NASA's Perseverance rover beams first pictures from Martian surface

As eyes set on NASA's Perseverance, world races to find Mars mysteries

Nasa’s Perseverance rover is soon going to attempt landing in the most challenging site ever targetted on Mars after travelling for nearly seven months.&nbsp;

The Perseverance rover, built at Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California, lifted off from Kennedy Space Center on July 30, 2020. The entry, descent, and landing phase of the Mars mission are scheduled for February 18.&nbsp;

The six-wheeled rover is expected to take seven minutes to descend from the top of the Martian atmosphere to the planet's surface in less time than the 11-minute-plus radio transmission to Earth. Thus, Thursday's final, self-guided descent of the rover spacecraft is set to occur during a white-knuckled interval that JPL engineers affectionately refer to as the "seven minutes of terror."

Nasa, to this end, shared a video on Friday explaining the challenges of the mission.

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The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CountdownToMars?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CountdownToMars</a> continues! <a href="https://twitter.com/NASAPersevere?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NASAPersevere</a> is less than a week away from landing, and you can join in now: <a href="https://t.co/F7QsMbcHPZ">https://t.co/F7QsMbcHPZ</a> 
 
📸 Take a selfie on Mars or Mission Control 
✏️ Build your own mission 
📺 Watch live landing coverage! <a href="https://t.co/wHp2NiYqNh">pic.twitter.com/wHp2NiYqNh</a>
— NASA JPL (@NASAJPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASAJPL/status/1360315678784278529?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
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SEVEN MINUTES OF TERROR

When Perseverance hits the final stretch, it is set to emit a radio alert as it streaks into the thin Martian atmosphere.

By the time that signal reaches mission managers some 127 million miles (204 million km) away at the JPL near Los Angeles, Perseverance will already have landed on the Red Planet - hopefully in one piece.

Perseverance may set the stage for scientists to conclusively show whether life has existed beyond Earth, while paving the way for eventual human missions to the fourth planet from the sun. A safe landing, as always, comes first.

Success will hinge on a complex sequence of events unfolding without a hitch - from inflation of a giant, supersonic parachute to deployment of a jet-powered "sky crane" that will descend to a safe landing spot and hover above the surface while lowering the rover to the ground on a tether.

If all goes as planned, Nasa's team would receive a follow-up radio signal shortly before 1 pm. Pacific time confirming that Perseverance landed on Martian soil at the edge of an ancient, long-vanished river delta and lake bed.

SCIENCE ON THE SURFACE

From there, the nuclear battery-powered rover, roughly the size of a small SUV, will embark on the primary objective of its two-year mission - engaging a complex suite of instruments in the search for signs of microbial life that may have flourished on Mars billions of years ago.

Advanced power tools will drill samples from Martian rock and seal them into cigar-sized tubes for eventual return to Earth for further analysis - the first such specimens ever collected by humankind from the surface of another planet.

Two future missions to retrieve those samples and fly them back to Earth are in the planning stages by NASA, in collaboration with the European Space Agency.

Perseverance, the fifth and by far most sophisticated rover vehicle Nasa has sent to Mars since Sojourner in 1997, also incorporates several pioneering features not directly related to astrobiology.

The mission's first hurdle after a 293-million-mile (472-million-km) flight from Earth is delivering the rover intact to the floor of Jerezo Crater, a 28-mile-wide (45-km-wide) expanse that scientists believe may harbor a rich trove of fossilised microorganisms.

The descent sequence, an upgrade from NASA's last rover mission in 2012, begins as Perseverance, encased in a protective shell, pierces the Martian atmosphere at 12,000 miles per hour (19,300 km per hour), nearly 16 times the speed of sound on Earth.

After a parachute deployment to slow its plunge, the descent capsule's heat shield is set to fall away to release a jet-propelled "sky crane" hovercraft with the rover attached to its belly.

Once the parachute is jettisoned, the sky crane's jet thrusters are set to immediately fire, slowing its descent to walking speed as it nears the crater floor and self-navigates to a smooth landing site, steering clear of boulders, cliffs and sand dunes.

Hovering over the surface, the sky crane is due to lower Perseverance on nylon tethers, sever the chords when the rover's wheels reach the surface, then fly off to crash a safe distance away.

Should everything work, deputy project manager Matthew Wallace said, post-landing exuberance would be on full display at JPL despite COVID-19 safety protocols that have kept close contacts within mission control to a minimum.

(with inputs)

Nasa’s Perseverance rover is soon going to attempt landing in the most challenging site ever targetted on Mars after travelling for nearly seven months. The Perseverance rover, built at Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California, lifted off from Kennedy Space Center on July 30, 2020.

Nasa’s Perseverance rover is soon going to attempt landing in the most challenging site ever targetted on Mars after travelling for nearly seven months. The Perseverance rover, built at Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California, lifted off from Kennedy Space Center on July 30, 2020. The entry, descent, and landing phase of the Mars mission are scheduled for February 18. The six-wheeled rover is expected to take seven minutes to descend from the top of the Martian atmosphere to the planet's surface in less time than the 11-minute-plus radio transmission to Earth. Thus, Thursday's final, self-guided descent of the rover spacecraft is set to occur during a white-knuckled interval that JPL engineers affectionately refer to as the "seven minutes of terror." Nasa, to this end, shared a video on Friday explaining the challenges of the mission. The #CountdownToMars continues! @NASAPersevere is less than a week away from landing, and you can join in now: https://t.co/F7QsMbcHPZ 📸 Take a selfie on Mars or Mission Control ✏️ Build your own mission 📺 Watch live landing coverage! pic.twitter.com/wHp2NiYqNh — NASA JPL (@NASAJPL) February 12, 2021 × SEVEN MINUTES OF TERROR When Perseverance hits the final stretch, it is set to emit a radio alert as it streaks into the thin Martian atmosphere. By the time that signal reaches mission managers some 127 million miles (204 million km) away at the JPL near Los Angeles, Perseverance will already have landed on the Red Planet - hopefully in one piece. Perseverance may set the stage for scientists to conclusively show whether life has existed beyond Earth, while paving the way for eventual human missions to the fourth planet from the sun. A safe landing, as always, comes first. Success will hinge on a complex sequence of events unfolding without a hitch - from inflation of a giant, supersonic parachute to deployment of a jet-powered "sky crane" that will descend to a safe landing spot and hover above the surface while lowering the rover to the ground on a tether. If all goes as planned, Nasa's team would receive a follow-up radio signal shortly before 1 pm. Pacific time confirming that Perseverance landed on Martian soil at the edge of an ancient, long-vanished river delta and lake bed. SCIENCE ON THE SURFACE From there, the nuclear battery-powered rover, roughly the size of a small SUV, will embark on the primary objective of its two-year mission - engaging a complex suite of instruments in the search for signs of microbial life that may have flourished on Mars billions of years ago. Advanced power tools will drill samples from Martian rock and seal them into cigar-sized tubes for eventual return to Earth for further analysis - the first such specimens ever collected by humankind from the surface of another planet. Two future missions to retrieve those samples and fly them back to Earth are in the planning stages by NASA, in collaboration with the European Space Agency. Perseverance, the fifth and by far most sophisticated rover vehicle Nasa has sent to Mars since Sojourner in 1997, also incorporates several pioneering features not directly related to astrobiology. The mission's first hurdle after a 293-million-mile (472-million-km) flight from Earth is delivering the rover intact to the floor of Jerezo Crater, a 28-mile-wide (45-km-wide) expanse that scientists believe may harbor a rich trove of fossilised microorganisms. The descent sequence, an upgrade from NASA's last rover mission in 2012, begins as Perseverance, encased in a protective shell, pierces the Martian atmosphere at 12,000 miles per hour (19,300 km per hour), nearly 16 times the speed of sound on Earth. After a parachute deployment to slow its plunge, the descent capsule's heat shield is set to fall away to release a jet-propelled "sky crane" hovercraft with the rover attached to its belly. Once the parachute is jettisoned, the sky crane's jet thrusters are set to immediately fire, slowing its descent to walking speed as it nears the crater floor and self-navigates to a smooth landing site, steering clear of boulders, cliffs and sand dunes. Hovering over the surface, the sky crane is due to lower Perseverance on nylon tethers, sever the chords when the rover's wheels reach the surface, then fly off to crash a safe distance away. Should everything work, deputy project manager Matthew Wallace said, post-landing exuberance would be on full display at JPL despite COVID-19 safety protocols that have kept close contacts within mission control to a minimum. (with inputs)

‘Seven minutes of terror’: Nasa Perseverance rover’s landing on Mars explained

14 years old Alex Mather submitted the winning name 'Perseverance' as part of a naming contest of NASA's next Mars Rover.

14-year old boy names NASA's Mars Rover

Reaching Mars is the pinnacle of scientific prowess and perhaps, a crowning moment for any nation. But the race to the red planet also stands to crowd its orbit.

Three separate missions to Mars launched by the United States, China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) all reached their destination in July, 2020 after taking flight within just 11 days of each other.

UAE's Hope mission lifted off on July 19, China's Tianwen-I on July 23 and US' mission on July 30.

Why July? Because the month offered a unique launch window with minimum fuel requirements.

The UAE's hope was the first to arrive. Al Amal will spend 687 days — a period equivalent to one year on Mars — gathering information on the Martian atmosphere and surveying the planet’s weather patterns throughout its four seasons.

Omran Sharaf, Project Director, Emirates Mars Mission, to this end, said, "For us as a nation, we look at this mission as 90 per cent of it has been achieved. Because this mission was never about just reaching Mars. The government was very clear since day one when this mission was announced that reaching Mars is just a means for a much bigger objective and goals."

The foray into space is part of the UAE's diversification drive. Once the oil taps run dry, they will have to fall back on science and technology.

And space missions will be crucial here.

Following Hope, the Chinese probe reached Mars. Inside the spacecraft, there was a rover of the size of a golf cart.

In a few months time, it will detach from the orbiter, and descend to the martian surface.

Later this month, another visitor will descend on Mars -- probe missions from NASA.

Wu Yanhua, deputy director of the China National Space Administration, said, "We had success this time. But it's just the first step of our long march. We will carefully prepare for and carry out orbiting, landing and detection in the future. We look forward to a big success of the mission."

By February 18, NASA's Mars 2020 should also be in orbit.

Like China, the American mission too is hoping to land a rover.

Collectively, these missions will enhance our knowledge about Mars and its habitability.

The success of the UAE's Hope mission is also an open challenge. It shatters the perception that only world powers can reach for the stars.

Robert Zubrin, president of the Mars society, says, "You know, if the UAE can launch a Mars mission, then Switzerland can launch a Mars mission, and New Zealand can launch one, and South Korea or Taiwan can launch. They all have resources on that scale. So, in a certain sense, it throws down a challenge. Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, name it, okay. Why haven't you done a Mars mission?"

Reaching Mars is the pinnacle of scientific prowess and perhaps, a crowning moment for any nation. But the race to the red planet also stands to crowd its orbit.

