The Space.com community is still buzzing about the Perseverance rover’s mission on Mars, which isn’t remotely surprising. This mission is a significant step toward learning more about possible ancient life on the Red Planet. We decided to channel some of that excitement toward a special giveaway this month! One lucky winner will be walking away with: There’s no better way to mark the fact that you were around to witness the day Perseverance landed successfully on Mars. To enter, all you have to do is head over to this thread…
Read MoreMonth: March 2021
Apophis Pays a Visit This Week
When a potentially hazardous asteroid glides safely past Earth on March 6th, astronomers will conduct a dress rehearsal for a dramatic close-miss pass in 2029. The post Apophis Pays a Visit This Week appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
Read MoreAuthor Andy Weir offers ‘Project Hail Mary’ mission patch on virtual book tour
Andy Weir is ready to launch his next space adventure and has a mission patch waiting for you if you choose to join him. The author of the 2014 bestseller “The Martian,” which was adapted into the hit Ridley Scott feature film starring Matt Damon, is now back with another tale of discovery, speculation and survival in “Project Hail Mary,” coming from Ballantine Books on May 4. To promote the upcoming release, Weir will take part in a six-“stop” virtual book tour, partnering with book stores and museums across the…
Read MoreNewfound exoplanet could be ‘Rosetta Stone’ for studies of alien atmospheres
A newly discovered alien world could help astronomers better understand the atmospheres of rocky planets. The newfound exoplanet, Gliese 486 b, circles a dim red dwarf star just 26 light-years from Earth and is about 1.3 times larger and 2.8 times more massive than our home planet, a new study reports. Gliese 486 b whips around its host star once every 1.47 Earth days, and it crosses that star’s face from our perspective. Gliese 486 b is therefore the third-closest such “transiting” alien world known — and the closest one that…
Read MoreNASA Awards Mars Ascent Propulsion System Contract for Sample Return
NASA has awarded the Mars Ascent Propulsion System (MAPS) contract to Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation of Elkton, Maryland, to provide propulsion support and products for spaceflight missions at the agency’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
Read MoreMission Commander Thrives as ‘Space Gardener’
NASA astronaut Mike Hopkins’ enthusiasm for learning to grow plants in space has proven fruitful for the agency’s Vegetable Production System (Veggie).
Read MoreHubble: 30 Years and Counting
It’s March 2021 and in about another month the Hubble Space Telescope will celebrate 31 years in space observing the universe.
Read MoreSpaceX’s SN10 Starship prototype lands after epic test launch — but then explodes
SpaceX’s latest Starship prototype went out in a blaze of glory. The Starship SN10 spacecraft touched down successfully after a high-altitude test flight today (March 3), a major milestone for the company and its crewed Mars ambitions. But the vehicle didn’t manage to hold itself together, exploding about eight minutes after landing. The big stainless-steel SN10 (short for “Serial No. 10”) launched from SpaceX’s South Texas site at 6:15 p.m. EST (2315 GMT), rose 6.2 miles (10 kilometers) into the sky and then came back to Earth for a smooth…
Read MoreNASA to Provide Update on Perseverance ‘Firsts’ Since Mars Landing
Since NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance rover touched down at Jezero Crater Feb. 18, mission controllers have made substantial progress as they prepare the rover for the unpaved road ahead.
Read MoreSpace calendar 2021: Rocket launches, sky events, missions & more!
LAST UPDATED March 3: These dates are subject to change, and will be updated throughout the year as firmer dates arise. Please DO NOT schedule travel based on a date you see here. Launch dates collected from NASA, ESA, Roscosmos, Spaceflight Now and others. Watch NASA webcasts and other live launch coverage on our “Watch Live” page, and see our night sky webcasts here. Find out what’s up in the night sky this month with our visible planets guide and skywatching forecast. Wondering what happened today in space history? Check out our “On This Day in Space” video show here! March…
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