The Russian Bion M1, launched on April 19, 2013 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, and returned on May 19th. The biology mission appears to have been a mixed success:
More background info about the project:
NASA’s Project Morpheus project recently began testing their new lander and here is a video of engine tests while on a tether.
This ground level hot fire test included a test at 0 feet and at 3 feet. This test also marked the first use of a flame trench with the Morpheus vehicle.
The Cheap Astronomy blog hosts the latest Carnival of Space.
There is a House hearing today on deep space exploration policy:
The witnesses include:
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Robert Zubrin offers his usual calm and considered thoughts on the proposed asteroid retrieval mission: NASA’s Asteroid Absurdity – SpaceNews.com
Here’s the Planetary Society’s view: The Planetary Society Announces Conditional Support of NASA’s Asteroid Mission – The Planetary Society
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A comment from Stewart Money on the Bigelow contract from NASA to study public/commercial partnerships for deep space exploration: Exploring NASA’s Agreement with Bigelow – Innerspace.net
Mars One is having no trouble attracting applications for their plan to establish a settlement on the Red Planet. Three applicants explain why they would consider going to Mars even if there will be no chance of returning to earth: Why sign up for a one-way Mars trip? Three applicants explain the appeal – Cosmic Log.