NASA

NASA will cancel the SLS rocket and look for a cheaper alternative to colonize the moon and Mars

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It was seen comingbut the impact is not less. The Trump administration has presented its budget proposal for fiscal year 2026. And in regards to NASA, it is a true earthquake. Goodbye to SLS. The huge and very expensive lunar rocket SLS of the NASA, whose development has led the Boeing spatial division for 14 years, will be removed after the Artemis III mission, scheduled for 2027. There will be no block 1B version, and therefore the ML-2 mobile launch tower (whose budget had been sentenced) will be presumably without using. Justification is economical. The own Budget document Openly criticizes the SLS, noting that it has a cost of 4,000 million dollars per launch and has exceeded its budget by 140%. Demolish figures that not only They have sentenced the heir to the legacy Apollo and space transforders, but to all NASA’s lunar architecture. Goodbye to Orion and Lunar Gateway. Designed to launch aboard the SLS, the Lockheed Martin’s space capsule now has the same expiration date: it will be removed after taking astronauts to the lunar orbit in the Artemis II and Artemis III missions. NASA will choose a more modern and affordable architecture for Artemis IV onwards. But the cuts do not stop here. The Lunar Gateway Space Station, a key international project in the now truncated plans of the Artemis program, is also canceled. This leaves NASA’s international partners in a very delicate position that participated in the station: the European Space Agency (ESA), Japan (Jaxa), Canada (CSA) and United Arab Emirates. ESA, which supplies the European Ship Module Orion and develops The I-Hab and Esprit modules of Lunar Gatewaysee how your investment and astronaut places (including a seat to travel for the first time to the lunar surface) are in the air. As Daniel Marín points out in Eurekathe “ugly” to the partners is considerable. Especially to Europe. The bet: commercial ships and Mars. According to a NASA statement, the objective of these cuts is “to accelerate human exploration to the moon and Mars with a tax portfolio.” In other words, the blank checks for usual partners of the space agency are over. The White House wants to “return to the moon before China and put an American on Mars.” The budget allocates more than 7,000 million dollars to lunar exploration, but focused on “next generation commercial systems, more profitable” to replace the SLS/ORion architecture. Starship/HLS of Spacex and New Glenn/Blue Moon of Blue Origin have, as is logical, many ballots. The budget also introduces an investment of 1,000 million dollars to start a program focused on Mars. Although the details are scarce, it is taken for granted that will also pivot the SLS to the Spacex Starship, following Elon Musk’s vision. However, it is a very long -term bet, with little chances of seeing fruits before the current presidential mandate ends. Less science, less flights to ISS. The budget is especially devastating for NASA’s Space Science Division, which suffers a cut of 2,265 million dollars. The Mars Sample Return mission is explicitly canceled to recover the Martian soil samples from Rover Perseverance, arguing that the same objective will be achieved with future manned missions. Emblematic projects such as the new Nancy Grace Roman (which is almost finished), the historic Hubble space telescope and even, According to Eric Berger of Ars TechnicaNASA’s participation in the Rosalind Franklin European mission. The International Space Station, although it will remain operational until 2030, is not fought. NASA will reduce the size of the American crew and on-board research (-508 million budget), decreasing “significantly” loading and crew flights, gradually leaving the low terrestrial orbit in the hands of commercial stations (and China). A cycle change. While the proposal has yet to go through Congress, the Republican majority makes it difficult to take great modifications, although programs such as SLS/ORION have important support within the giant lobby as Boeing. The big question is whether this bet will work to win the space race against China. The abrupt cancellation of the SLS could leave a vacuum that China would take the opportunity to establish a sustained lunar presence before commercial alternatives are ready. And it is that getting to the Moon is not easy for private companies, as the failed launches of the NASA Clps program have demonstrated. Needless to say how risky it is to bet on an accelerated arrival to Mars. Image | POT In Xataka | China is getting closer to overcoming NASA in its Martian mission. And just invited other countries to join

