The Mars Polar Lander is thought to have crash landed on the red planet back in ‘99. Its wreckage has never been spotted. But 18 high-resolution images of the suspected crash region may now hold the answers.

Each image is made from around 1.6 billion pixels, so the team who took them, using the Mars Reconaissance Orbiter’s HiRISE camera, want your help locating the errant probe.

Fame and glory, of sorts, await whomever can descry the wreckage. So get hunting.

Incredibly, no man made object has soft-landed on the moon for 32 years.

Nasa plans a return to the moon somewhere in the 2020 timeframe, with trips to Mars following around a decade later.

But a 3 month mission to an asteroid would make a practical stepping stone in preparation for the red planet.

The asteroid is particularly suitable, as it regularly swings close to Earth. Exploring the rock would offer insights into preventing asteroid collisions with Earth, as well as serving up some original eye-candy for the space program.

Less than three weeks until landing, yet I haven’t been noticing much press. For some reason, Phoenix seems to be flying under the proverbial radar. Maybe it’s overshadowed by the Rovers still operating, or maybe the magic of a Mars landing just isn’t what it used to be…

Check out the same thing 21st century style, courtesy of the Japanese Kaguya orbiter. A beautiful high-definition movie. Wired has the full story.

It shows a working model of a next-generation lunar rover called the Chariot; a 12-wheeled manned vehicle with optional plough that could be heading to the moon sometime around 2020.

More here.

Designed to last 90 days, but still roving after 4 years, the vehicles are becoming an unexpeced budget drain.

Rover svengali Steve Squyres tells Space.com “We’re rapidly coming to the conclusion that if we have to implement this cut, it’s going to mean essentially shutting off science activities for one of the vehicles.”

Which is sad news. Both rovers are sending back useful science, so the decision will be a tough one.

Arthur C. Clarke, author of over 100 science fiction novels and inventor of the satellite died from ‘breathing problems’.

Many of us got into science inspired by Clarke’s writing. For me it was the Rama cycle of books, and my proudest possession for many years was a signed copy of The Songs of Distant Earth. Who else here has fond memories of the writer?

But test flights will start much earlier. This video gives a first look at the launch abort system, and a scale model of the capsule. This system will be tested in December this year.

The Jules Verne automated transfer vehicle (ATV) launched atop an Ariane 5 rocket towards the International Space Station, stocked to the futtocks with supplies.

Although no Euronauts were onboard, the craft does contain a pressurised section, which crew will enter once the ship docks at the ISS.

These stunning images from NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter show ice and dust billowing out from a Martian avalanche.

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona

“A Florida company is bringing several U S Hall of Fame Astronauts on the luxury yacht Sea Dream to select future sub-orbital space participants during their ‘Space Cruise’ week event in April 2009. According to Mitchell J Schultz, it’s Director, “ninety-six possible participants from around the globe are expected to register and become a part of space history.”

For a minimum of $35,000 you get a luxury cruise with established astronauts, and a 1 in 16 chance of being picked for a suborbital flight on an undisclosed carrier. Nice if you’ve got the money.

You have to marvel at the way they’re billing this as the world’s first ‘sub-orbital space cruise’, as the boat will sprout rocket engines and head for the ionosphere.

Atlantis only just landed, but we’re now just two weeks away from the next Space Shuttle launch.

All being well, on March 11, Endeavour will head off to the ISS on mission STS-123 carrying the first of three pieces of Japanese hardware for the station.

The Japanese Experiment Logistics Module is a drum shaped module (the sticky-uppy bit at centre left of the image), which will act as a control and storage area for the Japanese section – a kind of high-tech broom cupboard. The main section, known as Kibo, will be delivered on a later launch.

STS-123 will also deliver DEXTRE, a Canadian hand that will improve the capabilities of the station’s robot arm.

Please use this thread to comment on the mission.

• Japan, like Europe a couple of weeks ago, will get its first manned property in space. What are the benefits to that nation for doing this?

Sunset over the Pacific, 2003.

I’d embed the picture, but you really need to follow the link and zoom to see the full wonder.

Please post links to any other inspiring space shots of Earth in this thread.

The US government has decided to shoot down the errant bird, rather than risk it crashing into an inhabited area or falling into the territorial lap of a rival power.

The satellite is, by now, in a very low orbit. Any material from the blast should soon rain down rather than lingering as space debris.

Chances are it’ll hit an uninhabited area, or the ocean. But a shower of jagged metal and hydrazine isn’t a savoury thought.

Onboard is the Columbus laboratory, a European-built module and the second lab for the International Space Station.

It is only one room, but Europe will finally have a manned base in space.

Is it worth the money (nearly £1 billion)?

What research should be prioritised there?

Should Europe take on a greater role in the space station, now that many of the station partners are refocussing on the moon and Mars?