The cost of NASA’s Mars Sample Return project has doubled from a projected US$5.3 billion to US$11 billion, prompting many to question whether it is worth continuing with the mission. In response, the US space agency has turned to its field centres for cost cutting...
Farah Ghouri and David Todd followed the launch, descent, landing and subsequent communications of the first private spacecraft lunar landing “Odysseus is alive and well” was the first update on IM-1 from its operator after the lander touched down on the Moon, making...
The NASA/CalTech Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) field centre has laid off 530 people. The latest cuts, which affect 8 per cent of the workforce, include space scientists and engineers with significant experience. JPL is also releasing 40 contractors in addition to...
While drones are commonplace on Earth, where amateur versions are often used as toys, their use on other planets is still being explored. It is clear that the technology will provide significant benefits. Drones and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), for example, can be...
Japan watched with bated breath to see if its Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) would safely reach the lunar surface and make it only the fifth nation to achieve the feat, following the success of India’s Chandrayaan-3 last year. A live stream of the event by...
NASA has announced a delay in its Artemis human missions to the Moon. Artemis II, originally scheduled for late 2024, has been postponed until no earlier than September 2025 after the agency cited safety concerns. The delay is attributed to the unexpectedly high...
