Failed Russian Mars Probe Crashes into Pacific Ocean
Although it can be tough for observers in the West to vet such claims from the Russians, fears that Phobos-Grunt's fall would cause dangerous chemicals to rain from the sky are probably unfounded, experts say
Russian Mars Probe to Crash Soon, With World Watching
At most, 20 to 30 fragments of Phobos-Grunt, weighing a total of less than 200 kilograms, may reach Earth’s surface, most likely the ocean
The Most Memorable Spaceflight Stories of 2011
Here's a rundown of the top 11 spaceflight stories of 2011, from the last mission of NASA's venerable space shuttle program to China's first-ever docking of two spaceships in Earth orbit
NASA's Mars Rover Curiosity Had Planetary Protection Slipup
The incident has become a lessons-learned example of miscommunication in assuring that planetary protection procedures are strictly adhered to
This Way to Mars: How Technologies Borrowed from Robotic Missions Could Deliver Astronauts to Deep Space
By adapting ideas from robotic planetary exploration, the human space program could get astronauts to asteroids and Mars cheaply and quickly
Skywatcher Snaps Photos of Stranded Russian Mars Probe
A veteran satellite spotter tracked Russia's Phobos-Grunt spacecraft as it passed over the southern Netherlands on Tuesday
Breaking the Deep-Space Barrier [Interactive]
How a spacecraft propelled by ion drives could deliver humanity deeper into space than ever before. Read more in our special report on deep-space exploration
Next Stop, Mars! Huge NASA Rover Launches toward Red Planet
NASA has launched its next Mars rover, known as Curiosity
NASA's Massive Curiosity Rover Nears Launch toward Mars
The rover formerly known as the Mars Science Laboratory should tackle some of the biggest questions about Mars—assuming it can survive an elaborate touchdown
Russian Engineers Race to Save Troubled Mars Moon Probe
Phobos-Grunt appears to be stuck in Earth orbit. In two weeks, if its thrusters aren't restarted, the spacecraft will be lost completely
Russia Launching Probe to Sample Mars's Moon Phobos Today
Lift-off from Kazakhstan's Baikonur Cosmodrome is set for 3:16 P.M. EST. The main goal is to grab some dirt from Phobos' surface and return the samples to Earth in 2014
Life's Journey: 5 Tiny Organisms Hitch a Ride on Mission to a Martian Moon [Slide Show]
The Russian sample-return spacecraft will carry a zoo of microbes to Phobos and back to test whether life can survive the interplanetary journey