If life on Mars exists, it may be preserved in a frozen time capsule

The ESCAPADE mission, launched on a Blue Origin rocket, represents a departure from traditional planetary science missions. This unusual approach aims to study Mars in innovative ways, highlighting the evolving landscape of space exploration.

NASA's presumptive next leader aims to outsource more of the agency's interplanetary science efforts. The recent launch of the ESCAPADE mission to Mars serves as a critical evaluation of these outsourcing plans, highlighting the potential implications for future space exploration.

New images from the Mars Express orbiter have revealed evidence of a past ice age at Mars's mid-latitudes. These findings, which include deep 'scratches' and craters, provide insights into the dynamic climate history of the Red Planet.

NASA's twin ESCAPADE Mars probes are en route to the Red Planet, but their journey will take a longer, circuitous path with a year-long layover. This unconventional route is part of the mission's design, allowing for various scientific observations and maneuvers before reaching Mars.

Blue Origin successfully launched its New Glenn rocket on November 13, 2025, carrying two NASA spacecraft bound for Mars. This marks the second flight of the 321-foot (98-meter) rocket, which is expected to transport people and supplies to the moon in future missions. The rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, and the NASA Mars orbiters began their journey to the red planet. Employees at Blue Origin celebrated as the booster landed upright on a barge 375 miles (600 km) offshore, while Jeff Bezos observed the launch from control.

Jeff Bezos's rocket company, Blue Origin, successfully launched a NASA mission to study Mars on Thursday after previous delays. This mission marks a significant achievement for Blue Origin and positions it as a competitor to Elon Musk's SpaceX in the burgeoning space exploration sector.

A new analysis of data from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has provided an explanation for the dark 'slope streaks' on Mars, which number around 2 million. This finding resolves a mystery that has persisted for 50 years, as it reveals that the majority of these streaks did not form in the way most researchers had previously assumed.