Magnetic Fields And Mars

In October 2014 Comet Siding Spring had a close encounter with Mars.  The magnetic fields of the two bodies merged, and Mars apparently came out on the short end, perhaps losing some upper atmosphere into space.

How big a role this mechanism may have played in the loss of Mars' atmosphere over time is unclear.

Pluto's Snakeskin

A study of Pluto's so-called snakeskin terrain suggests the area contains densely packed steep hills about 1,650 feet tall.

The hills may also be made of methane cathrate that formed in the protosolar nebula before the Sun ignited.

ExoMars

ExoMars, a joint ESA-Russia project, successfully lifted off today.

ExoMars is to search for signs of life.

Kelly Retires

Scott Kelly, just back from nearly a year in space, is retiring from NASA.

Kelly spent twenty years as an astronaut and went into space four times.

MRO At Ten

NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has now been orbiting Mars for ten years.

In that time, it has been critical in helping scientists develop the modern view of Mars as a dynamic world.

Reforming NASA

Several ideas for reforming NASA and reshaping U. S. space policy are rolling around Congress.

Some seek to encourage commercial space development, some to give NASA a new management structure, and some to explicitly make NASA's next big goal landing humans on Mars.

Blue Origin

Blue Origin plans to start flying paying passengers in 2018.

Test flights are scheduled for next year.