Reaching Mars is the pinnacle of scientific prowess and perhaps, a crowning moment for any nation. But the race to the red planet also stands to crowd its orbit. Three separate missions to Mars launched by the United States, China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) all reached their destination in July, 2020 after taking flight within just 11 days of each other. UAE's Hope mission lifted off on July 19, China's Tianwen-I on July 23 and US' mission on July 30. Why July? Because the month offered a unique launch window with minimum fuel requirements. The UAE's hope was the first to arrive. Al Amal will spend 687 days — a period equivalent to one year on Mars — gathering information on the Martian atmosphere and surveying the planet’s weather patterns throughout its four seasons. Omran Sharaf, Project Director, Emirates Mars Mission, to this end, said, "For us as a nation, we look at this mission as 90 per cent of it has been achieved. Because this mission was never about just reaching Mars. The government was very clear since day one when this mission was announced that reaching Mars is just a means for a much bigger objective and goals." The foray into space is part of the UAE's diversification drive. Once the oil taps run dry, they will have to fall back on science and technology. And space missions will be crucial here. Following Hope, the Chinese probe reached Mars. Inside the spacecraft, there was a rover of the size of a golf cart. In a few months time, it will detach from the orbiter, and descend to the martian surface. Later this month, another visitor will descend on Mars -- probe missions from NASA. Wu Yanhua, deputy director of the China National Space Administration, said, "We had success this time. But it's just the first step of our long march. We will carefully prepare for and carry out orbiting, landing and detection in the future. We look forward to a big success of the mission." By February 18, NASA's Mars 2020 should also be in orbit. Like China, the American mission too is hoping to land a rover. Collectively, these missions will enhance our knowledge about Mars and its habitability. The success of the UAE's Hope mission is also an open challenge. It shatters the perception that only world powers can reach for the stars. Robert Zubrin, president of the Mars society, says, "You know, if the UAE can launch a Mars mission, then Switzerland can launch a Mars mission, and New Zealand can launch one, and South Korea or Taiwan can launch. They all have resources on that scale. So, in a certain sense, it throws down a challenge. Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, name it, okay. Why haven't you done a Mars mission?"

The Red Planet is about to get a little crowded

The first Arab space mission, the UAE's "Hope" probe, is expected to reach Mars' orbit on Tuesday, making it the first of three spacecraft to arrive at the Red Planet this month.

The United Arab Emirates, China and the United States all launched projects to Mars last July, taking advantage of a&nbsp;period when the Earth and Mars are nearest.

If succesful, the wealthy Gulf state will become the fifth nation to ever reach Mars -- a venture timed to mark the 50th anniversary of the unification of the UAE -- with the China mission due to become the sixth the following day.&nbsp;

Landmarks across the UAE have been lit up in red at night, government accounts emblazoned with the #ArabstoMars hashtag, and on the big day Dubai's Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest tower, will be at the centre of a celebratory show.

"Hope", known as "Al-Amal" in Arabic, will orbit the planet for at least one Martian year, or 687 days, while the Tianwen-1 from China and the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover from the US will both land on Mars' surface.

Only the&nbsp;US, India, the former Soviet Union and the European Space Agency have successfully reached the Red Planet in the past.

- Risky manoeuvre -

After blasting off from Japan last July, the Hope mission now faces its "most critical and complex" manoeuvre, according to Emirati officials, with a 50-50 chance of successfully entering a Mars orbit.

The spacecraft must slow significantly to be captured by Martian gravity, rotating and firing all six of its Delta-V thrusters for 27 minutes to reduce its cruising speed of 121,000 kilometres (about 75,000 miles) per hour to about 18,000 kph.&nbsp;

The process, which will consume half of its fuel, will begin on Tuesday at 1530 GMT and it will take 11 minutes for a signal on its progress to reach ground control.

Omran Sharaf, the UAE mission's project manager, said it was a "huge honour" to be the first of this year's missions to reach Mars.

"It is humbling to be in such auspicious and skilled company as we all embark on our missions," he said.&nbsp;"It was never a race for us. We approach space as a collaborative and inclusive effort."

While the Hope probe is designed to provide a comprehensive image of the planet's weather dynamics, it is also a step toward a much more ambitious goal -- building a human settlement on Mars within 100 years.

While cementing its status as a key regional player, the UAE also wants the project to serve as a source of inspiration for Arab youth, in a region too often wracked by sectarian conflicts and economic crises.

Hope will use three scientific instruments to monitor the Martian atmosphere, and is expected to begin transmitting information back to Earth in September 2021, with the data available for scientists around the world to study.

- Close behind -

China's Tianwen-1, or "Questions to Heaven", has already sent back its first image of Mars -- a black-and-white photo that showed geological features including the Schiaparelli crater and the Valles Marineris, a vast stretch of canyons on the Martian surface.

The five-tonne Tianwen-1 includes a Mars orbiter, a lander and a solar-powered rover that will for three months study the planet's soil and atmosphere, take photos, chart maps and look for signs of past life.&nbsp;

China hopes to land the 240-kilogramme rover in May in Utopia, a massive impact basin on Mars. Its orbiter will last for a Martian year.&nbsp;

Tianwen-1 is not China's first attempt to reach Mars. A previous mission with Russia in 2011 ended prematurely when the launch failed.

NASA's Perseverance, which is set to touch down on the Red Planet on February 18, will become&nbsp;the fifth rover to complete the voyage since 1997 -- and all so far have been American.

It is on an astrobiology mission to look for signs of ancient microbial life and will attempt to fly a 1.8 kilogramme helicopter-drone on another world for the first time.&nbsp;

Perseverance, capable of autonomously navigating 200 meters (650 feet) per day, will collect rock samples that could provide invaluable clues about whether there was ever past life on Mars.

About the size of a small SUV, it weighs a metric tonne, has 19 cameras and two microphones -- which scientists hope will be the first to record sound on Mars.

The mission is set to last at least two years.

The first Arab space mission, the UAE's "Hope" probe, is expected to reach Mars' orbit on Tuesday, making it the first of three spacecraft to arrive at the Red Planet this month.

The first Arab space mission, the UAE's "Hope" probe, is expected to reach Mars' orbit on Tuesday, making it the first of three spacecraft to arrive at the Red Planet this month. The United Arab Emirates, China and the United States all launched projects to Mars last July, taking advantage of a period when the Earth and Mars are nearest. If succesful, the wealthy Gulf state will become the fifth nation to ever reach Mars -- a venture timed to mark the 50th anniversary of the unification of the UAE -- with the China mission due to become the sixth the following day. Landmarks across the UAE have been lit up in red at night, government accounts emblazoned with the #ArabstoMars hashtag, and on the big day Dubai's Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest tower, will be at the centre of a celebratory show. "Hope", known as "Al-Amal" in Arabic, will orbit the planet for at least one Martian year, or 687 days, while the Tianwen-1 from China and the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover from the US will both land on Mars' surface. Only the US, India, the former Soviet Union and the European Space Agency have successfully reached the Red Planet in the past. - Risky manoeuvre - After blasting off from Japan last July, the Hope mission now faces its "most critical and complex" manoeuvre, according to Emirati officials, with a 50-50 chance of successfully entering a Mars orbit. The spacecraft must slow significantly to be captured by Martian gravity, rotating and firing all six of its Delta-V thrusters for 27 minutes to reduce its cruising speed of 121,000 kilometres (about 75,000 miles) per hour to about 18,000 kph. The process, which will consume half of its fuel, will begin on Tuesday at 1530 GMT and it will take 11 minutes for a signal on its progress to reach ground control. Omran Sharaf, the UAE mission's project manager, said it was a "huge honour" to be the first of this year's missions to reach Mars. "It is humbling to be in such auspicious and skilled company as we all embark on our missions," he said. "It was never a race for us. We approach space as a collaborative and inclusive effort." While the Hope probe is designed to provide a comprehensive image of the planet's weather dynamics, it is also a step toward a much more ambitious goal -- building a human settlement on Mars within 100 years. While cementing its status as a key regional player, the UAE also wants the project to serve as a source of inspiration for Arab youth, in a region too often wracked by sectarian conflicts and economic crises. Hope will use three scientific instruments to monitor the Martian atmosphere, and is expected to begin transmitting information back to Earth in September 2021, with the data available for scientists around the world to study. - Close behind - China's Tianwen-1, or "Questions to Heaven", has already sent back its first image of Mars -- a black-and-white photo that showed geological features including the Schiaparelli crater and the Valles Marineris, a vast stretch of canyons on the Martian surface. The five-tonne Tianwen-1 includes a Mars orbiter, a lander and a solar-powered rover that will for three months study the planet's soil and atmosphere, take photos, chart maps and look for signs of past life. China hopes to land the 240-kilogramme rover in May in Utopia, a massive impact basin on Mars. Its orbiter will last for a Martian year. Tianwen-1 is not China's first attempt to reach Mars. A previous mission with Russia in 2011 ended prematurely when the launch failed. NASA's Perseverance, which is set to touch down on the Red Planet on February 18, will become the fifth rover to complete the voyage since 1997 -- and all so far have been American. It is on an astrobiology mission to look for signs of ancient microbial life and will attempt to fly a 1.8 kilogramme helicopter-drone on another world for the first time. Perseverance, capable of autonomously navigating 200 meters (650 feet) per day, will collect rock samples that could provide invaluable clues about whether there was ever past life on Mars. About the size of a small SUV, it weighs a metric tonne, has 19 cameras and two microphones -- which scientists hope will be the first to record sound on Mars. The mission is set to last at least two years.

UAE's 'Hope' probe to be first in trio of Mars missions

China has released the first image of Mars taken by its maiden space exploration mission to the red planet, some six months after the probe left Earth.

The space agency supplied a black-and-white image. The uncrewed Tianwen-1 took the picture at a distance of around 2.2 million km (1.4 million miles) from Mars, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA).

The Tianwen-1 was launched in July from China's southern Hainan island and expected to reach the orbit of Mars this month. In May, it will try to land in Utopia Planitia, a plain in the northern hemisphere, and deploy a rover to explore for 90 days.

The probe is now around 184 million km from Earth after 197 days of the mission, the CNSA said in a statement, adding that its systems were in good condition. Also, it only half that distance away from Mars.

China previously made a Mars bid in 2011 with Russia, but the Russian spacecraft carrying the probe failed to exit Earth's orbit and disintegrated over the Pacific Ocean.

If successful this time, the Tianwen-1 will make China the first country to orbit, land and deploy a rover in its inaugural mission to Mars.

China has released the first image of Mars taken by its maiden space exploration mission to the red planet, some six months after the probe left Earth. The space agency supplied a black-and-white image.

China has released the first image of Mars taken by its maiden space exploration mission to the red planet, some six months after the probe left Earth. The space agency supplied a black-and-white image. The uncrewed Tianwen-1 took the picture at a distance of around 2.2 million km (1.4 million miles) from Mars, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA). The Tianwen-1 was launched in July from China's southern Hainan island and expected to reach the orbit of Mars this month. In May, it will try to land in Utopia Planitia, a plain in the northern hemisphere, and deploy a rover to explore for 90 days. The probe is now around 184 million km from Earth after 197 days of the mission, the CNSA said in a statement, adding that its systems were in good condition. Also, it only half that distance away from Mars. China previously made a Mars bid in 2011 with Russia, but the Russian spacecraft carrying the probe failed to exit Earth's orbit and disintegrated over the Pacific Ocean. If successful this time, the Tianwen-1 will make China the first country to orbit, land and deploy a rover in its inaugural mission to Mars.

China releases Mars mission probe's first image

The United Arab Emirates had, in 2017, announced its ambition to colonise Mars within the next 100 years. Architects have taken a step ahead in this scheme of things, and now Dubai is set for an other-worldly architectural project.

Architects are planning to recreate a Martian city in the desert outside Dubai.

The Mars Science City was intended as a field for Dubai's Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) to develop the technology needed to colonise Mars. It was originally earmarked to cover 176,000 square metres of desert and cost approximately $135 million.

Architects Bjarke Ingels Group were then asked to design a prototype of a city suitable for sustaining life on Mars -- and then adapt it for use in the desert.

Notably, Mars has a thin atmosphere and no global magnetic field. There is the problem of temperature as well. The group designers will have to consider these things while framing the model.

To this end, the Bjarke Ingels Group has said the Martian city would be made up of pressurised biodomes each covered with a transparent polyethylene membrane. Oxygen, made by applying electricity to underground ice, would fill each biodome.

As the population on Mars grows, biodomes would be joined together to form villages and eventually form cities in the shape of rings, or "toruses."

The city would be powered and heated using solar energy, and the thin atmosphere could actually help the domes maintain their temperature.

Mars Science City is only one part of the ambitious space programme run by Dubai's Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre. Last year it sent its first astronaut into space; this summer it will launch a probe to Mars, and in November it will undertake its first-ever analog mission. 
&nbsp;

The United Arab Emirates had, in 2017, announced its ambition to colonise Mars within the next 100 years. Architects have taken a step ahead in this scheme of things, and now Dubai is set for an other-worldly architectural project.

The United Arab Emirates had, in 2017, announced its ambition to colonise Mars within the next 100 years. Architects have taken a step ahead in this scheme of things, and now Dubai is set for an other-worldly architectural project. Architects are planning to recreate a Martian city in the desert outside Dubai. The Mars Science City was intended as a field for Dubai's Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) to develop the technology needed to colonise Mars. It was originally earmarked to cover 176,000 square metres of desert and cost approximately $135 million. Architects Bjarke Ingels Group were then asked to design a prototype of a city suitable for sustaining life on Mars -- and then adapt it for use in the desert. Notably, Mars has a thin atmosphere and no global magnetic field. There is the problem of temperature as well. The group designers will have to consider these things while framing the model. To this end, the Bjarke Ingels Group has said the Martian city would be made up of pressurised biodomes each covered with a transparent polyethylene membrane. Oxygen, made by applying electricity to underground ice, would fill each biodome. As the population on Mars grows, biodomes would be joined together to form villages and eventually form cities in the shape of rings, or "toruses." The city would be powered and heated using solar energy, and the thin atmosphere could actually help the domes maintain their temperature. Mars Science City is only one part of the ambitious space programme run by Dubai's Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre. Last year it sent its first astronaut into space; this summer it will launch a probe to Mars, and in November it will undertake its first-ever analog mission.

A prototype Martian city is being built in the desert outside Dubai

The year's final mission to Mars -- featuring NASA's most elaborate rover -- launches on Thursday&nbsp;on an astrobiology mission to look for signs of ancient microbial life -- and to fly a helicopter-drone on another world for the first time.

The rover Perseverance will follow China's rover-orbiter combo and a United Arab Emirates orbiter, both launched last week.&nbsp;Take off is scheduled for 7:50 am (1150 GMT) from Cape Canaveral, Florida on board a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket.

If all goes to plan, Perseverance will reach the Red Planet on February 18, 2021, becoming the fifth rover to complete the voyage since 1997.

Perseverance, which was developed at the storied Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, is an improved version of Curiosity.

Perseverance is slated to scrounge for evidence of past microscopic life in an ancient lakebed. NASA is teaming up with the European Space Agency to return the samples to Earth around 2031.

About the size of a small SUV, it weighs a metric tonne, has 19 cameras, and two microphones -- which scientists hope will be the first to record sound on Mars.

It has a two-meter-long robotic arm, and is powered by a small nuclear generator.

Perseverance's drill will collect around 30 intact rock cores and place them in test tubes, to be collected by a future joint US-European mission.

NASA has chosen the Jezero crater as its landing site, a giant impact basin just north of the Martian equator.

The US remains the only country to land successfully at Mars. If all goes well next February, Perseverance will become the ninth US spacecraft to operate on the Martian surface.

It is being said Perseverance is arguably the most sophisticated and most exciting of all the Mars missions.

(with inputs from agencies)

The year's final mission to Mars -- featuring NASA's most elaborate rover -- launches on Thursday on an astrobiology mission to look for signs of ancient microbial life -- and to fly a helicopter-drone on another world for the first time.

The year's final mission to Mars -- featuring NASA's most elaborate rover -- launches on Thursday on an astrobiology mission to look for signs of ancient microbial life -- and to fly a helicopter-drone on another world for the first time. The rover Perseverance will follow China's rover-orbiter combo and a United Arab Emirates orbiter, both launched last week. Take off is scheduled for 7:50 am (1150 GMT) from Cape Canaveral, Florida on board a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. If all goes to plan, Perseverance will reach the Red Planet on February 18, 2021, becoming the fifth rover to complete the voyage since 1997. Perseverance, which was developed at the storied Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, is an improved version of Curiosity. Perseverance is slated to scrounge for evidence of past microscopic life in an ancient lakebed. NASA is teaming up with the European Space Agency to return the samples to Earth around 2031. About the size of a small SUV, it weighs a metric tonne, has 19 cameras, and two microphones -- which scientists hope will be the first to record sound on Mars. It has a two-meter-long robotic arm, and is powered by a small nuclear generator. Perseverance's drill will collect around 30 intact rock cores and place them in test tubes, to be collected by a future joint US-European mission. NASA has chosen the Jezero crater as its landing site, a giant impact basin just north of the Martian equator. The US remains the only country to land successfully at Mars. If all goes well next February, Perseverance will become the ninth US spacecraft to operate on the Martian surface. It is being said Perseverance is arguably the most sophisticated and most exciting of all the Mars missions. (with inputs from agencies)

Final Mars mission of 2020, NASA's Perseverance rover, set for launch

China has launched a rover to Mars on a journey coinciding with a similar US mission.

The two countries are taking advantage of a period when Earth and Mars are closest to send their probes, with China's mission due to lift off by Saturday and the US spacecraft on July 30.

The Chinese mission has been named Tianwen-1 ("Questions to Heaven") in a nod to a classical poem that has verses about the cosmos. It was launched on a Long March 5 -- China's biggest space rocket -- from the southern island of Hainan on Thursday.

Tianwen-1 is expected to arrive in February 2021 after a seven-month, 55-million-kilometre (34-million-mile) voyage.

The mission includes a Mars orbiter, a lander and a rover that will study the planet's soil.

Tianwen-1 is not China's first attempt to go to Mars. A previous mission with Russia in 2011 ended prematurely as the launch failed.

Now, Beijing is trying on its own.

The United Arab Emirates launched a probe on Monday that will orbit Mars once it reaches the Red Planet.

The United States has already sent four rovers to Mars since the late 1990s.

The next one, Perseverance, is an SUV-sized vehicle that will look for signs of ancient microbial life, and gather rock and soil samples with the goal of bringing them back to Earth on another mission in 2031.

China has made huge strides in the past decade, sending a human into space in 2003. The Asian powerhouse has laid the groundwork to assemble a space station by 2022 and gain a permanent foothold in Earth orbit.

Also, China has already sent two rovers to the Moon. With the second, China became the first country to make a successful soft landing on the far side.

China has upgraded its monitoring stations in the far-western Xinjiang region and northeastern Heilongjiang province to meet the Mars mission requirements, state news agency Xinhua reported last week.

The majority of the dozens of missions sent by the US, Russia, Europe, Japan and India to Mars since 1960 ended in failure.

China has launched a rover to Mars on a journey coinciding with a similar US mission. The two countries are taking advantage of a period when Earth and Mars are closest to send their probes, with China's mission due to lift off by Saturday and the US spacecraft on July 30.

China has launched a rover to Mars on a journey coinciding with a similar US mission. The two countries are taking advantage of a period when Earth and Mars are closest to send their probes, with China's mission due to lift off by Saturday and the US spacecraft on July 30. The Chinese mission has been named Tianwen-1 ("Questions to Heaven") in a nod to a classical poem that has verses about the cosmos. It was launched on a Long March 5 -- China's biggest space rocket -- from the southern island of Hainan on Thursday. Tianwen-1 is expected to arrive in February 2021 after a seven-month, 55-million-kilometre (34-million-mile) voyage. The mission includes a Mars orbiter, a lander and a rover that will study the planet's soil. Tianwen-1 is not China's first attempt to go to Mars. A previous mission with Russia in 2011 ended prematurely as the launch failed. Now, Beijing is trying on its own. The United Arab Emirates launched a probe on Monday that will orbit Mars once it reaches the Red Planet. The United States has already sent four rovers to Mars since the late 1990s. The next one, Perseverance, is an SUV-sized vehicle that will look for signs of ancient microbial life, and gather rock and soil samples with the goal of bringing them back to Earth on another mission in 2031. China has made huge strides in the past decade, sending a human into space in 2003. The Asian powerhouse has laid the groundwork to assemble a space station by 2022 and gain a permanent foothold in Earth orbit. Also, China has already sent two rovers to the Moon. With the second, China became the first country to make a successful soft landing on the far side. China has upgraded its monitoring stations in the far-western Xinjiang region and northeastern Heilongjiang province to meet the Mars mission requirements, state news agency Xinhua reported last week. The majority of the dozens of missions sent by the US, Russia, Europe, Japan and India to Mars since 1960 ended in failure.

China launches Mars probe in space race with US

China has launched the Tianwen-1 mission to planet Mars. This is China's first interplanetary spacecraft. With its ambitious Tianwen 1 mission, China will attempt to orbit and land on Mars on its first attempt, subsequently deploying a rover.

China's mission to Mars: A mission to collect data from Mars Tianwen-1

WION Fineprint: Beijing's attempt to join the elite global space club | China MARS Mission

How UAE's 'Hope' set off for Mars voyage giving new hopes

The liftoff of a United Arab Emirates' Mars orbiter, postponed due to bad weather at the launch site in southern Japan, is now scheduled for Monday.