His distance with NASA is narrowing

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A long time ago that China set the year From his arrival on the moon by 2030, almost five years after the date initially planned by NASA to put the first woman on the satellite surface. NASA’s plans have been delayed, but China keeps theirs firm; and now the United States advantage in the new space race It is narrower than ever. Context. NASA sent 12 men to the moon Between 1969 and 1972. Apollo missions launched with Saturn V, one of the most powerful rockets in history. Astronauts were in a modular ship that orbit the moon, descended to the surface and returned, with different modules. Unlike the Apollo program, the New Artemisa program It raises the return to the moon with a SLS rocket for takeoff, an Orion capsule to orbit the satellite and a huge commercial ship, the Spacex starship, for the alunication. That the starship is not yet ready is one of the reasons for the delay of the Artemis III mission, now scheduled for not before 2027. Two rockets for two ships. Although its long -term plans are as ambitious as those of the United States (create A manned lunar base that serves as a springboard for future Martian missions), China plans to take astronauts to the moon with a much simpler architecture than Artemis III. He will do it with two consecutive releases of the new CZ-10 rocket, of the state company CASC. The first will launch the Mengzhou ship, where three astronauts will go. The second will launch the Lanyue ship, which will travel empty to the orbit of the moon, where it will be attached to the Mengzhou to access two of the three astronauts, which will then descend on it to the surface. Image published in Baidu that mentions the five launches of the Cz-10 rocket The Chinese lunar calendar. Although the date of the first mooning was already known, we have just known the road map of the Chinese manned space agency (CMSA) thanks to an image that appeared In a Baidu channel that collects Eureka. According to this filtration, the launch of the first Chinese astronauts who will step on the Moon will be the fifth mission of the CZ-10 rocket. The rocket debut is planned for 2027 in a mission without crew called Y1. The first CZ-10 will predictably launch the first Mengzhou ship to the moon. Two options. Most likely, the following year, in 2028, China lance another two CZ-10: the Y2 mission with the first Lanyue Empty ship and the Y3 mission with the second Mengzhou ship; In this case, manned by the first Chinese who will orbit the moon. It would be a general landing essay: the two ships would be attached and decoupled in lunar orbit, with the astronauts present, but Lanyue would go empty to the surface of the satellite to demonstrate that it is safe. It is also possible that the test is carried out directly next to the Y1 mission, coupling the first Lanyue to the first Mengzhou (both without crew), but it would be risky to try the rocket for the first time with a complete essay, which requires two releases. The Apollo 11 of China. Finally, not before 2029, but before the end of 2030, the Y4 mission would launch a Lanyue ship already validated for manned alunage. Shortly after, the mission Y5 would launch the Mengzhou ship with three astronauts, including the first two Chinese who will step on the moon. They will be the Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin from China, although predictably one of them would be an astronaut; Especially if Artemis III continues to delay and the symbolic milestone of putting the first woman on the moon is still available. In Xataka | NASA had marked two major short -term objectives. China threatens to defeat her in both In Xataka | The race to become the “China Spacex”: who is who in their private space releases sector

