"...we look forward to the day when Mars helicopters can play an important role in future explorations of the Red Planet."

NASA installs mini-helicopter on its next Mars rover

Assembling Megazord

NASA just attached its new semi-autonomous helicopter drone to the rover it's sending to Mars next year. Pending a few more tests, it should be ready to go.

NASA Installs Autonomous Mini-Helicopter on Its Next Mars Rover

It's headed to Mars next year.

The company narrowed its search to a massive plains region called Arcadia Planitia.

SpaceX working with NASA to find Mars landing sites for Starship

A New Home

SpaceX has leveraged images from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter to determine a landing site for its Starship.

SpaceX Working With NASA to Find Mars Landing Sites for Starship

Starship could attempt to make its first voyage to the Red Planet as soon as 2022.

"That gives us an opportunity to really protect life, when we talk about the radiation dose when we travel between Earth and Mars."

Head of NASA: nuclear propulsion could be "game-changer"

Space Nukes

NASA chief Jim Bridenstine believes that thermal nuclear propulsion technology would be a game-changer for space exploration.

Head of NASA: Nuclear Propulsion Could Be “Game-Changer”

If the tech works, it could halve the travel time to Mars.

Just over a year ago, NASA research found that nuking Mars wouldn't be enough to turn it into an Earth-like holiday destination.

Elon Musk: "Thousands of solar reflector satellites" could warm up Mars

Black Hole Sun

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk suggested that "thousands of solar reflector satellites" could be used to warm up the surface of Mars.

Elon Musk: “Thousands of Solar Reflector Satellites” Could Warm Up Mars

The idea isn't as crazy as it sounds — or at least not as crazy as nuking Mars.

Sorry, Elon: terraforming Mars would take 3,500 nukes per day

Elon "Endless Hellfire" Musk

Elon Musk's proposal for terraforming Mars through sustained nuclear blasts would require detonating 3,500 bombs every day, with no margin for error.

Sorry, Elon: Terraforming Mars Would Take 3,500 Nukes per Day

If we ever settle Mars, it won't be because of endless nuclear explosions.

Launching that Roadster may have just been target practice.

Elon Musk really, really wants to nuke Mars

Please Stop Posting

Elon Musk tweeted "Nuke Mars!" on Thursday, likely to double down on his ill-advised dream of terraforming the Red Planet through nuclear strikes.

Elon Musk Really, Really Wants to Nuke Mars

He's tweeting again.

I've seen the future, and it looks expensive.

Elon Musk: Mars city could cost up to $10 trillion

Musk City

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk estimates the cost of building a self-sustaining city on Mars to be anywhere "between $100 billion and $100 trillion."

Elon Musk: Mars City Could Cost Up to $10 Trillion

For perspective, that's about triple the United States' total tax revenue.

"Now, it really looks like the complications associated with these exposures to the brain are becoming one of the more difficult to deal with."

Mars-journey levels of radiation seriously damaged mouse brains

Dangerous Exposure

A new study reveals that cosmic radiation is even more dangerous than we thought. Mice exposed to Mars-journey levels developed dementia-like symptoms.

Mars-Journey Levels of Radiation Seriously Damaged Mouse Brains

This is bad news for any would-be Mars colonists.

New evidence suggests Mars used to have gigantic mega-tsunamis.

Ancient meteor strike deluged Mars with planet-scale tsunami

WaterWorld

New evidence suggests that Mars may have had a liquid ocean on its surface, and that meteor impacts caused a planet-sized tsunami.

Ancient Meteor Strike Deluged Mars With Planet-Scale Tsunami

A massive crater lends evidence to the idea that Mars once had liquid oceans.

"People like to be optimistic about the idea of colonizing Mars. But it also sounds a bit pie-in-the-sky."

Reality check: it would take thousands of years to colonize Mars

Colony Collapse

There's no short supply of aspirational, bold claims about how we'll colonize Mars. Unfortunately, none of them are realistic.

/ Mars