Mars news stories on Newser

Mars Rover Moves for 1st Time in 5 Months

Thu, 10 May 2012 09:20:44 CDT

The Mars rover Opportunity is on the go again. After spending nearly five months conducting experiments in one spot, the NASA rover moved for the first time this week, rolling off the rock outcrop where it hunkered down for the Martian winter. The mission team received confirmation late Tuesday that...

Mars Once Had Earth-Like Oceans

Neal Colgrass — Mon, 07 May 2012 19:34:14 CDT

A far denser atmosphere may have allowed Earth-like oceans to flourish on Mars billions of years ago, the Telegraph reports. Analyzing data from the Mars rover Spirit, Professor Josef Dufek of Georgia Tech University concluded that the planet's atmosphere was once 20 times denser—perfect for harboring lots of water....

Pat Robertson Offers Proof Global Warming Is Hoax

Kate Schwartz — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 16:55:00 CDT

If you're worried about man-made climate change, stop. Pat Robertson today offered evidence that it's not real. And here it is: There are no SUVs on Mars. Or oil refineries for that matter. "And yet, it’s the relationship to the sun that is affecting the climate on Mars," explained the...

Mars Puts on a Show Tonight

Mark Russell — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 06:41:38 CST

It's called the Mars opposition—the period every 26 months that the orbits of the sun, Earth, and Mars line up, with the sun and Mars on opposite sides of the Earth. And with Mars swinging extra close to the Earth tonight—a veritable stone's throw at just 62.6...

If Obama Budget Passes, It's Bye-Bye Mars

Mark Russell — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 09:09:05 CST

For 20 years, NASA has basically been obsessed with Mars. This summer, NASA's most high-tech rover will land near the Martian equator. And 2016 and 2018 missions have already been planned, with the intention of bringing home rocks from the red planet. But those two future excursions may not come...

Wanted: Volunteer Foodies ... for Mars

Matt Cantor — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 08:38:05 CST

NASA is on the lookout for a few good cooks to experience life on Mars. Researchers backed by the space agency are seeking a team of volunteers for a simulation of the journey. Its aim: to determine what to put on the menu for a hypothetical future trip, which would...

Mars Rocks Fell to Earth in July: Scientists

Evann Gastaldo — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 10:52:02 CST

We may not be able to get people to Mars yet, but Mars can get to us. Fifteen pounds of meteorite that fell to Earth over Morocco last July came from the red planet, scientists confirm. The largest chunk is more than two pounds, the AP reports. Astronomers believe something...

Russia Suspects Spacecraft Was Shot Down

Kevin Spak — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:12:28 CST

Russia suspects sinister forces may have been at work in the failure of its Phobos-Grunt probe, which was supposed to make it to one of Mars' moons. The probe was launched in November, but it failed to make it out of low orbit , and is now plummeting Earth-ward instead. The...

NASA Probes to Reach Moon Over New Year's

Dustin Lushing — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 17:57:42 CST

Two NASA probes are poised to reach the moon over the New Year's holiday. After a journey of more than three months, the $496 million Grail probes—short for Gravity Recovery And Interior Laboratory—will soon be in place, reports AP . Grail A is set to arrive on New Year's...