The orbiter named Amal, or Hope, is the Arab world's first interplanetary mission.&nbsp;

The launch was initially scheduled for Wednesday from the Tanegashima Space Centre, but was delayed twice.

There is a slight chance of further postponement depending on the weather. The company has set a launch window through August 13.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/uae-again-delays-mars-probe-launch-over-bad-weather-313429">Also read |&nbsp;UAE again delays Mars probe launch over bad weather</a>

Hope is to reach Mars in February 2021, the year the UAE celebrates 50 years since its formation.

Hope carries three instruments to study the upper atmosphere and monitor climate change and is scheduled to circle the red planet for at least two years.

The liftoff of a United Arab Emirates' Mars orbiter, postponed due to bad weather at the launch site in southern Japan, is now scheduled for Monday. The orbiter named Amal, or Hope, is the Arab world's first interplanetary mission.

The liftoff of a United Arab Emirates' Mars orbiter, postponed due to bad weather at the launch site in southern Japan, is now scheduled for Monday. The orbiter named Amal, or Hope, is the Arab world's first interplanetary mission. The launch was initially scheduled for Wednesday from the Tanegashima Space Centre, but was delayed twice. There is a slight chance of further postponement depending on the weather. The company has set a launch window through August 13. Also read | UAE again delays Mars probe launch over bad weather Hope is to reach Mars in February 2021, the year the UAE celebrates 50 years since its formation. Hope carries three instruments to study the upper atmosphere and monitor climate change and is scheduled to circle the red planet for at least two years.

UAE Mars mission lift-off on Japan rocket now scheduled for July 20

The United Arab Emirates would delay the launch of its "Hope" Mars probe for a second time, again due to bad weather.

The probe was originally due to be launched from Japan on Wednesday but had been postponed until Friday for the same reason.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/uae-mars-mission-postponed-due-to-weather-conditions-313238">Also read |&nbsp;UAE Mars mission postponed due to weather conditions</a>

It cited "unstable weather conditions at the launch site in Tanegashima Island in Japan" and said a new launch date would be announced within 24 hours.

"After extensive meetings, the @UAESpaceAgency and @MBRSpaceCentre, through discussions with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, announce a further delay of the Mars Hope Probe launch," Dubai's media office tweeted on Wednesday.

The UAE is set to be the first Arab nation to send a probe to Mars.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/uae-plans-to-send-a-probe-to-mars-a-first-for-the-arab-world-312136">Also read |&nbsp;UAE plans to send a probe to Mars - a first for the Arab world</a>

"Hope" -- Al-Amal in Arabic -- is expected to start orbiting Mars by February 2021, marking the 50th anniversary of the unification of the UAE. Once there, it will loop the planet for a whole Martian year of 687 Earth days.

The probe is one of three racing to the Red Planet, with Chinese and US rockets also taking advantage of the Earth and Mars being unusually close.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/us-china-and-uae-all-set-to-take-advantage-of-mars-current-position-312295">Also read |&nbsp;US, China and UAE all set to take advantage of Mars' current position</a>

The United Arab Emirates would delay the launch of its "Hope" Mars probe for a second time, again due to bad weather. The probe was originally due to be launched from Japan on Wednesday but had been postponed until Friday for the same reason.

The United Arab Emirates would delay the launch of its "Hope" Mars probe for a second time, again due to bad weather. The probe was originally due to be launched from Japan on Wednesday but had been postponed until Friday for the same reason. Also read | UAE Mars mission postponed due to weather conditions It cited "unstable weather conditions at the launch site in Tanegashima Island in Japan" and said a new launch date would be announced within 24 hours. "After extensive meetings, the @UAESpaceAgency and @MBRSpaceCentre, through discussions with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, announce a further delay of the Mars Hope Probe launch," Dubai's media office tweeted on Wednesday. The UAE is set to be the first Arab nation to send a probe to Mars. Also read | UAE plans to send a probe to Mars - a first for the Arab world "Hope" -- Al-Amal in Arabic -- is expected to start orbiting Mars by February 2021, marking the 50th anniversary of the unification of the UAE. Once there, it will loop the planet for a whole Martian year of 687 Earth days. The probe is one of three racing to the Red Planet, with Chinese and US rockets also taking advantage of the Earth and Mars being unusually close. Also read | US, China and UAE all set to take advantage of Mars' current position

UAE again delays Mars probe launch over bad weather

The oil-rich United Arab Emirates plans to join another elite club by sending a probe to Mars -- after having built a nuclear power programme and sent a man to space.

It will mark the 50th anniversary of its unification with "Hope", an unmanned spacecraft expected to reach its target in February after being launched on July 15 from Japan's Tanegashima Space Centre.

Only the United States, India, the former Soviet Union, and the European Space Agency have successfully sent missions to orbit the Red Planet, while China is preparing to launch its first Mars rover later this month.

The UAE is now pushing to join their ranks in what will be a first for the Arab world.

While the mission objective is to provide a comprehensive image of the weather dynamics in Mars' atmosphere and pave the way for scientific breakthroughs, the probe is a foundation for a much bigger goal -- building a human settlement on Mars within the next 100 years.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/launch-of-nasa-mars-rover-delayed-again-309993">Also read |&nbsp;Launch of NASA Mars rover delayed again</a>

Dubai has hired architects to imagine what a Martian city might look like and recreate it in its desert as "Science City", at a cost of around 500 million dirhams (135 million dollars).

Over the last few decades, UAE has become a hub for young Arabs aspiring to build professional careers and raise families in a safe environment, in a region too often blighted by war and political crises.

Last September, Hazza al-Mansouri became the first Emirati in space, part of a three-member crew that blasted off on a Soyuz rocket from Kazakhstan, returning home after an eight-day mission in which he became the first Arab to visit the International Space Station.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-eyes-july-20-25-launch-for-mars-rover-309957">Also read |&nbsp;China eyes July 20-25 launch for Mars rover</a>

The oil-rich United Arab Emirates plans to join another elite club by sending a probe to Mars -- after having built a nuclear power programme and sent a man to space.

The oil-rich United Arab Emirates plans to join another elite club by sending a probe to Mars -- after having built a nuclear power programme and sent a man to space. It will mark the 50th anniversary of its unification with "Hope", an unmanned spacecraft expected to reach its target in February after being launched on July 15 from Japan's Tanegashima Space Centre. Only the United States, India, the former Soviet Union, and the European Space Agency have successfully sent missions to orbit the Red Planet, while China is preparing to launch its first Mars rover later this month. The UAE is now pushing to join their ranks in what will be a first for the Arab world. While the mission objective is to provide a comprehensive image of the weather dynamics in Mars' atmosphere and pave the way for scientific breakthroughs, the probe is a foundation for a much bigger goal -- building a human settlement on Mars within the next 100 years. Also read | Launch of NASA Mars rover delayed again Dubai has hired architects to imagine what a Martian city might look like and recreate it in its desert as "Science City", at a cost of around 500 million dirhams (135 million dollars). Over the last few decades, UAE has become a hub for young Arabs aspiring to build professional careers and raise families in a safe environment, in a region too often blighted by war and political crises. Last September, Hazza al-Mansouri became the first Emirati in space, part of a three-member crew that blasted off on a Soyuz rocket from Kazakhstan, returning home after an eight-day mission in which he became the first Arab to visit the International Space Station. Also read | China eyes July 20-25 launch for Mars rover

UAE plans to send a probe to Mars - a first for the Arab world

The trio of United States, China and United Arab Emirates are taking&nbsp;positions for their respective Mars missions in their starting blocks.

The three countries hoping to take advantage of the period of time when the Earth and Mars are nearest: a mere 55 million kilometres&nbsp;apart.

The UAE's Hope Probe,&nbsp;China's Tianwen-1,&nbsp;and Mars 2020 of the United States have all taken their positions in the summer race to land a space probe on Mars.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/uae-plans-to-send-a-probe-to-mars-a-first-for-the-arab-world-312136" hreflang="en">UAE plans to send a probe to Mars - a first for the Arab world</a>

The neighbouring planets only come this close once every 26 months, a narrow "launch window" based on their relative positions in space.

Space agencies from all three nations plan to send rovers to the Red Planet to look for additional signs of past life and potentially pave the way to, someday, step foot on its surface.&nbsp;The journey will take about six months.

The&nbsp;UAE's Hope&nbsp;Probe,&nbsp;the first interplanetary mission by an Arab country, launches on July 15.&nbsp;China&nbsp;plans to send its inaugural Mars probe, a small remote-controlled rover, between July 20 and July 25.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/boom-supersonic-jet-overture-to-begin-test-flights-in-2021-312216" hreflang="en">Boom Supersonic jet Overture to begin test flights in 2021</a>

By far the most ambitious project, the US Mars 2020, has a planned launch date of July 30.

The probe called Perseverance is expected to spend one Mars year (or about 687 Earth days) on the planet's surface collecting rock and soil samples that scientists hope will shed light on past life forms that may have inhabited the faraway planet.

The aim of subsequent missions will be to bring those samples back to Earth.

A fourth planned launch, the EU-Russian ExoMars, was postponed until 2022 due to the COVID-19 public health crisis.

Several dozen probes, most of them American, have set off for the Red Planet since the 1960s. Many never made it that far, or failed to land.

The drive to explore Mars flagged until the confirmation less than 10 years ago that water once flowed on its surface.

"It's the only planet where we've been able to detect past signs of life, and the more we learn about it more hope there is," Michel Viso, an astrobiologist at CNES, France's space agency said.

"It feels like something exciting is happening, and people want to be a part of it."

India and the European Union are also setting their sights on a Mars landing.&nbsp;In 2024, Japan plans to send a probe to explore the Martian moon Phobos.

As with the moon missions, different countries have invested heavily -- in reputation and cash -- on Mars exploration, with each looking to find their specific niche, Viso noted.

The holy grail, he added, is getting boots on the ground: "This represents the 'ultimate frontier' of space exploration."

So far, only the US has done detailed feasibility studies, and in a best-case scenario achieving that goal will take at least 20 years.

A swathe of Mars lander missions over the past five decades have met with varying degrees of success since the Soviet Mars 2 and 3 probes launched in 1971.

NASA's Curiosity lander, which arrived in 2012 and is designed to determine whether the planet's environment was ever able to support microbial life forms, remains operational on the surface, as does the Insight lander, which arrived in 2018.

The&nbsp;UAE&nbsp;is thinking even longer term. The oil-rich Gulf nation plan to establish a "science city" on Earth that will reproduce Mars' atmospheric conditions, with the goal of establishing a human colony on the Red Planet around 2117.

Supporting human life on Mars presents a number of logistical challenges.

Today's Mars is basically an immense, icy desert. About 3.5 billion years ago, it lost the dense atmospheric pressure that protected it from cosmic radiation.

Scientists are still trying to determine whether the planet was ever inhabited by metabolic life forms.

