A close-up view of Mars’ surface showcasing its iconic red dust and vast craters, set against the dark expanse of space.

NASA Is Looking for Volunteers for a One-Year Simulated Mars Surface Mission

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Wanna be a Martian? In preparation for IRL Mars exploration, the simulated mission involves a four-person volunteer crew living and working inside a 1,700-square-foot, 3D-printed habitat based at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Starting in Spring 2025, crew tasks include simulated spacewalks, robotic operations, habitat maintenance, exercise, and crop growth. The habitat, called the …

Image of Asteroid Bennu

50 Million Miles Away, A NASA Spacecraft Landed On An Orbiting Asteroid, Collected Pebbles & Dust, And Then Delivered The Sample To Earth Perfectly In Tact

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Bennu—discovered in 1999–is a small, near-Earth asteroid that passes close to Earth about every six years and is estimated to be about 4.5 billion-years-old. The 4.5 billion-year-old cup of asteroid dust will help researchers better understand how Earth and life formed based on characteristics like chemical composition. Experts believe that Bennu may contain organic molecules …