Landing robotics distinguish the craft from past models, allowing researchers to target smaller flat areas that are surrounded by rock.
NASA
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Mysterious Heavy Ion Beams Above Mars Explained
NASA's latest mission to Mars has uncovered the origins of fast-moving streams of particles high above the planet, flowing against the solar wind.
Posted inScience Updates
Satellite Radar to Observe Earth’s Changing Surface
NASA-ISRO SAR Mission Science and Applications Workshops; Ahmedabad, India, 19–20 November 2015
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Electrons Thrown Off Course in Near-Earth Magnetic Reconnection
NASA Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission detects energy differences in electrons scattered by magnetic reconnection.
Posted inScience Updates
Radiation Belt Processes in a Declining Solar Cycle
The Van Allen Probes began an extended mission in November to advance understanding of Earth's radiation belts.
Posted inNews
Congress Tussles over Bill to Provide Stability to NASA
Witnesses at a congressional hearing highlighted the need to provide stability to NASA but were lukewarm in supporting specific provisions of the proposed Space Leadership Preservation Act.
Posted inNews
Claudia Joan Alexander (1959–2015)
Alexander is remembered for her leading role in the Galileo and Rosetta missions and her efforts to encourage women scientists from underprivileged and underrepresented groups.
Posted inScience Updates
Where Curiosity Has Taken Us
The Curiosity rover, one of NASA's flagship missions, analyzes Martian geology, geochemistry, climatology, and radiation to assess whether Mars could have supported microbial life.
Posted inScience Updates
Status of Tools and Data for Planetary Research
2nd Planetary Data Workshop; Flagstaff, Arizona, 8–11 June 2015
Posted inNews
Cassini Probe Dives Through Enceladus Plume
NASA's Cassini probe takes a trip through a cosmic sprinkler to learn more about a subsurface ocean.