"Four billion years ago, the conditions on the planet's surface were very close to those which we had on Earth when life first appeared," including liquid water and a dense atmosphere, said Jorge Vago, the spokesperson for the European Space Agency's ExoMars initiative.

Taking up the mantle of its robot forebears, Perseverance will explore an entirely uncharted environment, the Jezero crater, a 28-mile wide area that is believed to have been the site of an ancient river delta.

The trio of United States, China and United Arab Emirates are taking positions for their respective Mars missions in their starting blocks. The three countries hoping to take advantage of the period of time when the Earth and Mars are nearest: a mere 55 million kilometres apart.

The trio of United States, China and United Arab Emirates are taking positions for their respective Mars missions in their starting blocks. The three countries hoping to take advantage of the period of time when the Earth and Mars are nearest: a mere 55 million kilometres apart. The UAE's Hope Probe, China's Tianwen-1, and Mars 2020 of the United States have all taken their positions in the summer race to land a space probe on Mars. Also read: UAE plans to send a probe to Mars - a first for the Arab world The neighbouring planets only come this close once every 26 months, a narrow "launch window" based on their relative positions in space. Space agencies from all three nations plan to send rovers to the Red Planet to look for additional signs of past life and potentially pave the way to, someday, step foot on its surface. The journey will take about six months. The UAE's Hope Probe, the first interplanetary mission by an Arab country, launches on July 15. China plans to send its inaugural Mars probe, a small remote-controlled rover, between July 20 and July 25. Also read: Boom Supersonic jet Overture to begin test flights in 2021 By far the most ambitious project, the US Mars 2020, has a planned launch date of July 30. The probe called Perseverance is expected to spend one Mars year (or about 687 Earth days) on the planet's surface collecting rock and soil samples that scientists hope will shed light on past life forms that may have inhabited the faraway planet. The aim of subsequent missions will be to bring those samples back to Earth. A fourth planned launch, the EU-Russian ExoMars, was postponed until 2022 due to the COVID-19 public health crisis. Several dozen probes, most of them American, have set off for the Red Planet since the 1960s. Many never made it that far, or failed to land. The drive to explore Mars flagged until the confirmation less than 10 years ago that water once flowed on its surface. "It's the only planet where we've been able to detect past signs of life, and the more we learn about it more hope there is," Michel Viso, an astrobiologist at CNES, France's space agency said. "It feels like something exciting is happening, and people want to be a part of it." India and the European Union are also setting their sights on a Mars landing. In 2024, Japan plans to send a probe to explore the Martian moon Phobos. As with the moon missions, different countries have invested heavily -- in reputation and cash -- on Mars exploration, with each looking to find their specific niche, Viso noted. The holy grail, he added, is getting boots on the ground: "This represents the 'ultimate frontier' of space exploration." So far, only the US has done detailed feasibility studies, and in a best-case scenario achieving that goal will take at least 20 years. A swathe of Mars lander missions over the past five decades have met with varying degrees of success since the Soviet Mars 2 and 3 probes launched in 1971. NASA's Curiosity lander, which arrived in 2012 and is designed to determine whether the planet's environment was ever able to support microbial life forms, remains operational on the surface, as does the Insight lander, which arrived in 2018. The UAE is thinking even longer term. The oil-rich Gulf nation plan to establish a "science city" on Earth that will reproduce Mars' atmospheric conditions, with the goal of establishing a human colony on the Red Planet around 2117. Supporting human life on Mars presents a number of logistical challenges. Today's Mars is basically an immense, icy desert. About 3.5 billion years ago, it lost the dense atmospheric pressure that protected it from cosmic radiation. Scientists are still trying to determine whether the planet was ever inhabited by metabolic life forms. "Four billion years ago, the conditions on the planet's surface were very close to those which we had on Earth when life first appeared," including liquid water and a dense atmosphere, said Jorge Vago, the spokesperson for the European Space Agency's ExoMars initiative. Taking up the mantle of its robot forebears, Perseverance will explore an entirely uncharted environment, the Jezero crater, a 28-mile wide area that is believed to have been the site of an ancient river delta.

US, China and UAE all set to take advantage of Mars' current position

NASA has delayed the launch of its newest Mars rover yet again. The liftoff from Cape Canaveral has now been shifted to the end of July at the earliest.

If the Perseverance rover isn't on its way by mid-August, it will have to wait until 2022 when Earth and Mars are back in proper alignment, costing NASA close to $500 million for the delay alone.

NASA is trying to eke out more time in this summer's launch opportunity, now lasting until at least August 15.

The chance to fly to Mars comes up only every 26 months.&nbsp;

It is NASA's most ambitious Mars mission yet, totalling around $ 3 billion. Besides seeking signs of past microscopic Martian life, Perseverance will gather rocks and soil for eventual return to Earth.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-postpones-mars-rover-perseverance-launch-to-july-20-305395">Also read |&nbsp;NASA postpones Mars rover Perseverance launch to July 20</a>

Rocket maker United Launch Alliance needs extra time to deal with a liquid oxygen sensor line that showed questionable readings during a recent practice countdown, officials said Tuesday.

China, meanwhile, still is pressing ahead with launches this month of Mars spacecraft.&nbsp; 
Russia and the European Space Agency had to bow out, delaying their Mars rover until 2022 because of delayed spacecraft testing and travel limitations due to the coronavirus pandemic.

NASA has delayed the launch of its newest Mars rover yet again. The liftoff from Cape Canaveral has now been shifted to the end of July at the earliest. If the Perseverance rover isn't on its way by mid-August, it will have to wait until 2022 when Earth and Mars are back in proper alignment, costing NASA close to $500 million for the delay alone.

NASA has delayed the launch of its newest Mars rover yet again. The liftoff from Cape Canaveral has now been shifted to the end of July at the earliest. If the Perseverance rover isn't on its way by mid-August, it will have to wait until 2022 when Earth and Mars are back in proper alignment, costing NASA close to $500 million for the delay alone. NASA is trying to eke out more time in this summer's launch opportunity, now lasting until at least August 15. The chance to fly to Mars comes up only every 26 months. It is NASA's most ambitious Mars mission yet, totalling around $ 3 billion. Besides seeking signs of past microscopic Martian life, Perseverance will gather rocks and soil for eventual return to Earth. Also read | NASA postpones Mars rover Perseverance launch to July 20 Rocket maker United Launch Alliance needs extra time to deal with a liquid oxygen sensor line that showed questionable readings during a recent practice countdown, officials said Tuesday. China, meanwhile, still is pressing ahead with launches this month of Mars spacecraft. Russia and the European Space Agency had to bow out, delaying their Mars rover until 2022 because of delayed spacecraft testing and travel limitations due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Launch of NASA Mars rover delayed again

China's first Mars rover is set to be launched later this month. The Tianwen-1 Mars rover is scheduled to blast off from Hainan island, off China's south coast, between July 20 - 25, according to the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre.

It will be China's first interplanetary mission, and takes place shortly before the next US Mars rover -- timed to launch no earlier than July 30.

The Tianwen-1 consists of an orbiter, rover and lander, and is expected to collect samples from the planet's surface. The system will be carried into space on a Long March 5 rocket and is expected to reach Mars sometime in February 2021.

The dates have been chosen because the Earth and Mars are only aligned at an optimal position for spaceflight for a short period once every 26 months.

The US delayed the launch window of its own Peseverance probe -- its fifth Mars rover mission -- three times over the past month due to technical issues.

NASA initially said the launch must take place no later than August 15, but more recently suggested the window may be extended.

China has hugely expanded its space programme in recent years. A Chang'e 5 lunar probe is set to launch later this year, and a new space station is due for completion in 2022.

Last week, China also launched the final satellite in its homegrown Beidou navigational system, which competes with the GPS system pioneered by the United States.

The US has banned Chinese astronauts from using the International Space Station because of national security concerns.

China's first Mars rover is set to be launched later this month. The Tianwen-1 Mars rover is scheduled to blast off from Hainan island, off China's south coast, between July 20 - 25, according to the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre.

China's first Mars rover is set to be launched later this month. The Tianwen-1 Mars rover is scheduled to blast off from Hainan island, off China's south coast, between July 20 - 25, according to the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre. It will be China's first interplanetary mission, and takes place shortly before the next US Mars rover -- timed to launch no earlier than July 30. The Tianwen-1 consists of an orbiter, rover and lander, and is expected to collect samples from the planet's surface. The system will be carried into space on a Long March 5 rocket and is expected to reach Mars sometime in February 2021. The dates have been chosen because the Earth and Mars are only aligned at an optimal position for spaceflight for a short period once every 26 months. The US delayed the launch window of its own Peseverance probe -- its fifth Mars rover mission -- three times over the past month due to technical issues. NASA initially said the launch must take place no later than August 15, but more recently suggested the window may be extended. China has hugely expanded its space programme in recent years. A Chang'e 5 lunar probe is set to launch later this year, and a new space station is due for completion in 2022. Last week, China also launched the final satellite in its homegrown Beidou navigational system, which competes with the GPS system pioneered by the United States. The US has banned Chinese astronauts from using the International Space Station because of national security concerns.

China eyes July 20-25 launch for Mars rover

NASA has postponed the launch of its Perseverance Mars rover to July 20 -- after the team decided it needed additional time to repair an issue with the ground system equipment.

"NASA and ULA are now targetting Monday, July 20, for launch of the Mars 2020 mission of the Perseverance Rover on an Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex-41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida," NASA officials said in an update on Thursday.

The launch is scheduled for 9.15 am ET with a two-hour window.

Perseverance Mars rover was earlier scheduled to lift off aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V 541 rocket on July 17. 
 
It's said the issue involved a faulty crane.

"Crane, now fixed. Rocket is fine," Tory Bruno, the CEO of United Launch Alliance tweeted in response to a question by a Twitter user about the cause of the delay.

Perseverance is part of a larger programme that includes missions to the Moon as a way to prepare for human exploration of the Red Planet.

The Perseverance rover, a robotic scientist weighing 1,025 kg, will search for signs of past microbial life on Mars and also collect samples for future return to Earth.

The rover is scheduled to land on Mars' Jezero Crater on February 18, 2021. 
&nbsp;

NASA has postponed the launch of its Perseverance Mars rover to July 20 -- after the team decided it needed additional time to repair an issue with the ground system equipment.

NASA has postponed the launch of its Perseverance Mars rover to July 20 -- after the team decided it needed additional time to repair an issue with the ground system equipment. "NASA and ULA are now targetting Monday, July 20, for launch of the Mars 2020 mission of the Perseverance Rover on an Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex-41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida," NASA officials said in an update on Thursday. The launch is scheduled for 9.15 am ET with a two-hour window. Perseverance Mars rover was earlier scheduled to lift off aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V 541 rocket on July 17. It's said the issue involved a faulty crane. "Crane, now fixed. Rocket is fine," Tory Bruno, the CEO of United Launch Alliance tweeted in response to a question by a Twitter user about the cause of the delay. Perseverance is part of a larger programme that includes missions to the Moon as a way to prepare for human exploration of the Red Planet. The Perseverance rover, a robotic scientist weighing 1,025 kg, will search for signs of past microbial life on Mars and also collect samples for future return to Earth. The rover is scheduled to land on Mars' Jezero Crater on February 18, 2021.

