NASA calls it quits for Mars mission, seeks help from startups l TechCrunch Minute

NASA is scrapping their $11 billion, 15-year Mars Sample Return Mission. The agency is shopping for a commercial partner to take on the challenge at a lower cost and on a quicker time frame—space startups are clamoring to throw their hat in the ring. While the situation could be read as an admission by NASA…

Published

2 years ago

April 18, 2024

CYBER TECH TV

While the situation could be read as an admission by NASA that it’s no longer feasible to take on these massive missions on its own, the move to preemptively opt for a leaner Mars program fueled by commercial ambitions seems to have no obvious downside. TechCrunch’s Alex Wilhelm discusses what this means for the space industry and the players—big and small—who are focusing on planetary research.

Subscribe for more on YouTube:

Follow TechCrunch on Instagram:
TikTok:
X:
Facebook:

Related Topics:

7 Comments

@iuniversalsphere

April 18, 2024 at 11:56 am

GUESS WHO IS GETTING ALL USA-TAX-PAYER-DOLLARS? ANSWER: ‘TRANS-ATLANTIC-USA/CIA/NATO/WEF-MILITARY-INDUSTRIAL-COMPLEX.’ ENDLESS WARS. WAR IS ABOUT ‘BIG’ MONEY. WAR IS A SCAM. ENDLESS WARS IS A MONEY-LAUNDERING-SCHEME THAT STEALS FROM USA-TAX-PAYERS TO THE MILITARY-INDUSTRIAL-COMPLEX.???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ???????? ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

Reply
@louididdy

April 18, 2024 at 4:42 pm

High Rising Tone

Reply
@AgraFarmsllc

April 19, 2024 at 12:27 am

NASA just cleared the way for private startup companies to do it faster and cheaper. I for one will be throwing our proposals into the mix.

Reply
@feanacar

April 19, 2024 at 6:43 am

To be honest, we should clean up this planet before we start junking up another one

Reply
- @manywayz2be
  
  April 19, 2024 at 9:15 am
  
  Or we learn from this and continue on. This planet will be destroyed in time. Wether humans speed it up. Earth will eventually be hit by a life ending asteroid, black hole, sun dies, our galaxy collides with amdromeda. Eventually earth will be no more in time. So we just move on.
  
  Reply
@Bass-lh6hn

April 20, 2024 at 11:29 pm

Nobody should help NASA because they lie to the public.

Reply
- @lucassevey5989
  
  April 21, 2024 at 9:26 am
  
  What lies
  
  Reply

Science & Technology

Do you trust Meta with your digital life?

Meta’s AI agent Muse stole the spotlight this week, but would you trust Meta with your entire digital life? The Equity crew looks at the company’s consumer AI ambitions and why some users (like Sean) might prefer to hand that information to another provider Listen to the full episode:

Published

23 hours ago

September 25, 2026

CYBER TECH TV

Meta’s AI agent Muse stole the spotlight this week, but would you trust Meta with your entire digital life?

The Equity crew looks at the company’s consumer AI ambitions and why some users (like Sean) might prefer to hand that information to another provider

Listen to the full episode:

People & Blogs

Being a person is better than being perfect all the time #TEDTalks

Published

1 day ago

September 25, 2026

CYBER TECH TV

Why are we so obsessed with productivity? Horticulturist Rebecca McMackin (who wants people to let their lawns grow wild) and author Catherine Price (who wrote a book about the power of fun) come together to discuss the relief of giving up control. From growing milkweed to taking up unproductive hobbies, they dig into the benefits of rest and why doing something for its own sake shouldn’t need defending at all. (This conversation is part of “TED Intersections,” a series featuring thought-provoking conversations between experts navigating the ideas shaping our world.)

Bloomberg Technology

Microsoft AI CEO, Mustafa Suleyman on Why Industry Needs a ‘Red Line’ for AI

Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman talks about the growing alarm about AI and why he’s taking a human first approach in an interview with Bloomberg’s Shirin Ghaffary for the Q&AI newsletter. ——– Like this video? Subscribe to Bloomberg Tech on YouTube: Watch the latest full episodes of “Bloomberg Tech” with Ed Ludlow here: …

Published

1 day ago

September 25, 2026

CYBER TECH TV

Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman talks about the growing alarm about AI and why he’s taking a human first approach in an interview with Bloomberg’s Shirin Ghaffary for the Q&AI newsletter.
——–
Like this video? Subscribe to Bloomberg Tech on YouTube:

Watch the latest full episodes of “Bloomberg Tech” with Ed Ludlow here:

Get the latest in tech from Silicon Valley and around the world here:

Connect with us on…
X:
Facebook:
Instagram:

Follow Ed Ludlow on X here:

Listen to the daily Bloomberg Tech podcast here:

More from Bloomberg Business
Connect with us on…
X:
Facebook:
Instagram:
LinkedIn:
TikTok: