caption An illustration of China’s planned robotic Mars mission, called HX-1. source Chinese State Administration of Science/Xinhua China recently landed the first spacecraft on the far side of the moon and plans to launch a lunar sample-return mission at the end of the year. The China National Space Administration is also working on a robotic Mars mission that is scheduled to launch in mid-2020 and arrive in early 2021. If successful, that mission could enable future Mars missions to bring pristine samples of the red planet’s soil and rocks back to Earth by 2030. China just landed a robotic mission on the far side of the moon for the first time in history, but the nation is plotting a longer list of ambitious firsts in space over the next decade. At the end of 2019, the China National Space Administration intends to launch a follow-up Chang’e 5 mission to scoop up the nation’s first samples of lunar soil and return them to … [Read more...] about China wants to launch to Mars next year — part of an ambitious plan to bring the first Martian soil samples back to Earth
Missions to mars list
Mercury mission to explore origin of Solar System
An unmanned European-Japanese space mission, dubbed BepiColombo, blasted off early Saturday morning from French Guiana, to probe these and other mysteries. "BepiColombo is coming like a white knight with better and more precise data," said Alain Doressoundiram, an astronomer at the Paris Observatory. "To understand how Earth was formed, we need to understand how all rocky planets formed," including Venus and Mars, he told AFP. "Mercury stands apart and we don't know why." First, however, the suite of instruments on board the Ariane 5 rocket will have to travel seven years and nine million kilometres (5.6 million miles) to reach their destination. In a statement after the launch, ArianeGroup said the satellite had successfully escaped Earth's gravity field and was beginning its long journey where it will reach speeds of up to 40,000 kilometres (25,000 miles) an hour. According to Pierre Bousquet, an engineer at France's National Centre for Space Research and head of the French … [Read more...] about Mercury mission to explore origin of Solar System
The tech that could keep astronauts happy on their missions to the stars
NASA has a bold plan to send astronauts to Mars by 2030 (or thereabouts). In preparation for this monumental Martian mission, the space agency needs to make sure everything's in order years beforehand. From engineering the rockets and making sure there are enough supplies for a round trip, to developing 3D printing tools and ensuring a long-distance communications system is up to the challenge, there’s a lot to think about, develop and test. But it’s easy to focus on the tech and logistics and overlook arguably the most important bit of the mission: the astronauts themselves.NASA is working hard to ensure that astronauts are well fed, comfortable(ish) and physically fit in space so they’re at tip-top condition. But their mental health is just as important. Why mental health mattersAlthough everyone should be taking care of their physical and mental health, whether they’re working on the International Space Station (ISS) or working at a desk, … [Read more...] about The tech that could keep astronauts happy on their missions to the stars
The founder of the world’s largest hedge fund is launching a new mission to explore the ocean — and says it’s ‘more exciting and more important’ than going to Mars
Mark Dalio, Founder and Creative Director of OceanX Media, and Ray Dalio, Founder of OceanX, speak onstage at the launch of OceanX at the American Museum of Natural History Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for OceanX Bridgewater hedge fund founder Ray Dalio is a proponent of ocean exploration and has long been involved in ocean research. Dalio has announced a new initiative, OceanX, that aims to explore the world's oceans. 95% of the world's oceans are still unexplored, so Dalio told Business Insider that learning about that unknown is " like discovering the planet anew." Dalio is the founder of Bridgewater, the world's largest hedge fund, and has been involved in ocean exploration for years. Using a crewed submersible (a deep-diving underwater vehicle) launched from his ship, the Alucia, researchers captured the first footage of a giant squid in its natural habitat in the wild six years ago. The team that filmed "Blue Planet II," one of the most remarkable … [Read more...] about The founder of the world’s largest hedge fund is launching a new mission to explore the ocean — and says it’s ‘more exciting and more important’ than going to Mars
Billionaire hedge fund founder Ray Dalio thinks exploring the ocean is more exciting and important than going to Mars — here’s his new mission
Mark Dalio, Founder and Creative Director of OceanX Media, and Ray Dalio, Founder of OceanX, speak onstage at the launch of OceanX at the American Museum of Natural History Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for OceanX Bridgewater hedge fund founder Ray Dalio is a proponent of ocean exploration and has long been involved in ocean research. Dalio has announced a new initiative, OceanX, that aims to explore the world's oceans. 95% of the world's oceans are still unexplored, so Dalio told Business Insider that learning about that unknown is " like discovering the planet anew." Dalio is the founder of Bridgewater, the world's largest hedge fund, and has been involved in ocean exploration for years. Using a crewed submersible (a deep-diving underwater vehicle) launched from his ship, the Alucia, researchers captured the first footage of a giant squid in its natural habitat in the wild six years ago. The team that filmed "Blue Planet II," one of the most remarkable … [Read more...] about Billionaire hedge fund founder Ray Dalio thinks exploring the ocean is more exciting and important than going to Mars — here’s his new mission