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Update regarding capsule after crew was removed...
Per Google:
After the Artemis II crew splashed down and was extracted by Navy divers near San Diego on April 10, 2026, the Orion capsule was secured and hoisted out of the Pacific Ocean by the USS John P. Murtha. The capsule is now undergoing post-flight inspection and analysis of its heat shield and systems before returning to NASA's Johnson Space Center.
NBC News+4
Key post-landing actions for the Orion capsule include:Safe Extraction: Navy divers secured the craft, and the crew was plucked by helicopters from the capsule's exit, known as the "porch".
Ship Recovery: The capsule was hoisted from the ocean onto the U.S. Navy ship.
Evaluation: NASA technicians are inspecting the capsule's heat shield and overall structural integrity following its high-speed, 3,000-degree Fahrenheit re-entry.
Payload Unloading: Remaining equipment and data are removed for analysis to prepare for future missions.
NBC News
+2
(th)
===
Today on Mars: 0038/18/28 Saturday Days of the week OFFSET 0 with Earth. (count from Mars to Earth )
Sol 501 Business Month 18 Sixth month of Quarter 3 of Year 38
Today on Earth: 2026/04/11 Saturday Earth Date) One day note: Mars skipped Friday: End of Quarter
====*====*====
To see how this calendar works, we show the standard 28 day month at the bottom of this daily report.
There are 20 months of 28 Sols and 4 months of 27 Sols at the end of the four six-month quarters.
New Years Eve is extended to align the Business Calendar for Mars with the Astronomical calendar.
Business and Astronomical both start at zero (to the nanosecond) on New Year's Day.
This calendar has been in operation for two full Mars years (36 and 37). We are in Year 38
This calendar is NOT the Darian Calendar!
Per http://www-mars.lmd.jussieu.fr/mars/tim … _time.html also see: in-the-sky.org for opposition/perigee/aphelion
Martian Year: 38 Martian Astronomical Interval in 12 interval format: 9 <<== The Astronomical interval
Check Longitude: the interval will increment when longitude reaches 270 degrees
===
Solar Longitude: 260.9 Sol Number: 501 Change in degrees is +.6 Julian date is: J0038501
Solar Longitude: 260.3 Sol Number: 500 Change in degrees is +.7 Julian date is: J0038500
Solar Longitude: 259.6 Sol Number: 499 Change in degrees is +.6 Julian date is: J0038499
#>
Note that Solar Longitude measurement varies as a function of location in orbit. Ls 0 is the moment when the Sun appears to transit from one hemisphere to the other. Update from Mars.NASA.gov (The Sun crosses the equator of Mars (Vernal Equinox)). The transition itself is a function of the tilt of an object with respect to the Solar plane. Per squarewidget.com, Hipparchus created the celestial coordinate system we use today.
Note#2: https://theskylive.com/mars-tracker This web site shows the astronomical position of Mars as seen from Earth
Todo: At next Aphelion/Perihelion record the Mars date as J00##### (and set Search term)
Perihelion occurred in 2026 at Ls 251 on Sol 486 - Earth Date 2026/03/27 Next: (estimated) 2028/05/15
Perihelion occurred in 2024 at Ls 251 on Sol 485 - Earth Date 2024/05/08 Next: (estimated) 2026/03/06 (actual) 2026/03/26
Perihelion occurred in 2022 at Ls 251 on Sol 485 - Earth Date 2022/06/21 Next: (actual) 2024/05/08
Aphelion Earth Dates: Next: 2027/03/04 Earlier: 2025/04/16, 2023/05/30, 2021/07/12, 2019/08/25, 2017/10/07, 2015/11/20
Aphelion occurred at--- Ls 071 on Sol 152.
Aphelion occurred near Ls 070 on Sol 153 (per http://www.planetary.org)
Note#3: The computations below are dependent upon both the computations provided by the reference web site and by accuracy of recording of the time of observations. The calculations use tenths of hours. The Sun Distance needs to be captured at the moment the time increments to a given tenth.
Note on data below: The figure quoted after distance is a rate of progress along the orbital path [exact meaning to be determined]
Minus prefix means Mars is approaching the Sun. Plus prefix means Mars is moving away from the Sun.
The figure computed to the right of "Difference" is the rate of change of the distance to Sun. Increasing to Aphelion/Decreasing to Perihelion.
Aphelion of Mars is due March 04, 2027 Sol 151-152 Note velocity of Mars was 22.0 km/s nearing Aphelion (21.97 km/s)
Perhelion of Mars is due May, 2028 Sol 251 Note velocity of Mars was 26.5 km/s nearing Perhelion 2026/03/26
===
Distance: Mars >> Sun per theskylive.com: 206,916,533 km [26.5 km/s] Difference is +33853 <= +1411 km/hour at 12.0 on 04/11 (time 12:00) (24.0 hours)
Distance: Mars >> Sun per theskylive.com: 206,882,680 km [26.5 km/s] Difference is +31629 <= +1318 km/hour at 12.0 on 04/10 (time 12:00) (24.0 hours)
Distance: Mars >> Sun per theskylive.com: 206,851,051 km [26.5 km/s] Difference is +29611 <= +1234 km/hour at 12.0 on 04/09 (time 12:00) (24.0 hours)
==*==*==*
Observation: The sky view is ** filled ** with objects and some have been recorded and given identification by humans or their robot assistants
And! ** All ** the location assignments are from the perspective of Earth. The entire catalog needs to be adjusted when inter-stellar travel begins
The work that lies ahead for the astronomical community is daunting - there is work ahead for centuries
2022/01/19 - All current (existing) stellar catalogs are computed with reference to the Earth. Another civilization would use it's planet as reference.