NASA postpones Mars rover Perseverance launch to July 20

UAE is set to launch the first unmanned Arab space mission to Mars on July 14 from the Japanese island of Tanegashima.

The Hope Mars probe is expected to reach the planet in February next year.

“This mission is not just about the UAE it’s about the region, it’s about the Arab issue,” Omran Sharaf, the mission’s project manager said, adding, "the region is going through tough times and we do need good news and we need the youth in the region to really start looking inwards."

The mission is set to stay on Mars for a year to gather data. The project has been in the works since 2014. “Nothing about this mission has been easy, since day one the timeframe has been challenging, the budget itself has been a bit challenging," Sharaf said.

The mission powered by Japanese technology will measure the Mars atmosphere including the upper and lower atmosphere and the oxygen and hydrogen levels.

The study will aim to assess the water level on Mars. Saudi Arabia's Prince Sultan Bin Salman Al-Saud was the first Arab astronaut to go into space in a US shuttle in 1985, however, this time UAE will be sending its own mission.

Sarah Al-Amiri, the UAE’s Minister of State for Advanced Sciences said: "It allows us to start integrating and creating new opportunities for scientists within the UAE and those that are studying the natural sciences."

UAE is set to launch the first unmanned Arab space mission to Mars on July 14 from the Japanese island of Tanegashima. The Hope Mars probe is expected to reach the planet in February next year.

UAE is set to launch the first unmanned Arab space mission to Mars on July 14 from the Japanese island of Tanegashima. The Hope Mars probe is expected to reach the planet in February next year. “This mission is not just about the UAE it’s about the region, it’s about the Arab issue,” Omran Sharaf, the mission’s project manager said, adding, "the region is going through tough times and we do need good news and we need the youth in the region to really start looking inwards." The mission is set to stay on Mars for a year to gather data. The project has been in the works since 2014. “Nothing about this mission has been easy, since day one the timeframe has been challenging, the budget itself has been a bit challenging," Sharaf said. The mission powered by Japanese technology will measure the Mars atmosphere including the upper and lower atmosphere and the oxygen and hydrogen levels. The study will aim to assess the water level on Mars. Saudi Arabia's Prince Sultan Bin Salman Al-Saud was the first Arab astronaut to go into space in a US shuttle in 1985, however, this time UAE will be sending its own mission. Sarah Al-Amiri, the UAE’s Minister of State for Advanced Sciences said: "It allows us to start integrating and creating new opportunities for scientists within the UAE and those that are studying the natural sciences."

UAE prepares for first Arab space mission to Mars

China's preparation work for its Mars exploration mission is going smoothly, as the Beijing Aerospace Control Center announced on Tuesday that it successfully completed a probe test for the mission.

China completes probe test for 2020 Mars mission amid coronavirus epidemic

NASA's Mars 2020 rover will head off for the Red Planet next year. But like Voyager, Galileo and Cassini before it, the mission's epic journey began in a "clean room" in California.

One of two ultra-sterile labs used for spacecraft assembly at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, on the outskirts of Los Angeles, the eggshell-white room was briefly and exceptionally opened to journalists Friday.

"We need to keep the hardware as pristine and as safe as possible until we get to Mars," said David Gruel, operations manager for Mars 2020.

The Mars rover will collect samples on the planet in the search for traces of microbial life potentially dating back billions of years.

Journalists had to go through a lengthy sterilization process before entering the room "so we actually are bringing samples back from Mars, and not bringing back hair from my body or some skin from somebody else's body," explained Gruel.

Automated shoe brushes and sticky mats remove particles from shoes before guests even reach the locker room.

To prevent contamination, visitors must then don a "bunny suit" -- sleeves sealed with adhesive tape -- along with face masks, latex gloves and even beard protectors for the more hirsute.

Finally, they pass beneath a pulsating "air shower" that blasts away the last unwanted particles.

The rover itself is regularly scrubbed with isopropyl alcohol and a microfiber mop, and the lab's air is filtered 70 times per hour.

Journalists invited by NASA also had to remove foam covers from their microphones -- a breeding ground for germs. Specially approved paper and pens were provided, in place of traditional writing implements which can shed dust and other particles.

Guests are also told to refrain from wearing any makeup or perfume.

Technicians working on crucial sampling equipment are often subject to even more stringent protocols.

"They can't take a shower, bathe the day they work on the hardware," Gruel told AFP. "They can't put any hair products into their hair to style it, they can only wear one or two types of deodorant."

It is all a far cry from the early days of space exploration.&nbsp;

Engineers would frequently light up cigarettes while building the Ranger rockets that paved the way for the Apollo moon missions.&nbsp;

Costly mistakes have led to more caution. A bid to sterilize the Ranger 3 mission in 1962 accidentally fried the rocket's electronics, causing it to miss the Moon by more than 20,000 miles. &nbsp; 
&nbsp;

NASA's Mars 2020 rover will head off for the Red Planet next year. But like Voyager, Galileo and Cassini before it, the mission's epic journey began in a "clean room" in California.

NASA's Mars 2020 rover will head off for the Red Planet next year. But like Voyager, Galileo and Cassini before it, the mission's epic journey began in a "clean room" in California. One of two ultra-sterile labs used for spacecraft assembly at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, on the outskirts of Los Angeles, the eggshell-white room was briefly and exceptionally opened to journalists Friday. "We need to keep the hardware as pristine and as safe as possible until we get to Mars," said David Gruel, operations manager for Mars 2020. The Mars rover will collect samples on the planet in the search for traces of microbial life potentially dating back billions of years. Journalists had to go through a lengthy sterilization process before entering the room "so we actually are bringing samples back from Mars, and not bringing back hair from my body or some skin from somebody else's body," explained Gruel. Automated shoe brushes and sticky mats remove particles from shoes before guests even reach the locker room. To prevent contamination, visitors must then don a "bunny suit" -- sleeves sealed with adhesive tape -- along with face masks, latex gloves and even beard protectors for the more hirsute. Finally, they pass beneath a pulsating "air shower" that blasts away the last unwanted particles. The rover itself is regularly scrubbed with isopropyl alcohol and a microfiber mop, and the lab's air is filtered 70 times per hour. Journalists invited by NASA also had to remove foam covers from their microphones -- a breeding ground for germs. Specially approved paper and pens were provided, in place of traditional writing implements which can shed dust and other particles. Guests are also told to refrain from wearing any makeup or perfume. Technicians working on crucial sampling equipment are often subject to even more stringent protocols. "They can't take a shower, bathe the day they work on the hardware," Gruel told AFP. "They can't put any hair products into their hair to style it, they can only wear one or two types of deodorant." It is all a far cry from the early days of space exploration. Engineers would frequently light up cigarettes while building the Ranger rockets that paved the way for the Apollo moon missions. Costly mistakes have led to more caution. A bid to sterilize the Ranger 3 mission in 1962 accidentally fried the rocket's electronics, causing it to miss the Moon by more than 20,000 miles.

NASA's trip to Mars begins in California 'clean room'

China completes crucial landing test for first Mars mission in 2020

China on Thursday successfully completed a crucial landing test in northern Hebei province ahead of a historic unmanned exploration mission to Mars next year.

China is on track to launch its Mars mission, Zhang Kejian, head of the China National Space Administration, said on Thursday, speaking to foreign diplomats and the media before the test.

The Mars lander underwent a hovering-and-obstacle avoidance test at a sprawling site in Huailai, northwest of Beijing. The site was littered with small mounds of rocks to simulate the uneven terrain on Mars which the lander would have to navigate on its descent to the planet's surface.

"In 2016, China officially began the Mars exploration mission work, and currently all of the different development work is progressing smoothly," Zhang said.

"The hovering-and-obstacle avoidance test for the Mars lander being carried out today makes up a crucial part of the development process. As scheduled, China's first Mars exploration mission will take place in 2020."

China has developed the powerful Long March 5 rocket to transport the probe to Mars in 2020.

The journey through space will take about seven months, while landing will take seven minutes, said Zhang Rongqiao, chief architect of the Mars exploration programme.

The landing will be the toughest and most challenging stage, he said.

The same Long March 5 rocket is meant to deliver the Chang'e-5 probe to the moon by the end of 2019 or early next year to bring back samples of lunar rocks.

The Chang'e-4 probe successfully touched down on the far side of the moon in January this year, a historic first and major achievement for China's space programme.

China made its first lunar landing in 2013.

China expects to complete a modular space station around 2022, around the time when <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nasa-wants-international-partners-to-go-to-moon-too-257407">NASA</a> is said to start building a new space station laboratory to orbit the moon, as a pit stop for missions to other parts of the solar system.

In 2003, China became the third nation to put a man in space with its own rocket after the former Soviet Union and the United States.

Since then, it has been racing to catch up with Russia and the United States and become a major space power by 2030.

"China is currently actively planning and preparing a number of major space programmes including a Mars sample return mission, asteroid exploration missions and many more lunar missions," the head of the space administration said.

China on Thursday successfully completed a crucial landing test in northern Hebei province ahead of a historic unmanned exploration mission to Mars next year. China is on track to launch its Mars mission, Zhang Kejian, head of the China National Space Administration, said on Thursday, speaking to foreign diplomats and the media before the test.

China on Thursday successfully completed a crucial landing test in northern Hebei province ahead of a historic unmanned exploration mission to Mars next year. China is on track to launch its Mars mission, Zhang Kejian, head of the China National Space Administration, said on Thursday, speaking to foreign diplomats and the media before the test. The Mars lander underwent a hovering-and-obstacle avoidance test at a sprawling site in Huailai, northwest of Beijing. The site was littered with small mounds of rocks to simulate the uneven terrain on Mars which the lander would have to navigate on its descent to the planet's surface. "In 2016, China officially began the Mars exploration mission work, and currently all of the different development work is progressing smoothly," Zhang said. "The hovering-and-obstacle avoidance test for the Mars lander being carried out today makes up a crucial part of the development process. As scheduled, China's first Mars exploration mission will take place in 2020." China has developed the powerful Long March 5 rocket to transport the probe to Mars in 2020. The journey through space will take about seven months, while landing will take seven minutes, said Zhang Rongqiao, chief architect of the Mars exploration programme. The landing will be the toughest and most challenging stage, he said. The same Long March 5 rocket is meant to deliver the Chang'e-5 probe to the moon by the end of 2019 or early next year to bring back samples of lunar rocks. The Chang'e-4 probe successfully touched down on the far side of the moon in January this year, a historic first and major achievement for China's space programme. China made its first lunar landing in 2013. China expects to complete a modular space station around 2022, around the time when NASA is said to start building a new space station laboratory to orbit the moon, as a pit stop for missions to other parts of the solar system. In 2003, China became the third nation to put a man in space with its own rocket after the former Soviet Union and the United States. Since then, it has been racing to catch up with Russia and the United States and become a major space power by 2030. "China is currently actively planning and preparing a number of major space programmes including a Mars sample return mission, asteroid exploration missions and many more lunar missions," the head of the space administration said.

China completes crucial tests for first mission to Mars in 2020

NASA aims to build on moon as a way station for Mars

A NASA study of a US astronaut who spent a year in space while his twin brother remained on Earth is providing valuable insights into the effects of extended spaceflight on the human body, a key to planning a future manned mission to Mars, researchers said Thursday.

US astronaut Scott Kelly spent a year on the International Space Station while his identical twin Mark Kelly, also a former NASA astronaut, stayed on the ground.

The researchers who carried out the "NASA Twins Study" found that most of the changes to Scott's body during his time in space returned to normal within months of his return to Earth -- although not all of them.
<img alt="Former astronaut Scott Kelly (R) along with his twin brother, former astronaut Mark Kelly (L)." data-caption="Former astronaut Scott Kelly (R) along with his twin brother, former astronaut Mark Kelly (L). (Image courtesy: Reuters)" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a8035904-046a-4ac3-ab68-02b4604489cb" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2843%29.jpg" />
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;[Former astronaut Scott Kelly (R) along with his twin brother, former astronaut Mark Kelly (L). (Image courtesy: Reuters)]

The findings, published in the journal Science, were encouraging to scientists and engineers envisioning interplanetary travel such as an eventual trip to Mars, a mission that could last two to three years.

"The Twins Study is the most comprehensive review of the response of the human body to spaceflight ever conducted," said Dr Susan Bailey of Colorado State University.

Dr Steven Platts, the deputy chief scientist of NASA's Human Research Program, said it will "guide future biomedical space research and allow us to have a safer journey to and from Mars."

Using Mark as a baseline, 84 researchers at 12 universities documented the molecular, cognitive and physiological effects of Scott's year in space.

Scott, a 50-year-old veteran of two US Space Shuttle missions, spent 340 consecutive days on the ISS -- from March 27, 2015 to March 1, 2016.

He was monitored pre-flight and post-flight and during his time on the ISS. Blood, urine and stool samples were sent back to Earth on resupply vessels.

At the same time, scientists monitored Mark -- a veteran himself of four Space Shuttle missions -- on Earth as what they called a "genetically matched ground control."

'Nauseous, dizzy'

Bailey said the uniqueness of using twins was because the scientists could "attribute any kind of differences that we saw in spaceflight to spaceflight.

"It wasn't because of any genetic differences," she said.

Dr Michael Snyder of Stanford University said there are "thousands of gene and molecular changes that occur as someone goes in space."

"Virtually all of those returned to normal (in Scott) by six months," Snyder said. "It's reassuring to know that when you come back things will largely be back to the same."

Scott Kelly said he was extremely fatigued after coming back from the ISS and attributed it mostly to the adaptation to gravity.

"I felt like I had the flu," he said.

"I was nauseous. I was dizzy," he said and suffered from joint and muscle pain and rashes.

Dr Stuart Lee of NASA's Johnson Space Center said measurements were taken of the thickness in both Scott and Mark of the carotid artery wall, which can be a predictor of cardiovascular disease or stroke risk.

"Our main findings in Scott were that the carotid artery wall became thicker early in the flight and remained so throughout the mission," Lee said.

Mark did not have any such thickening.

Thickening of the carotid artery wall has been observed in astronauts previously.

So has weight loss due to poorer nutrition in space and a lack of exercise.

Scott lost seven per cent of his body mass during his time on the ISS while Mark gained about four per cent during the course of the study.

In one test, both Scott and Mark were administered a flu vaccination. It delivered a similar immune response.

The twins also performed a battery of cognitive tests before, during and after the flight and found that Scott's cognitive performance declined post-flight in terms of speed and accuracy.

Telomere length

Chris Mason, a geneticist at Weill Cornell Medicine, looked at how the unique environment of space impacts genes.

"We catalogued basically what is the landscape of all these genes that have gone up and gone down at different stages during the mission," Mason said.

"We saw that the vast majority, over 90 per cent of all these changes, all returned back to baseline coming back to Earth," Mason said.

Some of the most interesting research was done by Bailey's team at Colorado State University which looked at telomeres, the ends of chromosomes that typically shorten as people get older.

Telomeres are considered a biomarker of ageing or health risks from cardiovascular disease or cancer.

Bailey's team evaluated Scott and Mark's telomere lengths before the flight and found that they were very similar.

What surprised her team was that Scott experienced a "specific elongation of telomeres" during his time on the ISS.

Bailey cautioned that the finding "can't really be viewed as the fountain of youth and that people might expect to live longer because they're in space."

She said there was a "very rapid decrease" in telomere length upon Scott's return to Earth and he also experienced some unexplained telomere loss.

Bailey said her team has not come up with a reason for the telomere lengthening but was looking at whether the higher radiation exposure in space, inflammation or stress may be responsible.

A NASA study of a US astronaut who spent a year in space while his twin brother remained on Earth is providing valuable insights into the effects of extended spaceflight on the human body, a key to planning a future manned mission to Mars, researchers said Thursday.

A NASA study of a US astronaut who spent a year in space while his twin brother remained on Earth is providing valuable insights into the effects of extended spaceflight on the human body, a key to planning a future manned mission to Mars, researchers said Thursday. US astronaut Scott Kelly spent a year on the International Space Station while his identical twin Mark Kelly, also a former NASA astronaut, stayed on the ground. The researchers who carried out the "NASA Twins Study" found that most of the changes to Scott's body during his time in space returned to normal within months of his return to Earth -- although not all of them. [Former astronaut Scott Kelly (R) along with his twin brother, former astronaut Mark Kelly (L). (Image courtesy: Reuters)] The findings, published in the journal Science, were encouraging to scientists and engineers envisioning interplanetary travel such as an eventual trip to Mars, a mission that could last two to three years. "The Twins Study is the most comprehensive review of the response of the human body to spaceflight ever conducted," said Dr Susan Bailey of Colorado State University. Dr Steven Platts, the deputy chief scientist of NASA's Human Research Program, said it will "guide future biomedical space research and allow us to have a safer journey to and from Mars." Using Mark as a baseline, 84 researchers at 12 universities documented the molecular, cognitive and physiological effects of Scott's year in space. Scott, a 50-year-old veteran of two US Space Shuttle missions, spent 340 consecutive days on the ISS -- from March 27, 2015 to March 1, 2016. He was monitored pre-flight and post-flight and during his time on the ISS. Blood, urine and stool samples were sent back to Earth on resupply vessels. At the same time, scientists monitored Mark -- a veteran himself of four Space Shuttle missions -- on Earth as what they called a "genetically matched ground control." 'Nauseous, dizzy' Bailey said the uniqueness of using twins was because the scientists could "attribute any kind of differences that we saw in spaceflight to spaceflight. "It wasn't because of any genetic differences," she said. Dr Michael Snyder of Stanford University said there are "thousands of gene and molecular changes that occur as someone goes in space." "Virtually all of those returned to normal (in Scott) by six months," Snyder said. "It's reassuring to know that when you come back things will largely be back to the same." Scott Kelly said he was extremely fatigued after coming back from the ISS and attributed it mostly to the adaptation to gravity. "I felt like I had the flu," he said. "I was nauseous. I was dizzy," he said and suffered from joint and muscle pain and rashes. Dr Stuart Lee of NASA's Johnson Space Center said measurements were taken of the thickness in both Scott and Mark of the carotid artery wall, which can be a predictor of cardiovascular disease or stroke risk. "Our main findings in Scott were that the carotid artery wall became thicker early in the flight and remained so throughout the mission," Lee said. Mark did not have any such thickening. Thickening of the carotid artery wall has been observed in astronauts previously. So has weight loss due to poorer nutrition in space and a lack of exercise. Scott lost seven per cent of his body mass during his time on the ISS while Mark gained about four per cent during the course of the study. In one test, both Scott and Mark were administered a flu vaccination. It delivered a similar immune response. The twins also performed a battery of cognitive tests before, during and after the flight and found that Scott's cognitive performance declined post-flight in terms of speed and accuracy. Telomere length Chris Mason, a geneticist at Weill Cornell Medicine, looked at how the unique environment of space impacts genes. "We catalogued basically what is the landscape of all these genes that have gone up and gone down at different stages during the mission," Mason said. "We saw that the vast majority, over 90 per cent of all these changes, all returned back to baseline coming back to Earth," Mason said. Some of the most interesting research was done by Bailey's team at Colorado State University which looked at telomeres, the ends of chromosomes that typically shorten as people get older. Telomeres are considered a biomarker of ageing or health risks from cardiovascular disease or cancer. Bailey's team evaluated Scott and Mark's telomere lengths before the flight and found that they were very similar. What surprised her team was that Scott experienced a "specific elongation of telomeres" during his time on the ISS. Bailey cautioned that the finding "can't really be viewed as the fountain of youth and that people might expect to live longer because they're in space." She said there was a "very rapid decrease" in telomere length upon Scott's return to Earth and he also experienced some unexplained telomere loss. Bailey said her team has not come up with a reason for the telomere lengthening but was looking at whether the higher radiation exposure in space, inflammation or stress may be responsible.

NASA's Twins Study, landmark research for an eventual Mars mission

A NASA study of a US astronaut who spent a year in space while his twin brother remained on Earth is providing valuable insights into the effects of extended spaceflight on the human body, a key to planning a future manned mission to Mars, researchers said Thursday.

US astronaut Scott Kelly spent a year on the International Space Station while his identical twin Mark Kelly, also a former NASA astronaut, stayed on the ground.

The researchers who carried out the "NASA Twins Study" found that most of the changes to Scott's body during his time in space returned to normal within months of his return to Earth -- although not all of them.
<img alt="Former astronaut Scott Kelly (R) along with his twin brother, former astronaut Mark Kelly (L)." data-caption="Former astronaut Scott Kelly (R) along with his twin brother, former astronaut Mark Kelly (L). (Image courtesy: Reuters)" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a8035904-046a-4ac3-ab68-02b4604489cb" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2843%29.jpg" />
The findings, published in the journal Science, were encouraging to scientists and engineers envisioning interplanetary travel such as an eventual trip to Mars, a mission that could last two to three years.

"The Twins Study is the most comprehensive review of the response of the human body to spaceflight ever conducted," said Dr Susan Bailey of Colorado State University.

Dr Steven Platts, the deputy chief scientist of NASA's Human Research Program, said it will "guide future biomedical space research and allow us to have a safer journey to and from Mars."

Using Mark as a baseline, 84 researchers at 12 universities documented the molecular, cognitive and physiological effects of Scott's year in space.

Scott, a 50-year-old veteran of two US Space Shuttle missions, spent 340 consecutive days on the ISS -- from March 27, 2015 to March 1, 2016.

He was monitored pre-flight and post-flight and during his time on the ISS. Blood, urine and stool samples were sent back to Earth on resupply vessels.

At the same time, scientists monitored Mark -- a veteran himself of four Space Shuttle missions -- on Earth as what they called a "genetically matched ground control."

'Nauseous, dizzy'

Bailey said the uniqueness of using twins was because the scientists could "attribute any kind of differences that we saw in spaceflight to spaceflight.

"It wasn't because of any genetic differences," she said.

Dr Michael Snyder of Stanford University said there are "thousands of gene and molecular changes that occur as someone goes in space."

"Virtually all of those returned to normal (in Scott) by six months," Snyder said. "It's reassuring to know that when you come back things will largely be back to the same."

Scott Kelly said he was extremely fatigued after coming back from the ISS and attributed it mostly to the adaptation to gravity.

"I felt like I had the flu," he said.

"I was nauseous. I was dizzy," he said and suffered from joint and muscle pain and rashes.

Dr Stuart Lee of NASA's Johnson Space Center said measurements were taken of the thickness in both Scott and Mark of the carotid artery wall, which can be a predictor of cardiovascular disease or stroke risk.

"Our main findings in Scott were that the carotid artery wall became thicker early in the flight and remained so throughout the mission," Lee said.

Mark did not have any such thickening.

Thickening of the carotid artery wall has been observed in astronauts previously.

So has weight loss due to poorer nutrition in space and a lack of exercise.

Scott lost seven per cent of his body mass during his time on the ISS while Mark gained about four per cent during the course of the study.

In one test, both Scott and Mark were administered a flu vaccination. It delivered a similar immune response.

The twins also performed a battery of cognitive tests before, during and after the flight and found that Scott's cognitive performance declined post-flight in terms of speed and accuracy.

Telomere length

Chris Mason, a geneticist at Weill Cornell Medicine, looked at how the unique environment of space impacts genes.

"We catalogued basically what is the landscape of all these genes that have gone up and gone down at different stages during the mission," Mason said.

"We saw that the vast majority, over 90 per cent of all these changes, all returned back to baseline coming back to Earth," Mason said.

Some of the most interesting research was done by Bailey's team at Colorado State University which looked at telomeres, the ends of chromosomes that typically shorten as people get older.

Telomeres are considered a biomarker of ageing or health risks from cardiovascular disease or cancer.

Bailey's team evaluated Scott and Mark's telomere lengths before the flight and found that they were very similar.

What surprised her team was that Scott experienced a "specific elongation of telomeres" during his time on the ISS.

Bailey cautioned that the finding "can't really be viewed as the fountain of youth and that people might expect to live longer because they're in space."

She said there was a "very rapid decrease" in telomere length upon Scott's return to Earth and he also experienced some unexplained telomere loss.

Bailey said her team has not come up with a reason for the telomere lengthening but was looking at whether the higher radiation exposure in space, inflammation or stress may be responsible.

A NASA study of a US astronaut who spent a year in space while his twin brother remained on Earth is providing valuable insights into the effects of extended spaceflight on the human body, a key to planning a future manned mission to Mars, researchers said Thursday. US astronaut Scott Kelly spent a year on the International Space Station while his identical twin Mark Kelly, also a former NASA astronaut, stayed on the ground. The researchers who carried out the "NASA Twins Study" found that most of the changes to Scott's body during his time in space returned to normal within months of his return to Earth -- although not all of them. The findings, published in the journal Science, were encouraging to scientists and engineers envisioning interplanetary travel such as an eventual trip to Mars, a mission that could last two to three years. "The Twins Study is the most comprehensive review of the response of the human body to spaceflight ever conducted," said Dr Susan Bailey of Colorado State University. Dr Steven Platts, the deputy chief scientist of NASA's Human Research Program, said it will "guide future biomedical space research and allow us to have a safer journey to and from Mars." Using Mark as a baseline, 84 researchers at 12 universities documented the molecular, cognitive and physiological effects of Scott's year in space. Scott, a 50-year-old veteran of two US Space Shuttle missions, spent 340 consecutive days on the ISS -- from March 27, 2015 to March 1, 2016. He was monitored pre-flight and post-flight and during his time on the ISS. Blood, urine and stool samples were sent back to Earth on resupply vessels. At the same time, scientists monitored Mark -- a veteran himself of four Space Shuttle missions -- on Earth as what they called a "genetically matched ground control." 'Nauseous, dizzy' Bailey said the uniqueness of using twins was because the scientists could "attribute any kind of differences that we saw in spaceflight to spaceflight. "It wasn't because of any genetic differences," she said. Dr Michael Snyder of Stanford University said there are "thousands of gene and molecular changes that occur as someone goes in space." "Virtually all of those returned to normal (in Scott) by six months," Snyder said. "It's reassuring to know that when you come back things will largely be back to the same." Scott Kelly said he was extremely fatigued after coming back from the ISS and attributed it mostly to the adaptation to gravity. "I felt like I had the flu," he said. "I was nauseous. I was dizzy," he said and suffered from joint and muscle pain and rashes. Dr Stuart Lee of NASA's Johnson Space Center said measurements were taken of the thickness in both Scott and Mark of the carotid artery wall, which can be a predictor of cardiovascular disease or stroke risk. "Our main findings in Scott were that the carotid artery wall became thicker early in the flight and remained so throughout the mission," Lee said. Mark did not have any such thickening. Thickening of the carotid artery wall has been observed in astronauts previously. So has weight loss due to poorer nutrition in space and a lack of exercise. Scott lost seven per cent of his body mass during his time on the ISS while Mark gained about four per cent during the course of the study. In one test, both Scott and Mark were administered a flu vaccination. It delivered a similar immune response. The twins also performed a battery of cognitive tests before, during and after the flight and found that Scott's cognitive performance declined post-flight in terms of speed and accuracy. Telomere length Chris Mason, a geneticist at Weill Cornell Medicine, looked at how the unique environment of space impacts genes. "We catalogued basically what is the landscape of all these genes that have gone up and gone down at different stages during the mission," Mason said. "We saw that the vast majority, over 90 per cent of all these changes, all returned back to baseline coming back to Earth," Mason said. Some of the most interesting research was done by Bailey's team at Colorado State University which looked at telomeres, the ends of chromosomes that typically shorten as people get older. Telomeres are considered a biomarker of ageing or health risks from cardiovascular disease or cancer. Bailey's team evaluated Scott and Mark's telomere lengths before the flight and found that they were very similar. What surprised her team was that Scott experienced a "specific elongation of telomeres" during his time on the ISS. Bailey cautioned that the finding "can't really be viewed as the fountain of youth and that people might expect to live longer because they're in space." She said there was a "very rapid decrease" in telomere length upon Scott's return to Earth and he also experienced some unexplained telomere loss. Bailey said her team has not come up with a reason for the telomere lengthening but was looking at whether the higher radiation exposure in space, inflammation or stress may be responsible.

NASA's 'Twins Study,' landmark research for an eventual Mars mission

NASA's InSight lands on Mars to peer into planet's deep interior

WION Gravitas: Countdown to NASA's insight Mars landing begins

Whatever Akshay Kumar does, makes news. His antagonist act in '2.0' trailer has received a superb response from people across and the actor is on to his next project- <a href="http://www.wionews.com/entertainment/after-20-akshay-kumars-next-to-be-a-film-on-indias-mars-mission-titled-mission-mangal-175635">'Mission Mangal'- a film based on India's Mars mission.&nbsp;</a>

While the subject itself is quite intriguing, what caught our attention is the film's enviable star-cast. The film that stars Akshay Kumar in the lead has not one or two but five actresses. Vidya Balan, Taapsee Pannu, Sonakshi Sinha, Kirti Kulhari and Malayalam actress Nithya Menen who makes her Bollywood debut with the film. It also stars Sharman Joshi.&nbsp;

Akshay Kumar took to Twitter to announce the film's cast - as he posed with the six actors and wrote, "Proud and excited to bring the story of India’s Mars Mission, #MissionMangal to you. Coincidentally the mission was launched on this very date, 5th Nov. 2013. Meet the team and do share your best wishes for our shubh mangal journey. Shoot begins "

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Proud and excited to bring the story of India’s Mars Mission, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MissionMangal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MissionMangal</a> to you. Coincidentally the mission was launched on this very date, 5th Nov. 2013. Meet the team and do share your best wishes for our shubh mangal journey. Shoot begins soon 🙏🏻 <a href="https://twitter.com/foxstarhindi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@foxstarhindi</a> <a href="https://t.co/SYfSmoZEdb">pic.twitter.com/SYfSmoZEdb</a>
— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) <a href="https://twitter.com/akshaykumar/status/1059418801463353346?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The film has been co-produced by Akshay and Fox Star India and will be directed by Jagan Shakti.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Khiladi Kumar`s `2.0` is all set for release. The film has brought Rajinikanth, Akshay Kumar and director Shankar together for the first time, and the mammoth project ensures to `reboot superpower`.The film will hit the silver screens on November 29. 
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Whatever Akshay Kumar does, makes news. His antagonist act in '2.0' trailer has received a superb response from people across and the actor is on to his next project- 'Mission Mangal'- a film based on India's Mars mission.

Whatever Akshay Kumar does, makes news. His antagonist act in '2.0' trailer has received a superb response from people across and the actor is on to his next project- 'Mission Mangal'- a film based on India's Mars mission. While the subject itself is quite intriguing, what caught our attention is the film's enviable star-cast. The film that stars Akshay Kumar in the lead has not one or two but five actresses. Vidya Balan, Taapsee Pannu, Sonakshi Sinha, Kirti Kulhari and Malayalam actress Nithya Menen who makes her Bollywood debut with the film. It also stars Sharman Joshi. Akshay Kumar took to Twitter to announce the film's cast - as he posed with the six actors and wrote, "Proud and excited to bring the story of India’s Mars Mission, #MissionMangal to you. Coincidentally the mission was launched on this very date, 5th Nov. 2013. Meet the team and do share your best wishes for our shubh mangal journey. Shoot begins " Proud and excited to bring the story of India’s Mars Mission, #MissionMangal to you. Coincidentally the mission was launched on this very date, 5th Nov. 2013. Meet the team and do share your best wishes for our shubh mangal journey. Shoot begins soon 🙏🏻 @foxstarhindi pic.twitter.com/SYfSmoZEdb — Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) November 5, 2018 × The film has been co-produced by Akshay and Fox Star India and will be directed by Jagan Shakti. Meanwhile, Khiladi Kumar`s `2.0` is all set for release. The film has brought Rajinikanth, Akshay Kumar and director Shankar together for the first time, and the mammoth project ensures to `reboot superpower`.The film will hit the silver screens on November 29.

Mission Mangal: Akshay Kumar's lines-up an impressive cast for his next

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