A rock resembling the logo from Star Trek was discovered by NASA's Curiosity rover on Mars. NASA's long-running Curiosity captured the image of a Mars rock that looks similar to the iconic delta-shaped Starfleet emblem that officers wear on their uniforms in the sci-fi series.

A rock resembling the logo from Star Trek was discovered by NASA's Curiosity rover on Mars. NASA's long-running Curiosity captured the image of a Mars rock that looks similar to the iconic delta-shaped Starfleet emblem that officers wear on their uniforms in the sci-fi series. While it is illogical to say that a Starfleet landing party walked near Curiosity's roving grounds, Star Trek fans are thrilled to see the symbol on the Red Planet's surface. An amateur astronomer, Stuart Atkinson, spotted the Star Trek symbol and joked about it on X. He wrote, "I bet the Star Trek fans on the @MarsCuriosity team smiled like Cheshire Cats when they saw this new image appear on their screens." To this, an X user replied, "This must be their head office in mars.." ALSO READ | Rhesus monkey cloned using new technique different from what was used for Dolly the sheep NASA's Curiosity rover has been on Mars since 2012 and continues to capture and investigate the life there. Currently, it is climbing a mountain nicknamed Mount Sharp (Aeolis Mons) as part of a mission to analyse the layers entrenched in it to know how water flowed on Mars several years ago. In September 2023, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory officials said, "Different layers of Mount Sharp represent different eras of Martian history. As Curiosity ascends, scientists learn more about how the landscape changed over time." The statement added that the rover was in a sulphate-packed zone, which might be "the highest elevation layer it will ever visit." ALSO READ | Chinese startup develops coin-sized nuclear battery that can last up to ‘50 years without charging’ According to the mission's blog, the rover captured the image of the Starfleet symbol when it was about to do "contact science on a flat block of dark-toned bedrock." The blog stated that one of its goals is to study the "composition and texture of the dark bands we've been observing from orbit" using various instruments. After the Curiosity rover's success at the Gale Crater, NASA sent a follow-up rover mission, named Perseverance, to the Jezero Crater on Mars in 2020. Perseverance aims to hunt for evidence of ancient life on the Red Planet. NASA also aims to launch another mission to bring the caches of rocks collected by Perseverance. However, funding and technology have pushed the expected return date to 2031. (With inputs from agencies)

Mars rock resembling iconic Star Trek symbol snapped by NASA’s Curiosity rover

Skywatchers in North America and some regions of South America will see Mercury, Mars and Venus line up in the sky on Tuesday morning. On Tuesday (Jan 9), a thin crescent moon, less than five per cent illuminated, will gather in the sky with three of our planet's closest neighbours in the solar system.

Skywatchers in North America and some regions of South America will see Mercury, Mars and Venus line up in the sky on Tuesday morning. On Tuesday (Jan 9), a thin crescent moon, less than five per cent illuminated, will gather in the sky with three of our planet's closest neighbours in the solar system. Venus, out of the three planets, will shine the brightest during the morning twilight. Mars will be less visible, requiring binoculars to see it near the horizon in the morning. Meanwhile, Mercury will be bright at around magnitude zero. In areas with low light pollution, it would be possible to have an unobstructed view of the horizon. At such places, one can view this gathering of planets without an optical aid. Venus would be the first to rise around 2.5 hours before the sunrise. To locate the evening star, find the brightly shining pale yellow planet in the early morning sky in the southeast direction. Mercury will rise roughly an hour after Venus, appearing on the Moon's left. Half an hour before sunrise, Mars will be visible above the horizon. On Monday (Jan 8), Mercury reached its highest point in the morning sky, elevating to some 16 degrees above the southeastern sky. ALSO READ | Peregrine Mission One: Private mission to land on Moon suffers ‘anomaly’ after entering safe operational state The innermost planet also reached the greatest elongation from the Sun on the same day. For skywatchers, it is the right opportunity to catch sight of the elusive planet, which only appears a few weeks a year during the greatest elongation. Furthermore, like Mercury, Mars is elusive this time of the year, as it will not rise high above the horizon. Even on Tuesday (Jan 9), it would be hard to spot the red planet, as it will be less than ten degrees above the horizon. However, Venus will be a beacon in the morning sky until it fades from the Northern Hemisphere's southern latitudes around May 2024. It will reappear as an evening apparition in June 2024. While using binoculars or a telescope to observe the trio of these planets alongside Earth's Moon, never look in the rising Sun's direction through an optical aid or with the naked eye. The planets will appear close to where the Sun will be rising. Avoid risking damage to your eyes and check sunrise timings in your area. (With inputs from agencies)