Perhaps a Milky Way frame of reference will become necessary at some point. The Earth is as good a Zero point as any, for humans.
=== Mars is in Regular movement as seen from Earth.
Next ahead: Mars is 4.5 hours ahead of Psyche RA 00h 06m 29.0s Psyche RA 00h 04m 26.0s
Mars RA 00h 03m 33s Dec -00 degrees 42 minutes 36 seconds
====*====*===
Zoom Out Capability As a general observation ... I've become increasingly interested in knowing what the larger view of the sky might be like.
The site: theskylive.com does a terrific job of matching the view from Earth towards Mars, against a background of actual astronomical plates.
I wish there were a way (or rather, I wish I ** knew ** about a way that may exist) to enlarge the view until the entire galaxy is in view (Zoom out)
Update 2022/12/08 TheSkyLive.com provides a large view of selected objects: Select [Major Bodies] Then select [Information] in the body of interest
Update 2022/12/08 Scroll down to (body) Position and Finder Charts. Field of view is 50x30 degrees.
Light travel in one second is (about) 300,000 kilometers. The distance covered in one minute is about 18,000,000 kilometers. Estimated light times:
1:18,2:36,3:54,4:72,5:90,6:108,7:126,8:144,9:162,10:180,11:198,12:216,13:234,14:252,15:270,16:288,17:306,18:324, 19:342,20:360,21:378,22:396
Light travel time today is between 18 and 19 minutes. Communications delay would be 36+ minutes round trip.
=== Time estimate will change below 324
Earth Distance in km: 2026/04/11 340,843,409 (decreasing)
Earth Distance in km: 2026/04/10 341,084,204 (decreasing)
Earth Distance in km: 2026/04/09 341,323,339 (decreasing)
<<#
Maximum Earth-Mars distance is estimated to be 401 million kilometers (both at apogee and opposite vs Sun) Minimum is about 56 million kilometers
Mars and Earth were in Opposition (Earth center) in December of 2022. The date coincided with a (very rare) occultation of Mars by the Moon.
Mars and Earth were in Conjunction (Sun center) in November of 2023.
Mars and Earth appear to have been as close as they will get in Year 36. 81,454,323 kilometers on J0036644 Time: 4.53 minutes - 9 minutes round trip
In his online interview with Dr. Zubrin at the 2020 Mars Conference, Elon Musk reminded the audience that communications with Mars will necessarily include an intermediary station to handle traffic when the Sun is between Mars and Earth. Communications delays in that circumstance will increase due to the extra distance to be covered. Mr. Musk indicated he expects such communication will be handled by laser. Location would be optimum at poles of solar plane.
This web site offers an online model of the solar system: www.solarsystemscope.com It requires Chrome 57, Firefox 52 or Safari 10.1. Viewed 2022/10/13: Opposition will occur some time in December of 2022. Per earthsky.org, the date is December 8, 2022.
This web site offers an online orrery view of the Solar System: https://www.theplanetstoday.com/
===
Sol 501 is in Month 18 of a Proposed 24 month calendar. See Post 19 of Holidays topic for a summary.
Month 18 extends from Sol 475 through 501. <<== There are 27 days in Month 18. See post 82 of Holidays topic for current details.
Direct path to source: http://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php … 57#p154257
Sol 501 is Saturday in the Proposed Business calendar for Mars. Sol 486 was a Skip Day on Mars. Next is near 523 of Year 38
##
The Next New Year's on Mars will occur when Solar Longitude reaches 360 degrees. Year 38 started November 12, 2024 on Earth
Per www.planetary.org Year 36 started 2021/02/07 on Earth. Mars Year 37 began 2022/12/27 on Earth.
Days of the Week Alignment:
Days of the week fall behind Earth due to the longer Sol, but they also change when Friday is omitted at the end of a Quarter
337 Earth days were observed to elapse in the 2020 weekday cycle. There were 7 week day transitions and 2 Quarter ends.
The next cycle began on the first Sol of the period of coincidence. The alignment of weekdays interval is in the range: (310 - 337)
To find the first day of a period of coincidence: Set up: SearchTerm(colon) and (colon)Alignment and J0036* or J0037*
The most recent End-Of-Quarter change occurred: … The search specified above gave 11 pages of results.
For current weather on Mars see:
***https://mars.nasa.gov/insight/weather/***
***Insight's weather info has been suspended and now is directing to msl*** <<-- Insight's mission is over (2022)
https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/weather/
Per SpaceNut: Here is another web page by NASA containing the latest news releases
https://mars.nasa.gov/news/?page=0&per_ … ope=Latest
All forum members are invited to post significant events for this day.
Events of interest will be ON Mars, or relate to Mars. Examples are launches, landings, discoveries
Standard Month in Mars Business Calendar Copyright ® 2023 NewMars.com Mars Society
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
Recruiting text may be found at the bottom of this post: http://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php … 57#p154257
Copyright the Mars Society All Rights Reserved
Month 18 of 24: Last month of Quarter 3 << There are 27 days in Month 18
Place holder for Calendar update for Saturday April 11, 2026
Current ID 638673
[51.4792N, 0.0000E] 04/11/2026, 13:00:05 Europe/London
Object: Mars [open sky map]
RA 00h 06m 24.3s Dec -00° 23' 46.0" Appar J2000
Mag: 1.24 (Estimated: JPL) Const: Pisces
Sun Dist: 206,916,533 km [26.5 km/s]
Earth Dist: 340,843,409 km [53.6 km/s]
https://www-mars.lmd.jussieu.fr/mars/ti … _time.html
The site for Mars time did not respond this morning. It came back up a half hour later:
Martian Year:
38
Martian Astronomical Month:
9
Solar longitude Ls:
260.9
Sol number:
501
Total number of registered users: 19,630
Total number of topics: 9,000
Total number of posts: 234,359
Newest registered user: Scarecrow2025
Registered users online: 2
Guests online: 59
Online: tahanson43206, Void
For SpaceNut re #23
Thanks for that excellent idea! I expect that Mr. Burk was busy watching the landing. It appears that the Image Server is ready to go with only a password update.
****
You posted a list of Mars Society chapters in Housekeeping! Thanks!
That is an impressive list.
Before we suggest anything to Mr. Burk ... do you feel up to managing an influx of that many potential users?
We could spread out the work load by making each Chapter President a Moderator with the ability to manage their forum.
We have thousands of ID's ready to go, and Moderators can activate them.
I question the wisdom of opening Registration to all without checks. Our experience would seem to advise against that idea.
(th)
Splash down is just 40 minutes (or so) away....
Coverage is live on multiple channels...
Update after splashdown ... The view from the capsule window just before communications blackout was ** really ** impressive.
The landing looked perfect from my perspective, and Mission Control seemed to think so as well.
The milling around on the water afterward was surprising to me.
It seemed to me that the United States is out of practice after 70 years of just doing LEO returns.
However, I don't remember how long the recovery operations took for the Apollo missions, so they may have been just as confused looking. It was clear from the transcript that equipment meant to allow communications between the Navy and the capsule were not working.
NASA gave the Navy 2 hours to work with, and they used just about every minute of it. Part of the delay was due to the need to clear hydrazine from the capsule. I did notice what appeared to be hydrazine firings as the capsule descended under the parachutes. That might have been intended to exhaust the supply before the capsule landed.
I did learn (through subsequent reporting by someone at the NASA feed) that the crew had been rehearsing that convoluted procedure so they knew what to expect. One thing I ** didn't ** see was how the capsule itself was collected. Hopefully there will be reporting on that at some point. It is understandable that securing the crew and presenting them to the public was the highest priority.
(th)
For SpaceNut ....
Re post #4185...
Thanks for pointing out that we have a forum for Mars Society Chapters. In the present setup, each chapter might have a topic. They could post events information there, as well as comments.
What I'm talking about is a much more attractive offer.
In my proposal, each chapter would be offered an entire forum, with an unlimited number of topics they can create as they see fit.
I bring this to your attention because at this moment, we have a rare opportunity to interact with Executive Director James Burk. He has ** just ** brought us back to life, and he is about to restore the Image Server, if all goes well.
The Mars Society has not benefited from this forum. I'm looking for ways for this forum to benefit the Mars Society, and specifically, the many Mars Society Chapters. Such an offering would bring young people into contact with this forum. That would not happen otherwise.
Again, thank you for pointing out the forum we created for Mars Society Chapters. So far, none have taken advantage of the offer.
I specifically offered our forum to the head of a chapter in the US, and the gent chose not to pursue it. He is already busy organizing events for the chapter and for whatever reason, decided against approaching us.
(th)
This is for SpaceNut and it applies to everyone who might wish to store images in the NewMars image server.
At present, our Image Server is running but it cannot connect to the database it shares with the FluxBB package we use for posts.
Mr. Burk changed the MySQL password as part of the hardening he is doing following the recent hacker exploit.
Mr. Burk said he would change the password for the Image Server but it may be a couple of days until he finds time to take care of it.
In the mean time, this is what we see:
General Error
SQL ERROR [ mysqli ]Access denied for user 'newmarscom'@'vps31385.dreamhostps.com' (using password: YES) [1045]
An sql error occurred while fetching this page. Please contact an administrator if this problem persists.
We are set up to use the Lifeboat forum right now, and we can create image links from there just fine.
(th)
This is for SpaceNut, but the information applies to everyone.
Our newly renewed member, FriendOfQuark1, used the password change feature of the NewMars.com/forums system.
He succeeded, but reports that the procedure is not as smooth as might have been expected. Here is his report:
> The process is buggy. I had to 'recover password'. That actually sends a "strong" temporary password. But you can't log in with that until you get a second email to create a new password. I got a notice upon that my password had been updated, even though I didn't enter anything. Going back to the other tab and entering the system generated pass let me in.
>
> Posted a 'nt' test in not so free chat successfully.
(th)
Spash Down is predicted for 18:07 EST ...
I asked Google about entry to the atmosphere:
AI Overview
The Artemis II Orion capsule is scheduled to enter the Earth’s atmosphere at approximately 7:54 p.m. EST (13 minutes before splashdown) on Friday, April 10, 2026. The capsule will splash down at 8:07 p.m. EST in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, initiating a 6-minute communication blackout due to high heat.Entry Interface: Approx. 400,000 feet altitude.
Velocity: ~25,000 mph (approx. 24,000 mph mentioned in other reports).
Re-entry duration: 13 minutes.
(th)
===
Today on Mars: 0038/18/26 Thursday Days of the week OFFSET 1 with Earth. (count from Mars to Earth )
Sol 500 Business Month 18 Sixth month of Quarter 3 of Year 38
Today on Earth: 2026/04/10 Friday Earth Date) Post Title: Today on Mars
====*====*====
To see how this calendar works, we show the standard 28 day month at the bottom of this daily report.