NASA breathes relieved, Jared Isaacman is not an Elon Musk puppet

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He has never worked at NASA. It does not have Background scientist, or university studies. None of that matters. He has flown twice to the space in missions he financed. He is a bold and billionaire entrepreneur; The values ​​that conquered Donald Trumppossibly under Elon Musk’s advice. Now Jared Isaacman It is one step away from being confirmed as the youngest administrator that NASA has ever had. The priority is to get to Mars. At his audience to the United States Senate, which will confirm his choice as NASA’s head, Isaacman has not diverted from the slogan of Trump, who appointed the conquest of Mars as the “manifest destination” of the United States In his inaugural speech. “As the president declared, we will prioritize the sending of American astronauts to Mars,” said the businessman before the Senatorial Committee for Commerce, Science and Transportation. In the public there were also the four crew of the future Artemis II mission to the moon. But Elon Musk is separated. The richest man in the world surprised NASA at the beginning of the year saying that “the moon was a distraction”, and that Spacex would focus on the conquest of Mars. Taking into account that Spacex is a key contractor in NASA’s return to the satellite, the industry took it as a sign that the Artemis missions They could cancel, leaving in the hands of China the opportunity to send to the first woman To the moon. During his audience, Isaacman was inquired in multiple occasions about the flights manned to the moon. Senator Tammy Duckworth asked him if he agreed to maintain the Lunar Objectives of NASA in the long term. “I think it is imperative that we do both,” Isaacman said. “I think we can get to the moon, Mars and beyond.” Ted Cruz was more direct: he asked if he promised to bring American astronauts to the moon surface before Trump ceased to be president. Isaacman defended the idea of ​​the springboard: “I want us to return to the moon while we also move towards Mars.” Cruz reformulated the question: “If China advances us in the conquest of the Moon, what consequences could the United States face?” “Certainly, we can’t lose,” Isaacman said. “The space is the maximum advantage; we cannot afford to give it up.” Another point where Isaacman separated from Musk was in his idea of destroy the International Space Station Before time. “Are you in favor of maintaining a sustained presence in the low land orbit?” They asked him. “Yes, reuse is a sustainable way to send US astronauts to orbit, I would like to understand the reasons that Elon Musk has to exorbit the international space station before 2030,” he said. It does not maintain contact with Musk. The fear of losing symbolic battles against China, such as sending the first woman to the moon or maintaining the presence in the low land orbit was a constant throughout the audience. But the most tense moments occurred when Isaacman had to answer questions about his relationship with Elon Musk. After all, there is a direct relationship between the nominee to direct NASA and Spacex, a company with which it was associated for the missions Inspiration4 and Polaris. Isaacman denied having been in contact with Elon Musk to talk about NASA, and noted that the businessman does not owe loyalty but to the United States. But when Senator Ed Markey insistently asked if Elon Musk was at the meeting that Isaacman had with Trump for his nomination, Isaacman was not honest. He always replied with the same phrase: “Senator, my meeting was with the president of the United States.” He did not deny or confirm that Musk was in the room (implying that, obviously, he was). There is money to do everything. It does not seem that Isaacman will complain about the cuts that Doge Government Efficiency Department Directed by Elon Musk, it is applying to NASA. The young entrepreneur believes that there is enough money to quickly get to the moon while advancing in the plans to conquer Mars as soon as possible. The speed is the key in Isaacman’s plans, which wants to revitalize the “Mission First” culture of the Apollo program: Neil Armstrong stepped on the moon just eight years after Alan Shepard became The first American to fly to spacethe name recalled to direct NASA. Instead, it does not seem that he is very excited about the idea of ​​launching the Lunar Gateway station or building a lunar base, as China looks for. He did not expressly said it, but commented that “we will have to determine the scientific, economic and national security benefits to maintain a presence on the lunar surface.” As for the SLS and the Orion ship. Boeing can breathe calm, at least for a few months. It seems that Isaacman is willing to respect the current architecture of Artemis missions, however expensive and inefficient it isat least for the moment, while an alternative architecture develops. “It’s the current plan. I think it’s the best and faster way to achieve it,” said Isaacman. But then he added that this architecture is not the way to follow for high frequency flights to the moon, a clear nod to the New Space launch options: The Spacex Starship and the ship Blue Moon from Blue Originwhich will be launched aboard the new Glenn rocket. Images | POT In Xataka | Elon Musk has said that Mars will be part of the United States. It is an unusual affront to the outdoor space treaty

No one has advanced NASA in the exploration of other planets from the USSR. China plans to do it even in Neptune

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While NASA applies Efficiency Department cuts Directed by Elon Musk, China has presented the most ambitious space exploration program in its history. A SCIENTIFIC MISSIONS directed by him newly created Deep space exploration laboratory that would not only advance to the US in several milestones: no one would arrive in the Solar System. Kamo’oalewa (2025). With the launch of the Tianwen-2 probe, scheduled for May of this year, China aspires to become the third country to collect samples of an asteroid near the Earth. Japan had only done (twice) and the United States (after the recent Osiris-Rex mission). 469219 KAMO’OALEWA is a “miniluna”a terrestrial quasisisatelite between 40 and 90 meters in diameter that China aspires to “touch” with Tianwen-2, a mission that will also study the Elst-Pizarro comet-asteroid and that will serve as a learning for the future mission of recovery of Mars samples. Mars (2028). Tianwen-3 is the mission for bruise that could mark the Sorpasso Symbolic of the Chinese Space Agency to NASA, since the American mission of return of Martian samples (in which the European Space Agency also participates) is found right now in pause. Tianwen-3 is simpler than Mars Sample Return. If what NASA wants is to go find the rocks that have Carefully selected the Rover PerseveranceChina forms to reach the red planet, pierce the ground, collect at least 500 grams of samples and take off with a small rocket so that a return probe brings them to the earth. 2015 XF261 (2028). The same year that China plans to launch Tianwen-3, it would also launch its First major planetary defense mission. Two Chinese probes will follow the steps of the missions NASA Dart and Hera of that. One will impact the near Asteroid 2015 XF261 and the other will observe the impact to confirm that humanity has diverted a second asteroid. Callisto and Uranus (2029). The Tianwen-4 mission, whose launch is scheduled for 2029, has a double objective. It would arrive in Jupiter in 2035. A first orbiting probe Callisto, one of the moons of the gaseous giant, at the same time as JUICE DE LA ESA Orbit Ganímedes, another of its moons. A second probe, equipped with thermoelectric radioisotope generators, would take advantage of Jupiter’s gravitational assistance to get to Uranus in 2045. It would be one of the first scientific missions to Uranus, which He received the visit of the Voyager 2 probe In 1986. Venus (2033). Another sampling recovery mission, but this time atmospheric. A Chinese probe would travel to neighbor Venus and take its “air” to analyze whether it has microorganisms or possible biological traces, such as Some recent studies suggest. Neptune (2033). A freshly proposed mission to the last planet of the solar system would orbit the ice cream giant and display an atmospheric probe equipped with a balloon, in addition to performing flycards from its Triton moon. With a useful life of up to 20 years to the thermoelectric generators of radioisotopes, it would be the first probe sent exclusively to Neptune. For its launch, the future CZ-9 rocket, the “Chinese starship” would be used. Mars (2038). In addition to a manned station on the moon, China plans to display an autonomous robotic station on Mars to investigate techniques for the use of Martian resources that could serve for future manned missions. China plans to step on Mars in the 2040s. Triton (2039). The second Chinese mission to Neptune and his Triton moon is the most ambitious of the program because he would use a nuclear fission reactor to feed the ship’s electrical thrusters. All that energy would not only allow you to orbit Neptune, but also penetrate the ice from the Triton surface to explore the hypothetical ocean that is hidden below in search of life. Image | Xinhua In Xataka | NASA has cut 420 million dollars following Doge’s guidelines. It is Elon Musk’s favorite number

