on July 18, 2024, showing black "poppy seed" and larger "leopard spot" features. Researchers say a sample ...

International oversight would reduce risks, but could be "a politically sensitive and contentious matter." When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how ...