There are 20 months of 28 Sols and 4 months of 27 Sols at the end of the four six-month quarters.
New Years Eve is extended to align the Business Calendar for Mars with the Astronomical calendar.
Business and Astronomical both start at zero (to the nanosecond) on New Year's Day.
This calendar has been in operation for two full Mars years (36 and 37). We are in Year 38
This calendar is NOT the Darian Calendar!
Per http://www-mars.lmd.jussieu.fr/mars/tim … _time.html also see: in-the-sky.org for opposition/perigee/aphelion
Martian Year: 38 Martian Astronomical Interval in 12 interval format: 9 <<== The Astronomical interval
Check Longitude: the interval will increment when longitude reaches 270 degrees
===
Solar Longitude: 260.3 Sol Number: 500 Change in degrees is +.7 Julian date is: J0038500
Solar Longitude: 259.6 Sol Number: 499 Change in degrees is +.6 Julian date is: J0038499
Solar Longitude: 259.0 Sol Number: 498 Change in degrees is +.6 Julian date is: J0038498
#>
Note that Solar Longitude measurement varies as a function of location in orbit. Ls 0 is the moment when the Sun appears to transit from one hemisphere to the other. Update from Mars.NASA.gov (The Sun crosses the equator of Mars (Vernal Equinox)). The transition itself is a function of the tilt of an object with respect to the Solar plane. Per squarewidget.com, Hipparchus created the celestial coordinate system we use today.
Note#2: https://theskylive.com/mars-tracker This web site shows the astronomical position of Mars as seen from Earth
Todo: At next Aphelion/Perihelion record the Mars date as J00##### (and set Search term)
Perihelion occurred in 2026 at Ls 251 on Sol 486 - Earth Date 2026/03/27 Next: (estimated) 2028/05/15
Perihelion occurred in 2024 at Ls 251 on Sol 485 - Earth Date 2024/05/08 Next: (estimated) 2026/03/06 (actual) 2026/03/26
Perihelion occurred in 2022 at Ls 251 on Sol 485 - Earth Date 2022/06/21 Next: (actual) 2024/05/08
Aphelion Earth Dates: Next: 2027/03/04 Earlier: 2025/04/16, 2023/05/30, 2021/07/12, 2019/08/25, 2017/10/07, 2015/11/20
Aphelion occurred at--- Ls 071 on Sol 152.
Aphelion occurred near Ls 070 on Sol 153 (per http://www.planetary.org)
Note#3: The computations below are dependent upon both the computations provided by the reference web site and by accuracy of recording of the time of observations. The calculations use tenths of hours. The Sun Distance needs to be captured at the moment the time increments to a given tenth.
Note on data below: The figure quoted after distance is a rate of progress along the orbital path [exact meaning to be determined]
Minus prefix means Mars is approaching the Sun. Plus prefix means Mars is moving away from the Sun.
The figure computed to the right of "Difference" is the rate of change of the distance to Sun. Increasing to Aphelion/Decreasing to Perihelion.
Aphelion of Mars is due March 04, 2027 Sol 151-152 Note velocity of Mars was 22.0 km/s nearing Aphelion (21.97 km/s)
Perhelion of Mars is due May, 2028 Sol 251 Note velocity of Mars was 26.5 km/s nearing Perhelion 2026/03/26
===
Distance: Mars >> Sun per theskylive.com: 206,882,680 km [-?- km/s] Difference is +31629 <= +1318 km/hour at 12.0 on 04/10 (time 12:00) (24.0 hours)
Distance: Mars >> Sun per theskylive.com: 206,851,051 km [26.5 km/s] Difference is +29611 <= +1234 km/hour at 12.0 on 04/09 (time 12:00) (24.0 hours)
Distance: Mars >> Sun per theskylive.com: 206,821,439 km [26.5 km/s] Difference is +27423 <= +1143 km/hour at 12.0 on 04/08 (time 12:00) (24.0 hours)
==*==*==*
Observation: The sky view is ** filled ** with objects and some have been recorded and given identification by humans or their robot assistants
And! ** All ** the location assignments are from the perspective of Earth. The entire catalog needs to be adjusted when inter-stellar travel begins
The work that lies ahead for the astronomical community is daunting - there is work ahead for centuries
2022/01/19 - All current (existing) stellar catalogs are computed with reference to the Earth. Another civilization would use it's planet as reference.
Perhaps a Milky Way frame of reference will become necessary at some point. The Earth is as good a Zero point as any, for humans.
=== Mars is in Regular movement as seen from Earth.
Next ahead: Mars RA 00h 03m 33s Dec -00 degrees 42 minutes 36 seconds
Mars RA 00h 00m 42s Dec -01 degrees 01 minutes 23 seconds
====*====*===
Zoom Out Capability As a general observation ... I've become increasingly interested in knowing what the larger view of the sky might be like.
The site: theskylive.com does a terrific job of matching the view from Earth towards Mars, against a background of actual astronomical plates.
I wish there were a way (or rather, I wish I ** knew ** about a way that may exist) to enlarge the view until the entire galaxy is in view (Zoom out)
Update 2022/12/08 TheSkyLive.com provides a large view of selected objects: Select [Major Bodies] Then select [Information] in the body of interest
Update 2022/12/08 Scroll down to (body) Position and Finder Charts. Field of view is 50x30 degrees.
