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Here’s Why NASA Had to Postpone a 2016 Mission to Mars
A leak in a key instrument on board the InSight lander means the team will have to wait for the next launch window in 2018
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Mars’ Gravity Is Slowly Shredding Its Moon Phobos
Telltale grooves on the moon’s surface are an early sign of Phobos’ grim fate
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The Sun Stole Part of Mars’ Atmosphere, and NASA Was Watching
Observations from the MAVEN spacecraft should help scientists figure out if and when Mars had the right conditions for life
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The Orionid Meteor Shower and Rare Planetary “Dance” Make This a Lucky Week for Stargazers
Here’s what the night sky has to offer this week
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The Past and Present of Mars Look Wetter and Wetter
From salty streaks of flowing water to an ancient system of rivers and lakes, Mars seems more hospitable to life than previously thought
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The Secret of “The Martian” Success? Scientific Peer Review
Andy Weir’s tale of a stranded astronaut got its start as a blog, complete with reader comments that helped shape the plot
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50-Year-Old Moon Data Reveals Unseen Earthquakes
Scientists have identified four different types of moonquakes in data left over from Apollo 17
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Why Elon Musk’s Idea to Nuke Mars Won’t Happen
Terraforming the planet with thermonuclear weapons: Best idea ever or disaster waiting to happen?
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An Astrobiologist Is Already Fighting For Martian Independence
Should colonists on the Red Planet be free from Earth’s influence from the get-go?
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How NASA Dealt With Images of an Alien Planet in the 1960s
The alien planet was Mars and the process was just a bit simpler than it is today
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How Bacteria Make This Underground, Awe-Inspiring Cave Shine Gold
These underground tubes at Lava Beds National Monument include sparkling gold ceilings that even NASA wants to study
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This Boomerang-Shaped Aircraft Could be the First to Fly on Mars
The lightweight glider would search for potential landing spots to be used by a future manned mission to Mars
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Where Should Humans Land on Mars? NASA Wants to Hear Your Suggestions
In October, the agency will hear proposals on where to put a Mars base
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NASA Will Lose Contact With Mars for 14 Days This Month
A conjunction with the sun will cause a two-week pause in commands to NASA Mars missions
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60 NASA Scientists are Trying to Build a Better Parachute
The Supreme Council of Parachute Experts wants to construct a parachute that can help a heavier craft land on Mars
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Is the Curiosity Rover Behind Weird Methane Readings on Mars?
The debate over methane is causing a stink among scientists
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Did Mars Steal its Moons From the Asteroid Belt?
Scientists still aren’t sure where the odd little moons came from, but they have ideas
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Rover May Have Found a Water Source for Humans on Mars
Data collected from the Curiosity rover suggests liquid water could be harvested from Martian soil
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