If the question is where and when to see the solar eclipse of March 29, NASA has created a map to answer you

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This Saturday 29 we will have a new opportunity to see an eclipse (partial) of sun, at least if we are in an extensive region of the northern hemisphere that covers a good part of Europe (including Spain), but also parts of North America, Africa and Asia, and even a small region of South America. The eclipse, on a map. To help visualize where and when the Eclipse de Sol can be seen, the US space agency, NASA, has published a map in which the region is represented from which this partial eclipse will be visible. The map also includes time information with which to guide us. The yellow lines of the map They allow us to get an idea to what extent the sun covered by the moon will be depending on the place where we find ourselves. The area where more darkness is reached is located on Canada and Greenland, where more than 80% of the solar disc will be covered. The point of greatest concealment will see how it disappears about 93.1% of the disc area. The green lines, meanwhile, indicate the moment in which this maximum solar concealment occurs in each area. The hours are indicated in coordinated universal time (UTC), which during winter coincides with the time of the Canary Islands archipelago. One more hour in the Peninsula and in the Balearic Islands. The dawn line. The orange lines delimit the area where the eclipse will occur during dawn. The points that travel the orange line located further west are the places where the eclipse ends during dawn, while the orange line further to the east shows us where the eclipse begins with dawn. The blue line located between both joins the points where the eclipse will reach its peak during dawn. The map created by NASA to illustrate the eclipse route. NASA Scientific Visualization Studio. Where will you see better. Yes We focus on Spainthe darkness will be greater the more we find ourselves. Thus, for example in A Coruña, 31.6% concealment will be reached, while in Mahón the concealment will be 8.85%. In Madrid and Seville the concealment will be similar, about 20%. Less than in cities such as Gijón or Ponferrada (about 27%), but more than others such as Barcelona or Murcia (around 13.5%). Animated visualization of the areas that will be hidden during the partial eclipse of the sun of March 29. POT. When will it be seen. The eclipse will arrive in the morning and the first autonomous community in being able to see it It will be that of the Canary Islands. Specifically, it will be in the surroundings of the Punta de los Reyes, in El Hierro, where the eclipse will begin at about 9:11, local time. The shadow will move in a northwest direction so that the last point of the Peninsula in being able to see the eclipse will be Euskadi, more specifically in Hondarribia, where the sun will look again fully at 12:41 a.m. On the map We can see how in most of the Peninsula the maximum of the eclipse will occur between 10:30 UTC (11:30, local time or CET), and 11:00 UTC (12:00 CET). Caution. Eclipses are astronomical events easy to seebut dangerous for our view if we do not take precautions. It is essential to use protection if we want to see the eclipse but it is not enough with simple sunglasses, we need specialized glasses to be able to see this type of event without putting the health of our eyes at risk. We also have ways of seeing the eclipse indirectly and safely. In Xataka | The solar eclipse of March 29 is the starting gun for something historical: Spain will see four eclipses in four years Image | NASA Scientific Visualization Studio

NASA has cut 420 million dollars following Doge’s guidelines. It is Elon Musk’s favorite number