Light travel in one second is (about) 300,000 kilometers. The distance covered in one minute is about 18,000,000 kilometers. Estimated light times:
1:18,2:36,3:54,4:72,5:90,6:108,7:126,8:144,9:162,10:180,11:198,12:216,13:234,14:252,15:270,16:288,17:306,18:324, 19:342,20:360,21:378,22:396
Light travel time today is between 18 and 19 minutes. Communications delay would be 36+ minutes round trip.
=== Time estimate will change below 324
Earth Distance in km: 2026/04/09 341,084,204 (decreasing)
Earth Distance in km: 2026/04/09 341,323,339 (decreasing)
Earth Distance in km: 2026/04/08 341,562,482 (decreasing)
<<#
Maximum Earth-Mars distance is estimated to be 401 million kilometers (both at apogee and opposite vs Sun) Minimum is about 56 million kilometers
Mars and Earth were in Opposition (Earth center) in December of 2022. The date coincided with a (very rare) occultation of Mars by the Moon.
Mars and Earth were in Conjunction (Sun center) in November of 2023.
Mars and Earth appear to have been as close as they will get in Year 36. 81,454,323 kilometers on J0036644 Time: 4.53 minutes - 9 minutes round trip
In his online interview with Dr. Zubrin at the 2020 Mars Conference, Elon Musk reminded the audience that communications with Mars will necessarily include an intermediary station to handle traffic when the Sun is between Mars and Earth. Communications delays in that circumstance will increase due to the extra distance to be covered. Mr. Musk indicated he expects such communication will be handled by laser. Location would be optimum at poles of solar plane.
This web site offers an online model of the solar system: www.solarsystemscope.com It requires Chrome 57, Firefox 52 or Safari 10.1. Viewed 2022/10/13: Opposition will occur some time in December of 2022. Per earthsky.org, the date is December 8, 2022.
This web site offers an online orrery view of the Solar System: https://www.theplanetstoday.com/
===
Sol 500 is in Month 18 of a Proposed 24 month calendar. See Post 19 of Holidays topic for a summary.
Month 18 extends from Sol 475 through 501. <<== There are 27 days in Month 18. See post 82 of Holidays topic for current details.
Direct path to source: http://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php … 57#p154257
Sol 500 is Thursday in the Proposed Business calendar for Mars. Sol 486 was a Skip Day on Mars. Next is near 523 of Year 38
##
The Next New Year's on Mars will occur when Solar Longitude reaches 360 degrees. Year 38 started November 12, 2024 on Earth
Per www.planetary.org Year 36 started 2021/02/07 on Earth. Mars Year 37 began 2022/12/27 on Earth.
Days of the Week Alignment:
Days of the week fall behind Earth due to the longer Sol, but they also change when Friday is omitted at the end of a Quarter
337 Earth days were observed to elapse in the 2020 weekday cycle. There were 7 week day transitions and 2 Quarter ends.
The next cycle began on the first Sol of the period of coincidence. The alignment of weekdays interval is in the range: (310 - 337)
To find the first day of a period of coincidence: Set up: SearchTerm(colon) and (colon)Alignment and J0036* or J0037*
The most recent End-Of-Quarter change occurred: … The search specified above gave 11 pages of results.
For current weather on Mars see:
***https://mars.nasa.gov/insight/weather/***
***Insight's weather info has been suspended and now is directing to msl*** <<-- Insight's mission is over (2022)
https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/weather/
Per SpaceNut: Here is another web page by NASA containing the latest news releases
https://mars.nasa.gov/news/?page=0&per_ … ope=Latest
All forum members are invited to post significant events for this day.
Events of interest will be ON Mars, or relate to Mars. Examples are launches, landings, discoveries
Standard Month in Mars Business Calendar Copyright ® 2023 NewMars.com Mars Society
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
Recruiting text may be found at the bottom of this post: http://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php … 57#p154257
Copyright the Mars Society All Rights Reserved
Month 18 of 24: Last month of Quarter 3 << There are 27 days in Month 18
For Void! Thanks for confirming the test email arrived. There is NO email from newmars.com/forums unless there is an emergency, which is ** very ** rare. On the other hand, if ** you ** have a problem reaching the site, the email is there for contact.
The new email you might choose is stored in your Profile record. It is not visible to others unless you choose to make it visible.
Passwords and email are two different things. They do not interact in any way.
You can change one or the other or both.
(th)
For SpaceNut .... the Index currently provides Mars Society as a Category.
Index
Category: Mars Society
Forrum » Mars Society International
Let's create a Forum for: Mars Society Chapters
This way, each chapter could be a topic, and we could invite chapter members to contribute posts
The Mars Society was founded in 1998
The newmars.com forum dates back to 2001
The two merged (loosely) at some point.
I think that the support of this forum by the Mars Society justifies a closer bond.
Let's think about creating a new forum under "Mars Society" just for chapters.
A new Category for Space Programs by Nation would be at the same level as Mars Society.
(th)
For SpaceNut ....
Apparently we do not yet have a chapter of the Mars Society in Portugal, but it appears there might be potential...
Per Google:
AI Overview
Based on current information, there is no official, active chapter of The Mars Society listed specifically for Portugal on the main Mars Society chapters website.
However, Portugal is actively involved in Mars analog research and European space initiatives, including collaboration with Mars Society members and other international bodies.
Key Space/Mars Activities in Portugal:Monsaraz Mars Analog Station (MMAS): Located in the Alentejo region, this is a significant site for Mars-style simulations, operated by the Observatório do Lago Alqueva (OLA) and INESC TEC.