Cosmic alignment: Mercury, Venus and Mars to meet Moon on January 9 morning

We know about planet Mars but perhaps many of us don't know that the red planet has an atmosphere. Not only this, storms take place on its surface fairly regularly. It's true that the Martian atmosphere is much thinner than the one we have here on Earth, it sure is novelty to many when they come to know about it for the first time.

Now United Arab Emirates' Mars mission has found out that thinner atmosphere or not, Martian storms can cause changes on the planet's surface that are discernible even from the orbit around the planet. UAE's Hope Mission has found that storms caused changes in thickness on the Martian surface that were detected by the Hope probe in orbit around the Mars.&nbsp;

A paper published in Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets a couple months ago described the observations made by the Hope probe before and after a Martian storm in 2022.

The infrared spectrometer of the Hope probe detected changes in surface thickness of dust cover on the Martian surface from the orbit. The probe observed changes in several regions of Mars.

On Friday (Dec 29), the Hope Mission also posted an animation about this.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
In this animation, EXI captures images before and after the dust storm, unveiling discernible alterations on the surface. <a href="https://t.co/gaj0RiUfi2">pic.twitter.com/gaj0RiUfi2</a>
— Hope Mars Mission (@HopeMarsMission) <a href="https://twitter.com/HopeMarsMission/status/1740723033101439349?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 29, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

"Although the regional dust storm was active over all the regions of interest, we found that dust may have been removed and subsequently deposited with varying levels of intensity in the regions sampled," said the researchers in their paper.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-juno-spacecraft-captures-breathtaking-images-of-jupiters-volcanic-moon-in-closest-ever-encounter-676097">These closest-ever photos of Jupiter's moon blasting lava will give you cold shivers</a>

The probe found that some regions of the Mars experienced net removal of dust as high as 340 micrometres resulting in changes in surface temperatures which could be detected from the orbit.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/new-snapshot-of-oldest-spiral-galaxy-reveals-seismic-wave-similar-to-ripples-in-water-675973">New snapshot of oldest spiral galaxy reveals seismic wave similar to ripples in water</a>

The probe also found that some regions experienced net deposition of dust up to 120 micrometres.

"Visible-wavelength imagery from the Emirates Exploration Imager, which is more sensitive to changes in surface dust distribution, is incorporated in our analysis to provide additional context," said the researchers in their paper.&nbsp;

They said that the estimated suggested "dust reservoirs are capable of transporting vast quantities of dust over short timescales."

(With inputs from agencies)

We know about planet Mars but perhaps many of us don't know that the red planet has an atmosphere. Not only this, storms take place on its surface fairly regularly.

