NASA considers ‘deep sleep’ hibernation for manned missions to Mars

(Artist’s concept of a crew in torpor – Photo Credit: SpaceWorks)

A NASA-backed study is currently exploring the possibility of placing astronauts into deep sleep hibernation, otherwise known as torpor, during manned missions to Mars, and the results are already looking promising.

NASA confirms Space Launch System will be ready for 2018 test flight

(Space Launch System will become the most powerful rocket ever built for deep space missions – Photo Credit: NASA/MSFC)

After a thorough review, NASA managers have formally approved the development of the Space Launch System, something no other exploration class vehicle has achieved since the agency built the space shuttle, and have confirmed that the rocket will be ready for its first test flight no later than November 2018. 

Aquanauts complete underwater NEEMO 18 mission

(Mark T. Vande Hei and Thomas Pesquet collecting core samples – Photo Credit: NASA/NEEMO)

Four astronauts have ‘splashed up’ from the depths of the Atlantic Ocean, ending the 18th NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO) expedition.