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NASA has announced a 420 million dollar cut in consulting contracts and other suppliers. It is a strangely familiar number. A cut commanded by Doge. Although NASA has not given many details, the contracts to be cut are considered “redundant” or “misaligned with the essential priorities” of the agency, following the guidelines of the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), the auditor body created by Donald Trump and headed by Elon Musk. From canceled contracts, the largest cut comes from the NASA socio -economic application and data center, valued at about 30 million dollars, although with an effective savings of 19.4 million. Other of the confirmed cancellations are four agreements of 15 million dollars each with the firms of consulting Booz Allen Hamilton, Deloitte, Guidehouse and McKinsey & Co. The termination of these and other contracts will mean a saving of 420 million dollars for NASA. Elon Musk’s favorite number. There is an extraordinary coincidence in this matter and it is Elon Musk’s love for number 420. The founder of Spacex He likes to remember which was born 69 days after April 20 (4/20, in American format). But the number 420 became more present in his life since a club was smoked during the Joe Rogan podcast. “420” It is a reference to the “time of smoking marijuana”, 4 and 20 in the afternoon. For Musk also represents the day that He withdrew the verified blue check to X users who had it for free since the time of Twitter (04/20/2023). Wave First starship in history to be stacked (Booster 4 + Ship 20). Or one of the most transcendental tweets of his career: when he announced that I was going to privatize Tesla at a price of $ 420 per share. NASA scientists are worried. While only consulting cuts have transcended, the scientific community that depends on the space agency is concerned about the possibility of even greater or layoffs (of which NASA, for now, for now only He has seen 23 for the closure of three offices). Although less affected than diversity programs, Doge cuts also focus on branches of health, climate and natural resources, which NASA investigates. In addition, it is rumored that the 2026 budget for the agency’s scientific programs could be drastically reduced (up to 50%, According to Space News). Musk’s conflict of interest. While Doge is not an official government department, and therefore Elon Musk is not a senior official, the most complicated issue of all is that the employer is positioned to obtain multimillionaire contracts from the federal government. The Pentagon has already demonstrated its interest in Starship as a military transport, and NASA depends on the rocket to take astronauts to the moon. Starlink is also a key strategic asset for the United States, and Spacex is building a spy version called Starshield for the NRO. Finally, Trump’s nominee to direct NASA is Jared Isaacman, Musk’s commercial partner in two of Spacex’s most important commercial missions. Image | Elon Musk (X) In Xataka | China is getting closer to overcoming NASA in its Martian mission. And just invited other countries to join

Starliner astronauts made nine months of extra hours. The bonus they are going to receive from NASA is ridiculous

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The image of astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams finally on earth It will be possibly one of the 2025 snapshots. To remember his HISTORY HISTORY in space after the multiple leaks and failures of the Boeing Starliner. If you are wondering if it is worth being an astronaut after such a case, the answer is given by the bonus that they will receive for that time “more” in orbit. It is not a matter of money. It goes for long. As We countAstronauts Williams and Wilmore finally returned to Earth after nine months have passed in space, a period much longer than initially planned. His mission aboard the Boeing Starliner began in June 2024 and had to last just over a week. However, a ruling in the capsule propellars prevented its correct coupling with the International Space Station (EEI), leaving astronauts stranded in orbit until the technical problems were solved. The delay generated Great anxiety in social networkswith many speculating about the safety and well -being of astronauts. However, Williams and Wilmore remained firm in their commitment to the mission and denied the statements that they were “abandoned” or “trapped.” In fact and according to Wilmore himself clarifiedthese types of unforeseen events are part of the work and are something for which they are prepared. The economic sacrifice. Despite the extreme challenges they face, the truth is that NASA astronauts do not receive additional compensation for the danger of their missions or for long hours of work in space. Williams and Wilmore earn a salary that is public: an upright annual 152,258 dollars based on updated NASA rates. However, and here is the Quid that differentiates it with other types of “ordinary” works, the salary does not include payment for extra hours, holidays or dangerous conditions, a notable difference with respect to many other well -paid professions on earth. According to Mike Massiminoformer NASA astronaut, “there is no extra pay due to danger, or compensation for working longer in space,” which means that, despite having spent nine months in orbit instead of a week, astronauts will not receive any additional remuneration. The closest thing to an “extra” pay you receive is a small daily stipendio of 5 dollars for being in space, a very small amount and we would say that ridiculous, adding just $ 1,430 for the 286 days that passed in the US. What does NASA say. For its part, the American space agency argues that astronauts They have all their expenses coveredincluding transport, accommodation and food during their stay in the US. Again, compared to other work of high salaries that do not imply physical risks, astronaut’s pay may seem disproportionate, especially if we take into account the danger they face. It is not a matter of money. This takes us to the other Quid of being an astronaut. While other professions with similar salaries, let’s put A bank workeror a notary, they allow working in comfortable environments without exposure to mortal hazards, space exploration implies isolation, uncertainty and constant risk. And, even so, many astronauts choose this race. The key seems clear: they do it by pure vocation and passion for space, rather than for economic reasons. Being Astronaut is still a dream of childhood for many. In fact, A 2019 study De Lego revealed that more than 10% of children in the United States and the United Kingdom continued to aspire to become astronauts, despite the rise of new professions such as digital content creators. For Williams and Wilmore, the possibility of contributing to space exploration and scientific research surely exceeds any financial sacrifice. It is not a wait, it is a mission. In addition, we must understand that, throughout their stay in the US, Williams and Wilmore not only expected their return home, but actively worked in the maintenance and improvement of the station. Nine months give a lot, and there they were with tasks such as inspection and repair of hardware, loading of loading and supplies, support of scientific experiments and technological demonstrations, configuration of a new air lock system or with physical activity tests in microgravity. In summary, his time in orbit contributed to NASA’s scientific knowledge and the maintenance of the EEI as a key center for space exploration. Resistance and commitment. No doubt, for many of us the simple idea of ​​being stranded in space may seem an unimaginable nightmare. But for astronauts like Williams and Wilmore, it is simply part of the work. According to Ken BowersoxNASA’s Head of Space Operations, astronauts are trained not to focus on when they will return, but in the success of the mission. Perhaps for this reason, and beyond the money they receive, what happened is a good reminder that, in space exploration, motivation and resilience are as important as technology itself. Image | POT In Xataka | “Stranded” astronauts in space say goodbye to the ISS with a script turn: supporting Elon Musk’s version In Xataka | The soap opera is over: the “stranded” astronauts in space have returned to Earth nine months later