We know about planet Mars but perhaps many of us don't know that the red planet has an atmosphere. Not only this, storms take place on its surface fairly regularly. It's true that the Martian atmosphere is much thinner than the one we have here on Earth, it sure is novelty to many when they come to know about it for the first time. Now United Arab Emirates' Mars mission has found out that thinner atmosphere or not, Martian storms can cause changes on the planet's surface that are discernible even from the orbit around the planet. UAE's Hope Mission has found that storms caused changes in thickness on the Martian surface that were detected by the Hope probe in orbit around the Mars. A paper published in Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets a couple months ago described the observations made by the Hope probe before and after a Martian storm in 2022. The infrared spectrometer of the Hope probe detected changes in surface thickness of dust cover on the Martian surface from the orbit. The probe observed changes in several regions of Mars. On Friday (Dec 29), the Hope Mission also posted an animation about this. In this animation, EXI captures images before and after the dust storm, unveiling discernible alterations on the surface. pic.twitter.com/gaj0RiUfi2 — Hope Mars Mission (@HopeMarsMission) December 29, 2023 × "Although the regional dust storm was active over all the regions of interest, we found that dust may have been removed and subsequently deposited with varying levels of intensity in the regions sampled," said the researchers in their paper. Also Read | These closest-ever photos of Jupiter's moon blasting lava will give you cold shivers The probe found that some regions of the Mars experienced net removal of dust as high as 340 micrometres resulting in changes in surface temperatures which could be detected from the orbit. Also Read | New snapshot of oldest spiral galaxy reveals seismic wave similar to ripples in water The probe also found that some regions experienced net deposition of dust up to 120 micrometres. "Visible-wavelength imagery from the Emirates Exploration Imager, which is more sensitive to changes in surface dust distribution, is incorporated in our analysis to provide additional context," said the researchers in their paper. They said that the estimated suggested "dust reservoirs are capable of transporting vast quantities of dust over short timescales." (With inputs from agencies)

Storm on Mars: UAE probe detects significant dust mobilisation

Mars and everything around it have remained a topic of fascination for humanity since antiquity. The red planet, the hue of which is visible even with the naked eye has been a god, a planet of aliens, a planet of invaders and whatnot. Scientific study over decades has led to the conclusion that Mars indeed had water on its surface millions of years ago and possibly life. But conclusive proof of the latter is still to be found. But scientists are sure that Mars was a watery world once upon a time.

Perseverance, NASA's rover that's roaming on the Martian surface carrying out important observations, recently found evidence of gushing water.

NASA released a photo earlier this month. The image, captured by Prserverance's Mastcam-Z camera, shows a curious collection of rocks and pebbles strewn around in Mars' Jezero Crater.

Watch | NASA to take international astronauts to Lunar Space

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/nasa-to-take-international-astronauts-to-lunar-space-672715/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The exact location? 'Castell Henllys' in the Jezero Crater. NASA has said that the rocks and pebbles visible in the photo were brought in by 'strong flood waters billions of years ago'.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasas-hubble-telescope-captures-mysterious-spokes-on-rings-of-saturn-672959">NASA's Hubble telescope captures mysterious spokes on rings of Saturn</a>

Among the important objectives of the Perseverance mission are those that deal with Astrobiology, which involves conclusive evidence of life on another planet.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/how-safe-is-nuking-earh-bound-asteroid-scientists-create-simulation-to-answer-672511">How safe is nuking earth-bound asteroid? Scientists create simulation to answer</a>

The 'life' may not always be the antenna-bearing aliens we've come to know through popular media but even conclusive proof of micro-organisms, or their fossils on Mars will be a groundbreaking discovery.

<h2>Why do we always search for water on other planets?</h2>

The answer is around us on our own planet. After the lifeless phase Earth endured in the very early years of its formation, life started in water in the form of microorganisms which then led to the formation of complex aquatic organisms. Scientists believe that animals and plants on land developed afterwards.

It is then almost a given that if a planet has water, there are greater chances of it developing life forms. Other than Mars, one of the favourite candidates for search for life is Europa, the satellite of Jupiter. Europa is a frozen world and scientists believe that there is a vast liquid ocean below the thick ice cover which may harbour life.

(With inputs from agencies)

Mars and everything around it have remained a topic of fascination for humanity since antiquity. The red planet, the hue of which is visible even with the naked eye has been a god, a planet of aliens, a planet of invaders and whatnot.

