REVEALED: 9 | Rare Historical Photos

Rippling sand dunes, icy cliffs spied near Mars' north pole (photos)

Newly released photos by Europe's Mars Express orbiter shows the Red Planet's exotic north polar region, where sand dunes meet high, icy cliffs.

Space · Mar 4, 2024

I took my bike to ‘Mars’ for two weeks - here’s what it was like

Planetary geologist Helen Eifert brought her bike and trainer to a Mars simulator for two weeks as her only form of exercise. Could humans one day cruise around the Red Planet?

Cycling Weekly · Feb 16, 2024

Astronauts may accidentally threaten Mars missions with their gut bacteria, scientists warn

New research has shown that disease-causing bacteria carried in the human gut can also survive in Martian soil, a discovery with implications for future crewed exploration of Mars.

Space · Feb 13, 2024

NASA's Mars helicopter Ingenuity has flown its last flight after suffering rotor damage

Ingenuity, the first robot to ever fly on Mars, suffered rotor-blade damage during its most recent hop and can no longer fly, NASA announced today (Jan. 25).

Space · Jan 25, 2024

Happy 20th, Spirit and Opportunity! How the Mars rovers expanded our horizons

Spirit and Opportunity landed on Mars 20 years ago this month, kicking off a surface mission that reshaped our understanding of the Red Planet.

Space · Jan 24, 2024

Wild Mars plane concept could seek water from high in the Red Planet's atmosphere

As the Mars Ingenuity helicopter continues to soar, an early-stage Red Planet craft is in the works. The first fixed-wing plane on Mars would seek water — and perhaps life.

Space · Jan 21, 2024

If life exists on Mars, don't count on sample-return missions to find it, scientists say

While ambitious plans to return Red Planet samples to Earth are in development, some scientists argue that we should instead find ways to analyze Mars samples on the planet itself.

Space · Jan 21, 2024

NASA loses contact with Ingenuity Mars helicopter

NASA lost contact with its Ingenuity Mars helicopter on Thursday (Jan. 18), toward the end of the little rotorcraft's 72nd Red Planet flight.

Space · Jan 20, 2024

Water ice buried at Mars' equator is over 2 miles thick

The Mars Express orbiter has detected enough water ice buried beneath the Red Planet's equator to cover the entire planet in a shallow ocean if melted.

Space · Jan 18, 2024

'Star Trek' on Mars? Curiosity rover spots Starfleet symbol on Red Planet

NASA's Curiosity rover found a Mars rock shaped like a Star Trek badge this month. The mission continues to beam up images from the Red Planet after 12 years of work.

Space · Jan 16, 2024