EXPLORE Program: A European educational project that conducts analog Mars missions in Portugal, involving partnerships with organizations like the Austrian Space Forum (OeWF) and NUCLIO.
Analog Missions: The CAMões mission in 2023 was a pioneer in Portuguese space simulation, and subsequent missions in 2025 and 2026 have taken place in Portugal.While an official "chapter" does not exist, local research and participation in European Mars studies are robust. If you are looking to connect with others interested in forming a chapter, The Mars Society suggests filling out a Chapter Interest Form to find others in the region.
(th)
This post is about the planned landing (splash down) Friday 2026/04/10
Per Google:
Key Facts
NASA is targeting 8:07 p.m. EDT (5:07 p.m. PDT) on Friday, April 10, for the splashdown of Artemis II in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego. Live coverage on NASA+ begins at 6:30 p.m. EDT (3:30 p.m. PDT).
Just before re-entry, the Orion capsule will separate from the European Service Module, its life-support system, built by the European Space Agency. After the 16-minute blackout, parachutes will deploy to slow the capsule, and waiting cameras will scan the sky for the first glimpses of “Integrity.”
The recovery process is expected to take several hours, with U.S. Navy teams due to secure the Orion capsule and assist the crew aboard the USS John P. Murtha, which departed San Diego on Monday, April 6. The crew will be flown by helicopter to the Murtha for medical evaluations before traveling to Houston.
The crew includes Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen. Selected in April 2023, the four astronauts have trained together for three years in preparation for this mission.
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For SpaceNut ....
At this point, I don't know if Portugal has a chapter of the Mars Society, but it might. It definitely has a space program.
As a reminder for all, Magellan was Portuguese! He was turned down for funding by the King of Portugal, so he approached Spain and ended up with five ships and over 300 men. Only one of those five ships returned to Spain, but it definitely ** was ** the first (recorded) global navigation. The ship's calendar was one day different from the calendar in Spain because that ship had chased the Sun West for one full cycle. It was Thursday in Santiago, but Wednesday aboard ship.
I'm thinking of proposing a new category behind Mars Society and ahead of Acheron Labs. It might have a name like "Space Programs by Nation"
That way, space programs that are private might still be included, as compared to government programs if we said "National Space Programs"
in any case, here is Google's collection of information about Portugal's space programs and activities...
AI Overview
Yes, Portugal has an active space program managed by the Portuguese Space Agency (Portugal Space), established in 2019. The agency, based in the Azores, promotes the "Portugal Space 2030" strategy, focusing on Earth observation, satellite development, and building a spaceport in Santa Maria for small satellite launches.Key aspects of Portugal's space program include:
Spaceport Azores: Located on Santa Maria Island, this project aims to provide access to space for small satellites, with the Atlantic Spaceport Consortium (ASC) authorized to develop the site.
International Partnerships: Portugal is a member of the European Space Agency (ESA) and signed the Artemis Accords in 2026 for peaceful space exploration.
Space Economy Goals: The program aims to create 1,000 highly skilled jobs and generate hundreds of millions in economic value by 2030, including fostering a commercial "New Space" industry.Key Programs: Initiatives include hosting the European Rocketry Challenge (EuRoC) and developing satellite data technologies.
Portugal Space - Wikipedia
Portugal Space (Portuguese: Agência Espacial Portuguesa) is the Portuguese space agency created by the Portuguese government in co...
Wikipedia
NASA Welcomes Portugal as 60th Artemis Accords SignatoryJan 12, 2026 — It will mark the beginning of a new era of space exploration, reminiscent of the Portuguese explorers of the past, such as Magella...
NASA (.gov)The most ambitious Portuguese project dedicated to New Space
ABOUT. The New Space Portugal project is a consortium of 41 organisations that aims to position Portugal at the forefront of globa...
New Space Portugal·Portugal Space
Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Portugal_Space
Portugal Space (Portuguese: Agência Espacial Portuguesa) is the Portuguese space agency created by the Portuguese government
Portuguese Space Agency
Portuguese Space Agency
https://ptspace.ptThe Portuguese Space Agency is the organization created by the Portuguese government to implement the national strategy for Space, Portugal Space 2030.
People also ask
Which country is no. 1 in space technology?
What are the biggest issues in Portugal?
What is the Portugal space industry?
Which European countries have a space program?
NASA Welcomes Portugal as 60th Artemis Accords Signatory
NASA (.gov)
https://www.nasa.gov › news-release › nasa-welcomes-p...Jan 12, 2026 — Portugal is the latest nation to sign the Artemis Accords alongside 59 other countries in a commitment to advancing principles for the ...
Portuguese Space Agency, Portugal SpaceYouTube
https://www.youtube.com › about
The Portuguese Space Agency, Portugal Space is an organization created by the Portuguese government to implement the National Strategy for Space (Portugal Space ...ESA Ministerial 2025: Portugal Doubles Its ESA Commitment ...
YouTube · SpaceWatch.Global TV
260+ views · 4 months ago
7:52The portuguese government is now committed and doubled the the investment from six years ago.
The most ambitious Portuguese project dedicated to ...New Space Portugal
https://www.newspaceportugal.org › ...The New Space Portugal project is a consortium of 41 organisations that aims to position Portugal at the forefront of global markets in the world space ...
Portuguese Space Agency - Portugal Space
Copernicus
https://www.copernicus.eu › portuguese-space-agency-...
