Mars News, Science, Technology at MarsDaily.com

October 29, 2015

Methane-powered engine key to next generation landers
Huntsville AL (SPX) Oct 29, 2015
NASA tested components for an engine that could be used for Mars landers powered with methane, a fuel that has never before propelled a NASA spacecraft. A spectacular blue flame erupted as a rocket engine thruster roared to life in a series of tests recently at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The blue flame, not typical of most engine tests, was the signature of the thruster's fuel - methane. "With the current configuration, these methane thrusters could propel a ... read more

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Martian skywatchers provide insight on atmosphere, protect orbiting hardware Though the Martian terrain echoes some features of our own planet, the atmosphere is quite different: thin, cold, dusty and often stormy. Observing these conditions and adapting our technologies to ... more		Scientists Predict that Rocky Planets Formed from "Pebbles" Using a new process in planetary formation modeling, where planets grow from tiny bodies called "pebbles," Southwest Research Institute scientists can explain why Mars is so much smaller than Earth. ... more		NASA Completes Critical Design Review for Space Launch System For the first time in almost 40 years, a NASA human-rated rocket has completed all steps needed to clear a critical design review (CDR). The agency's Space Launch System (SLS) is the first vehicle d ... more
				The Study of Science through Popular Movies Who says class has to be all about lectures and labs? Andres Aragoneses, a quantum optics researcher at Duke, has created a class called "Science and Science Fiction" in conjunction with the Osher L ... more		Landing site recommended for ExoMars 2018 Oxia Planum has been recommended as the primary candidate for the landing site of the ExoMars 2018 mission. ExoMars 2018, comprising a rover and surface platform, is the second of two missions makin ... more

Solar systems for home and business installations

The Martian Astrobiologist Mars has been a focus of astrobiology and exobiology research since the early days of NASA. Even before the invention of the telescope, Mars captured the imagination of scientists and philosophers w ... more		You too can learn to farm on Mars Scientists at Washington State University and the University of Idaho are helping students figure out how to farm on Mars, much like astronaut Mark Watney, played by Matt Damon, attempts in the crit ... more		SpaceX launches secretive US military spacecraft Documents show New Zealand unease over Chinese warships in South Pacific North Korea's Kim decorates troops who fought for Russia against Ukraine		Opportunity parked for solar panels to charge up for winter Opportunity is within 'Marathon Valley' on the west rim of Endeavour Crater completing a valley floor survey for clay minerals before moving to the winter location on the south side of the valley. ... more
				The Journey to Mars: Bridging the Technology Gap As the new movie "The Martian" demonstrates, there's an amazing list of technologies required to safely send human beings to the Red Planet and bring them home again. NASA's Marshall Space Flight Ce ... more		Magnetic sail tech alternative to rocket-based space travel What if it were possible to travel to Mars without using traditional rockets? That is the question being explored by local start-up Dark Sea Industries, an aerospace company focused on developing ne ... more

Nuclear Operations and Maintenance Efficiency Summit USA 2015

To save on weight, a detour to the moon is the best route to Mars Launching humans to Mars may not require a full tank of gas: A new MIT study suggests that a Martian mission may lighten its launch load considerably by refueling on the moon. Previous studies ... more		Opportunity working at 'Marathon Valley' before winter relocation Opportunity is within 'Marathon Valley' on the west rim of Endeavour Crater conducting a valley floor survey for clay minerals before moving to the winter location on the south side of the valley. ... more		Comet water analysis strengthens link to Earth origins Do you want to freeze a cloud? Desert dust might help Genetic traits behind hibernation may offer new hope for treating metabolic disease		Climate models used to explain formation of Mars valley networks The extensive valley networks on the surface of Mars were probably created by running water billions of years ago, but the source of that water is unknown. Now, a team of Penn State and NASA researc ... more
Pebbles on Mars likely traveled tens of miles down a riverbed The extensive valley networks on the surface of Mars were probably created by running water billions of years ago, but the source of that water is unknown. Now, a team of Penn State and NASA researc ... more		Lakes on Mars - SETI Editorial I thought I was going to share my thoughts with you on the new study that was just published by Science. I was busy typing. I hope you will enjoy this commentary, and better, that it will bring you ... more		ASU Mars images star in 'The Martian' Images of Mars taken by a visual and infrared camera designed at Arizona State University take a star turn in the new hit movie "The Martian." Last November, the film production company for "The Mar ... more		NASA Challenge Seeks Ways to Use Mars' Natural Resources for Astronauts Living off the land is different when the land is 140 million miles away, so NASA is looking for innovative ideas to use in situ (in place) Martian resources to help establish a human presence on th ... more

	Wet paleoclimate of Mars revealed by ancient lakes at Gale Crater We have heard the Mars exploration mantra for more than a decade: follow the water. In a new paper published October 9, 2015, in the journal Science, the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) team presents ... more		Mars colonisation still far off: Amitabh Ghosh NASA scientist Amitabh Ghosh said on Friday that though the discovery of liquid water on Mars opens up immense possibilities, colonization of the red planet is still a distant possibility. "Am ... more

Boeing in talks to sell up to 500 planes to China: Bloomberg

Sweden picks mini-reactors for first nuclear expansion in 50 years

Bumpy skies: How climate change increases air turbulence

NASA outlines obstacles to putting a human on Mars		NASA unveils missing pieces in journey to Mars		Latest Mars film bespeaks potential of China-U.S. space cooperation		Curiosity Rover Team Confirms Ancient Lakes on Mars		Geology Award Going to Mars Landing Site Expert at JPL
MRO imagery reveals Red Planet's stressed substrate		NASA Lays the Groundwork for Homesteading in Space		Curiosity Low-Angle Self-Portrait at 'Buckskin' Drill Site		3D-Printed Igloo Wins House on Mars Design Contest		Terraforming the Red Planet: Nuclear Blasts Could Warm Mars for Humans?

The Journey to Mars Begins with People on Earth

Rock samples from Western US teach how to hunt for life on Mars

Students Advance Mars Airplane Concept

Curiosity's Drill Hole and Location are Picture Perfect

Search for Mars life stymied by contamination threat

Hitchhiking to Mars

ASU-led partnership engages citizens in NASA's Asteroid Initiative

NASA's Big Mars Story

Rover's Current Location Makes Communications a Challenge

Mars water find boosts quest for extra-terrestrial life

NASA Confirms Evidence That Liquid Water Flows on Today's Mars

Opportunity Mars Rover Preparing for Active Winter

'Strongest evidence yet' of liquid water on Mars: NASA

Evidence of brine 'flows' on Mars: water study

Space experts swoon for 'The Martian' despite inaccuracies

Celebrating one year of Mars Orbiter Mission in Orbit; Release of Mars Atlas

The Fact and Fiction of Martian Dust Storms

NASA's MAVEN Celebrates One Year at Mars

NASA's Space Launch System is the Rocket for the Ride to Mars

India's Mars mission to last many years: top space official

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