NASA is quietly rewriting the script for human exploration of the Red Planet, turning robots from remote-controlled tools into autonomous partners tasked with keeping crews alive far from home.

When NASA’s free-flying helpers on the International Space Station drifted into trouble, the solution did not come from a new thruster or a last-minute software patch. It came from a virtual copy of ...

Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. A standard ballpoint pen will not write in space. Without gravity ...