China is getting closer to overcoming NASA in its Martian mission. And just invited other countries to join

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Mars Return’s drama. Since I arrived in Mars in 2021, NASA’s Perseverance Rover has been depositing Roca nuclei and Marciano Regolito in hermetic tubes dispersed by the red planet for your future collection. Mars Sample Return is NASA’s mission and the European Space Agency to recover those samples (38 tubes in total) and bring them to Earth. Last year, with a forecast of delays in sample return up to 2039 and an estimated budget of between 7,700 and 11,000 million dollars, NASA de facto canceled Mars Sample Return to control the cost overheads. The agency listened to alternative proposals and, at the beginning of 2025, delayed the decision for a year to Choose between two options: An internal architecture of the NASA JPL laboratory or a commercial ship of the private industry. China has taken the lead. With Mars Sample Return in suspense, China has many ballots to Become the first country to bring Martian soil samples. The launch of the Chinese mission Tianwen-3 is scheduled for 2028after Tianwen-2 launches up to an asteroid near Earth this year as proof of previous technological concept. Tianwen-3 is a simpler mission that Mars Sample Return because it would collect the samples of the landing place, instead of the carefully selected rock nuclei in different places by the Rover Perseverance. However, it has the same objectives as the NASA mission: analyze samples on Earth in search of organic substances and “biosignuras”, signs of past life. Tianwen-3 opens to other countries. The China Space Agency (CNSA) also announced that its sampling recovery mission will be open to international cooperation. Scientists and space agencies around the world can propose until June 30 scientific experiments or instruments to include in the Chinese mission. Tianwen-3 will carry 15 kg of foreign instruments on the ship that will return to the Earth with the samples and 5 kg of additional foreign instruments in the orbiter that will remain in Martian orbit. It could be the case that the European Space Agency, which already participated in Mars Sample Return with the return ship, made a proposal and ended up advancing NASA in this way. Multimillionaires to the rescue. Meanwhile, in the United States, Spacex and Blue Origin have proposed NASA to take advantage of the same ships they have in development for Artemis lunar missions (Starship and Blue Moon) with the aim of recovering Mars samples. However, Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos have already received numerous public contracts, and a third millionaire, Peter Beck, CEO of the Rocket Lab’s rocket company, It has a more concrete and simple proposal. A solution of 4,000 million dollars with simple technology to bring the samples in 2031, the same year as the Chinese nave Tianwen-3 would return to the earth. Rocket Lab architecture. Three launches in total for all ships of the mission. The orbiter Mars Telecommunications Orbiter would facilitate communication between Mars and Earth. The Lander Lander Lander lands would land on the surface of Mars to collect the samples with the same supersonic aerocies and parachutes that the Martian Rovers use. The Mars Ascent Vehicle, designed as a single rocket stage, would take off towards the Martian orbit with chemical propulsion Using Electron Rutherford engines from Rocket Lab. The Earth Return Orbiter ship would collect the samples in the Martian orbit to bring them back to the earth using similar engines. The three goals of the space race. Decide what NASA decides, China is determined to take advantage of the delays of Mars Sample Return to get the symbolic victory of bringing the first samples of Mars, as has already happened with the Chang’e-6 mission and the first samples of the hidden face of the moon. At the same time, there are two other goals in the space race. The United States announced to hype and saucer that would take the first woman to the moon with the Artemis III mission (planned by 2027), but its launch has been delayed and now the architecture of every Artemis program, as well as that of Mars Sampple Return, It is in question for the numerous cost overruns of the SLS rocket and Starship’s delays. China, meanwhile, plans to reach the moon in 2030. Then, both countries will try to take the first humans to Mars. Image | POT In Xataka | NASA had marked two major short -term objectives. China threatens to defeat her in both

