NASA is pushing the limits of flight on Mars – by spinning helicopter rotor blades so fast they break the sound barrier.
A recent test at @NASAJPL achieved Mach 1.08.
And splashdown!
America is back in the business of sending astronauts to the Moon and bringing them home safely.
Reid, Victor, Christina, and Jeremy did an outstanding job. These talented astronauts inspired the world and represented their space agencies and nations as humanity’s ambassadors to the stars.
This was a test mission, the first crewed flight of SLS and Orion, pushing farther into the unforgiving environment of space than ever before, and it carried real risk. They accepted that risk for all we stood to learn and for the exciting missions that follow, as we return to the lunar surface, build a Moon base, and prepare for what comes next.
And they were not alone. The entire NASA workforce, our commercial and international partners, and the hopes and dreams of people all over the world were with them. The astronauts know it, and you should too. This mission would not have been possible without you.
Congratulations. Artemis II, mission accomplished.
TODAY IN SPACE HISTORY: FEBRUARY 18, 2021 - PERSEVERANCE LANDS ON MARS
"Seven minutes of terror" – entry at 12,000 mph, blazing heat shield, supersonic parachute, then the sky crane lowers the rover gently to Jezero Crater's ancient lakebed. Touchdown! "We're on Mars!"
Jezero: once a watery world, perfect for hunting signs of past life. Perseverance rolls out, deploys Ingenuity (first Mars flight), caches samples for future return.
Now in 2026: 1,734+ sols strong, ~40 km driven, AI planning drives, organics & biosignature hints found—still exploring, still inspiring.
This bold push reminds us: space shows Earth's fragility & unity—the Overview Effect in action.
At Space for Humanity, we're sending citizen astronauts up for that same transformative view—to spark positive change back home.
Dare mighty things. One planet, one crew. 🌍✨
Image courtesy of @NASA
#TodayInSpaceHistory #Perseverance #MarsLanding #JezeroCrater #OverviewEffect #SpaceForHumanity #CitizenAstronaut #2Space4Earth
Our Perseverance rover has recorded the sounds of electrical sparks and mini-sonic booms in dust devils on Mars. 🌪️⚡️
Long theorized, the phenomenon has now been confirmed through audio and electromagnetic recordings captured by the rover. Listen in: https://t.co/k9pRL4HkTc
https://t.co/2f48pKNsla
My first children’s book is out! My JPL colleague Nagin Cox and I wrote it inspired by our friend and colleague Claudia Alexander, a scientist who became the Galileo mission’s project manager. Claudia left us way too soon but she still inspires many.
If you ever doubt your place in the universe, remember this: 11 million of your names are on Mars with me.
They’re permanently etched into a microchip on my deck. It’s a quiet reminder that exploration is a team effort.
NASA's Perseverance Mars rover made skywatching history in March, becoming the first robot to witness auroras from the surface of another planet. https://t.co/Ca97EZrCfh
Some Monday motivation: I snapped this shot of my wheels as I drove over some prickly rocks this past weekend. These wheels have had a rough ride on Mars, but they’re still getting me where I need to go! No matter how rocky the road gets, let’s keep going.
The beginning of my mission… what a vibe. 🫶
This was my first full-color selfie, taken in October 2012. Engineers used this image to monitor my wheel wear and dust buildup after only a few months on Mars.
Mount Sharp, which I’m still climbing today, was just on the horizon.
We’re celebrating two milestones for @CanberraDSN!
The complex, which operates four radio antennas for our Deep Space Network, recently marked its 60th anniversary. Now, preparations are underway for a fifth dish that will increase the network's capacity. https://t.co/9KYFN7muUt
Thanks for visiting, @EuropaClipper! I know a thing or two about searching for suitable conditions for life on other worlds and wish you the best on your quest to understand the habitability of Europa. What an adventure!
Hey @EuropaClipper, thanks for swinging by the Red Planet! You were here for a gravity assist; I’m here for rock collecting—teamwork makes the interplanetary dream work as we seek to unlock the secrets of life beyond Earth.
Wish you could've stayed for longer. Safe journeys!
4½ months into its journey to Jupiter, @EuropaClipper is getting ready to visit Mars!
This Saturday, the spacecraft will use the Red Planet to perform a gravity assist – a maneuver to bend its trajectory and position. Here's how it'll happen: https://t.co/iivRwSDun4
Four years ago, the NASA Perseverance rover touched down on Mars. 🇺🇸 Our goal is never just to land. Out of the world’s 10 successful landings on Mars, the United States and NASA JPL has led 9. We’re setting the stage for something even bigger, and we’re not stopping here.
#MSR28