Copernicus is the Earth Observation component of the European Union's space programme, looking at our planet and its environment for the benefit of Europe's ...PORTUGAL SPACE (PORTUGUESE SPACE AGENCY)
OECD
https://stip.oecd.org › stip › data › policyInitiativesMay 6, 2025 — Portugal Space is an instrument of the Portuguese government, in close articulation with the Regional Government of the Azores, to implement ...
Portugal
Space Security Portal
https://spacesecurityportal.org › states › portugal
Portugal's outer space program structurally consists of civilian and military components. Portugal Space, the Portuguese Space Agency was founded in 2019 ...Portuguese Space Agency | Institutional Video
YouTube · Portuguese Space Agency, Portugal Space
840+ views · 2 years ago
3:35
Portuguese Space Agency | Institutional Video. 847 views · 2 years ago ...more. Portuguese Space Agency, Portugal Space. 2.02K. Subscribe.
People also search for
Portugal Space Agency
Portugal Space 2030
New Space Portugal
Spain Space Agency
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Portugal space companies
Space jobs Portugal
Portuguese space agency jobs
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For Void!
Thanks for checking your email!
I just sent a message using our email server, kindly provided by Mars Society!
(Thank you Mr. Burk!)
Please let us know if the email arrives.
No need to reply via email.
We just need to confirm the test email arrived.
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For SpaceNut re today's incoming email...
We just heard from someone writing from Portugal, in a message written in Portuguese!
It occurred to me that this site is not currently set up to follow space activity by Nation. That might be something our members would like to see. Our current structure does not provide a good place for topics by Nation, but perhaps we might consider creating a category for Space Activity by Nation? Just a thought at this point. Let's think about what that might look like.
Eventually (I would expect) every Nation (large enough to be recognized as one) would have a space program, even if it is just supplying Astronauts to another, larger nation.
If we create a category for Space Programs by Nation, then each nation would be a forum, and the topics could then be the various activities that our members might want to contribute.
We are in a rebuilding phase. We have the opportunity to think about a variety of changes.
Our previous structure and mission (and audience) seem to have run their course.
FriendOfQuark1 has thought about how we might rebuild from here.
In particular, FOQ1 has advice on how older folks might provide an environment that is attractive to and comfortable for younger folks and especially those from Nations around the World.
Our generation has the opportunity to pass the torch to the next, and we might even skip a generation or two.
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NewMarsMember@gmail.com portal is open for business.
There was/were ONE incoming traffic item(s) at the Portal this morning. ONE email(s) was/were sent.
This was an inquiry from someone in Portugal. The message was written in Portuguese and I used Google Translate to deliver the English version. I wrote back with the usual information and requests. It is interesting that this inquiry arrives shortly after we came back online. I wonder if there is a connection? Perhaps a site coming online is broadcast somehow? Or this could just be a pure coincidence. In any case, it will be interesting to see if this inquiry leads anywhere.
For existing registered members who have lost your password ... If you remember the email address you used to register, you can request a recovery email at that address. If you no longer have the email available (as could happen over 20+ years) just write to NewMarsMember@gmail.com email address. Your request will be forwarded to SpaceNut, who has the tools available to assist as needed.
The images server at http://new-mars.org/phpBB3 is working.
NewMars members enrolled include:
Site Administrator (shared by kbd512 and tahanson43206)
GW Johnson
kbd512
tahanson43206
SpaceNut
Calliban
Update: If a member of ** this ** forum applies for an account on the Image Server, please let us (Admins) know, so we can look for your User ID in the waiting room.
The Azure VM is responding once again. I suspect it had gone to sleep due to dis-use. Microsoft said it would pull the plug on or about November 14th of 2025, but it has not yet done so. The non-response was due to the router IP address not being in the white list at the Azure site. There are several routers here and they compete with each other for connection.
The images server at http://NewMars.com/phpBB3 is working well. The new server supports direct display of images.
The main NewMars forum has been updated from 2012 to 2024 standards. It was activated live on Sunday 2024/12/01.
The first post in this forum is dated 2001-09-04. Author was John Creighton from Nova Scotia.
To see it enter: http://NewMars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?pid=1#p1
Recordings of the 25th Anniversary Mars Society Conference are now available on YouTube.
We are happy to welcome former members back into the active community. It has been brought to my attention that a number of former members are marked as "banned". In many cases, this marking is a limitation of FluxBB, which is the forum software.
Because of the onslaught of thousands upon thousands of spammers over 20+ years, the decision was made to close off access to inactive accounts. Unfortunately, the only mechanism available is the "banning" tool. If you are an older member and you find your account has been banned, it may have been locked to prevent hacker access. You can ask SpaceNut to reactivate the account. See the procedure below. Those who were banned for inappropriate behavior may also apply. SpaceNut will then have the opportunity to evaluate your application.
SpaceNut is in the process of upgrading members from "banned" to inActive. Since there are over 1000 folks caught up in this situation due to the spammers, it is going to take SpaceNut a while to complete the upgrade.
Read Post #2 of this topic for procedures to apply for membership. Mention specific assistance you wish to provide.
***
We have 18,370 freshly refurbished User Id's ready for new members.
A quality assurance run is scheduled every 1000 posts, to find any posts not accessible upon lookup.
Current stopping point is 237000 The next scan will be run at 238000.
Current active post is 238627 - --> new posts since previous report
The Daily Recap post will contain links to the posts in the list above.
Read Post #2 of this topic for procedures to apply for membership. Mention specific assistance you wish to provide.
For all ... we really ** are ** looking for members who want to make a difference by helping others with projects, or providing leadership on new projects. We have a ready supply of folks who can and will make comments and offer suggestions. We don't need more folks in that specialty. We ** do ** need folks who can and ** will ** help project leaders already trying to achieve something in the real universe, or who have a vision of life on Mars they'd like to pursue.
This topic was launched by SpaceNut 2020-03-01 12:52:20>> 1789 days to Post #1520 on 2025/01/23
Daily reports started 2020/01/03 at post #51 Days elapsed since Post #51 > #1520 >> 1469 posts (not all were daily updates)
The "open for business message" first appeared 2021-05-11 in Post #172 1351 days ago >> 1349 posts
https://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.ph … 59#p179759
Looking forward to hearing from you!
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For SpaceNut re email support working!
I am happy to report that we have two successful tests of the email support provided by the Mars Society!
FriendOfQuark1 reported success changing his password using the email subsystem.
And here is a test of the internal email delivery system:
20260409 Test email from FluxBB forum
InboxNew Mars Forums Mailer via vps31385.dreamhostps.com
Thu, Apr 9, 12:10PM (20 hours ago)
to metahanson43206 from New Mars Forums has sent you a message. You can reply to tahanson43206 by replying to this email.
The message reads as follows:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------This is a test ... email send was initiated at 16:10:45
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
--
New Mars Forums Mailer
In comparing the times, we have UTC of 16:10, and Seattle time of 12:10 PM ... the 4 hours difference looks about right.
There was less than 60 seconds delay from send to receipt by Gmail.
It is good to have this essential service working!
***
FYI ... Mr. Burk is willing to restore access to the Image server, but he needs an Admin account.
The Image Server is currently unable to access the MySQL database (the password was changed) so no one can log in.
The configuration file for the forum needs to be updated to the new password.
kbd512 would ordinarily be able to help with this, but kbd512 has been busy with work related activity in recent weeks.
(th)
As a follow up, I attempted to log into the Image Server and got an error indicating that the system is alive and well but it can't access the MySQL database. I wrote to Mr. Burk in hopes he might be able to adjust the Image Server software to access the database. It is very likely that we may soon have all those image links back working!
PS .... as soon as we have access to the Image Server, we can (and should) set up an Admin account for Mr. Burk!
(th)
Place holder for today's Calendar update
[51.4792N, 0.0000E] 04/10/2026, 13:00:00 Europe/London
Object: Mars [open sky map]
RA 00h 03m 33s Dec -00° 42’ 36” Appar J2000
Mag: 1.25 (Estimated: JPL) Const: Pisces
Sun Dist: 206882680.10616 km [ km/s]
Earth Dist: 341084204.65582 km [ km/s]
Martian Year:
38
Martian Astronomical Month:
9
Solar longitude Ls:
260.3
Sol number:
500
Current ID 238648
Total number of registered users: 19,630
Total number of topics: 9,000
Total number of posts: 234,333
Newest registered user: Scarecrow2025
Registered users online: 1
Guests online: 64 << spammers
Online:
This post is reserved for an index to posts that may be contributed by NewMars members.
Index:
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This topic is offered for collection of knowledge about use of plasma physics to separate metals from their oxides, and for other purposes.
We'll lead off with this report:
radify-s-sci-fi-plasma-reactors-could-break-china-s-dominance-of-rare-earth-elements/
1757AllSearchNewsImagesVideosMapsCopilotMore
About 1,960 results
Radify-s-sci-fi-plasma-reactors-could-break-china-s-dominance-of-rare-earth-elements
Radify Metals is developing plasma reactors that could significantly impact China's dominance in the rare earth elements market. Their innovative plasma-based technology aims to convert metal oxides into pure metals with minimal environmental impact, producing only water vapor as a byproduct. This approach is expected to enhance production efficiency and flexibility, allowing for the adaptation to changes in demand or pricing set by China. Radify's reactors are currently focused on dysprosium and neodymium, key elements used in magnets and electronics, but they are also exploring the potential for other metals like hafnium and titanium. By focusing on lower emissions and flexible production, Radify Metals seeks to become a formidable competitor to Chinese producers, who currently command higher prices for rare earths. The company has raised nearly $3 million from investors and is refining its technology at a laboratory in Campbell, California, with plans to increase output to several kilograms per day by year's end. If successful, Radify's approach could reshape the global supply chain for rare earth elements, reducing dependence on a single country and potentially leading to more competitive pricing and availability.
TechCrunch
+4
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For FriendOfQuark1 ....
Thanks for confirming the address works! Bravo!
And! If I read the title correctly, the email worked as well! Yay!
This is an important check on the checklist post recovery!
FYI ... this capability is why FluxBB only allows one email address per account, and no duplicates across the entire membership.
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For SpaceNut re #2272
Could you be more specific?
To my knowledge, there is NO "current lunar lander".
However, you probably know more than I do so I'll be watching for your next post.
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Hi Void!
Thanks for your interest in email and recovery.
When you look at the first page of the web site, even before you log in, the recovery email address is right there, under "You are not logged in"
After you log in, the Announcement is right under "Logged in as "
I know... it's always there so no one looks at it.
Well, now you get a chance to write it down or record it in some way.
Hopefully we will never go down again, but we've had three outages in the past two years.
The one in 2024 was an outage of the entire Mars Society family of sites, including us.
The more recent one was just us.
The email site is checked every day.
Once you set up a new email, you are welcome to send a test message to the recovery email.
One of the Admins will get back to you (hopefully the same day).
(th)