NASA decided to bombard the moon with low -budget commercial missions. The results are being bleak

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The image above was sent by the Athena Machines lunar module before running out of energy. Like his predecessor, he was horizontal, which prevented him from deploying his loads. To top it off, he did it in an orientation and an orography that did not allow him to recharge his batteries. Athena (IM-2) is one of the many Missions of the NASA Commercial Lunar Payload (Clps) Commercial Program. Announced in 2018, It is the return of the United States to the lunar surface after more than 50 yearssince NASA stopped doing lunar missions (manned or not) after Apollo 17. CLPS hires private companies to transport NASA scientific experiments To the moon. These companies develop commercial spaces that finance with NASA contracts and other agencies or companies interested in sending load to the Moon. For NASA it is a very low cost approach, since the contracts revolve around 100 million dollars per mission, while the alunizas of the Surveyor program of the 1960s cost 10 times more (adjusting their value from then on inflation). It is also a high -risk approach, how they are demonstrating the first results. NASA pays the agreed amount and does not cover cost overruns, transferring to companies a huge technical and financial challenge. For NASA a failure represents a manageable loss, so it is bombing the moon of CLPS missions. For companies, the pressure is increasing. A difficult beginning The CLPS missions had to start launching in 2020. The Orbitbeyond company canceled its contract in 2019 for financial problems, renouncing before starting. Masten Space, another selected, broke in 2022, canceling his mission planned by 2023. Astrobotic, Firefly Aerospace and Intuitive Machines ended up delaying their releases, but they are still in the race. However, of the four CLPS missions launched to date, only one has achieved a completely successful moon landing: ❌ Astrobotic pilgrim. The first CLPS mission. He received NASA 79.5 million dollars to transport 14 useful charges to the Moon. It was launched on January 8, 2024 with a Vulcan Centaur rocket of Ula. The ship suffered a propellant leak shortly after the launch that left it without possibilities to reach the lunar surface. He went down in history as First American attempt of moon landing from the Apollo missions, but the fuel escape left it unusable. First failure.❌ Odysseus of intuitive machines. The IM-1 mission received 77.5 million dollars from NASA to send six scientific instruments to the moon. It was launched on February 15, 2024 aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Spacex. Unlike pilgrim, the Nova-C ship “Odysseus” reached the lunar surface, But it was sidewayswhich prevented deploying many of its useful charges. Even so, it continued to work for seven days before running out of energy.✔️ Blue Ghost of Firefly Aerospace. The mission received a contract of 101.5 million from the NASA to take 10 useful charges to the moon. It was launched on January 15, 2025 in a Falcon 9 rocket in Spacex. The ship alunicized smoothly and vertically on March 2, 2025. It was the first completely successful mooning of a private company on the moon. Among other instruments, the mission deployed a heat probe under the lunar regol.❌ Athena of intuitive machines. The second mission of Intuitive Machines received 47 million dollars from NASA to display the prime-1 ice prospecting experiment on the moon. It was launched on February 27, 2025 in a Falcon 9 rocket. Like Odysseus, the Athena ship managed to descend to the Mons Mouton region, near the South Lunar Pole, but it was left aside again due to problems with its navigation sensors. Consequently, he could not recharge his batteries and died prematurely after transmitting images and some initial data. The NASA trailblazer lunar orbiter ran the same fate launched next to Athena as part of another agency’s low cost program: the Simplex missions. NASA lost contact with the orbiter shortly after its deployment. Its predecessor, the Cubesat Lunah-Map launched next to the Lunar Artemis I mission, also ended in failure due to a propulsion failure. Another moment that dazzled the Clps missions was the cancellation of the Viper Rover when it was already built. NASA’s rover, designed to search water in the South Lunar Pole, was going to be launched with the Astrobotic Griffin module, but was canceled by NASA so as not to have to take delays and cost overheads. Of course, instead of dismantling it, the agency has ended up making it available to private companies interested in operating it. The following to try Astrobotic, with the Lunar Griffin module, scheduled for the end of this year Intuitive Machines, with the IM-4 missions (which will take the prospect drill of the European Space Agency to the South Lunar Pole) and IM-3 (which will travel to an enigmatic lunar swirl, Reiner Gamma), in 2026 Firefly Aerospace, with the Blue Ghost 2 missions, next year, and Blue Ghost 3, in 2028 (using an orbiter and a landing module to investigate the Gruithuisen domes, a lunar territory never explored) And Draper, aboard the Apex module of the Japanese company Ispace, with the aim of alunizar on the hidden face of the moon The half full glass Image: Firefly Aerospace Despite these setbacks, each ship of the Clps program has helped the development of the companies involved. Although the scientific value of these missions is much lower than that of more advanced programs, such as those of the Chinese space agency, CLPS offers NASA a more economical and flexible path to explore the moon and start energizing a lunar economy. The program has had a difficult start (after all they were high -risk missions), but has fulfilled the objective of involving private industry in lunar exploration, lowering access to the moon and delivering some scientific results to a comparatively low cost. If the next missions manage to improve the success rate, CLPS will be the scientific support that the artemis man -manned program needs. Image | Intuitive machines In Xataka | Elon Musk has … Read more

After 48 years, Voyager probes are running out of plutonium. So NASA has taken extreme measures

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The emblematic Voyager 1 space probes and Voyager 2, launched almost 50 years ago, are running out of energy. In order not to lose them, NASA has made the decision to turn off two other instruments to extend its useful life. One less instrument in each Voyager. Last February 25, NASA reveals nowthe mission team turned off the cosmic rays subsystem of the Voyager 1 probe, which studied high -energy particles in the interstellar space. The instrument has been doing science all this time and in 2020 allowed first How electrons from the sun accelerate when bouncing in shock waves as they move outside the solar system. Voyager 1 is the object manufactured by humans that is farther from earth and that has been going into the interstellar space more time. On March 24, NASA will also turn off the instrument that measures low -energy loaded particles in the Voyager 2. These movements seek to reduce the energy consumption of the probes, which depend on a radioisotope generator whose plutonium is running out. Both lose about 4 watts of power every year. There are hardly any operational instruments. NASA has been turning off the functions of the Voyager to prolong your useful life. Of the 10 scientific instruments Originals, only three will continue to function in each of the twin probes, one of them for just a few months: The magnetometer: measures the strength and direction of the magnetic field in the confines of the solar system, helping to understand how the magnetic field of the sun and the magnetic field of interstellar space interact The plasma wave subsystem: detects electromagnetic and plasma waves, providing information on the density and plasma temperature in interstellar space In the Voyager 1, the instrument of low -energy loaded particles, which NASA plans to also deactivate at the end of 2025. In the Voyager 2, the cosmic rays subsystem, which will remain operational until 2026 A growing repair history. In May 2024, after six months without receiving legible scientific data due to the degradation of the internal memory of Voyager 1, NASA achieved restore information through a complex (And almost heroic) Software update. It had already passed in 2010 with Voyager 2, but on that occasion It was solved With a restart. Not only memory is failing. In September 2024, engineers had to light secondary propellants of the Voyager 1, inactive for decades, to correct the orientation of the probe due to an obstruction of its main engines, also the result of its longevity. The procedure implied careful temporal heating of inactive engines, but was successful and allowed to continue with the mission. NASA expects them to reach 2030. Suzanne Dodd, head of the Voyager project, said in a statement that turning off instruments is a crucial step to avoid the “premature” purpose of the mission. Thanks to these adjustments, both ships could continue to send scientific information at least until the 2030s, although with a progressive reduction of their abilities. As for the “premature”: the Voyager have widely overcome their original mission, whose initial plan was to explore Jupiter and Saturn. Thanks to excellence in their engineering and these constant adjustments, the ships have continued to work beyond what is expected, revealing unique information about interstellar space and heliopause, the region where the solar wind loses its influence. Images | POT In Xataka | The rescue of Voyager 1 has begun. With 8 kb of memory, a programming language of 1957 and an unimportant LAG

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