Mars and everything around it have remained a topic of fascination for humanity since antiquity. The red planet, the hue of which is visible even with the naked eye has been a god, a planet of aliens, a planet of invaders and whatnot. Scientific study over decades has led to the conclusion that Mars indeed had water on its surface millions of years ago and possibly life. But conclusive proof of the latter is still to be found. But scientists are sure that Mars was a watery world once upon a time. Perseverance, NASA's rover that's roaming on the Martian surface carrying out important observations, recently found evidence of gushing water. NASA released a photo earlier this month. The image, captured by Prserverance's Mastcam-Z camera, shows a curious collection of rocks and pebbles strewn around in Mars' Jezero Crater. Watch | NASA to take international astronauts to Lunar Space × The exact location? 'Castell Henllys' in the Jezero Crater. NASA has said that the rocks and pebbles visible in the photo were brought in by 'strong flood waters billions of years ago'. Also Read | NASA's Hubble telescope captures mysterious spokes on rings of Saturn Among the important objectives of the Perseverance mission are those that deal with Astrobiology, which involves conclusive evidence of life on another planet. Also Read | How safe is nuking earth-bound asteroid? Scientists create simulation to answer The 'life' may not always be the antenna-bearing aliens we've come to know through popular media but even conclusive proof of micro-organisms, or their fossils on Mars will be a groundbreaking discovery. Why do we always search for water on other planets? The answer is around us on our own planet. After the lifeless phase Earth endured in the very early years of its formation, life started in water in the form of microorganisms which then led to the formation of complex aquatic organisms. Scientists believe that animals and plants on land developed afterwards. It is then almost a given that if a planet has water, there are greater chances of it developing life forms. Other than Mars, one of the favourite candidates for search for life is Europa, the satellite of Jupiter. Europa is a frozen world and scientists believe that there is a vast liquid ocean below the thick ice cover which may harbour life. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA's Perseverance rover finds evidence of flowing water on Mars

In a new survey, which was done using ground penetrating radar and satellite imagery, scientists spotted signs of volcanic activity, which may have taken place far more recently than was expected by anyone.&nbsp;

The discovery, when combined with other evidence, revealed that beneath its barren crust, Mars is likely to have quite a bit more going on compared to what is seen in the outside appearances.&nbsp;

The study was carried over a plain called the Elysium Planitia and it was revealed that the volcanic activity may have taken place in the last 120 million years.

"Elysium Planitia is the youngest volcanic terrain on the planet, and studying it helps us to better understand Mars' past as well as recent hydrological and volcanic history," wrote the authors, in their paper.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasas-perseverance-rover-decodes-martian-lakes-ancient-history-after-spending-1000-martian-days-669370">Perseverance completes 1,000 days on Mars, decodes mystery of ancient crater lake</a>

Meanwhile, some of the volcanic activity which has been identified dates to only 1 million years ago.&nbsp;

This is very recent and geologically, the scientists have still not observed any volcanic activity actually taking place.&nbsp;

However, somewhere on Mars, this might exist as per recent studies.&nbsp;

<h2>Volcanic activity likely took place on Mars when&nbsp; dinosaurs roamed on Earth</h2>

According to scientists, the volcanic activity appeared very recent but they need to find where it actually took place.&nbsp;

"Elysium Planitia was volcanically much more active than previously thought and might even still be volcanically alive today," said Joana Voigt, who co-led the study alongside planetary scientist Christopher Hamilton of the University of Arizona and is a part of the NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.&nbsp;

As per the scientists, some of the lava flowing on the surface of Mars looked pretty young which left them baffled.&nbsp;

"Elysium Planitia is the perfect location to try to understand the link between what we see at the surface and the interior dynamics that manifested itself through volcanic eruptions,” said Voigt.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;NASA's Perseverance Rover finds new clues about water on Mars

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/nasas-perseverance-rover-finds-new-clues-about-water-on-mars-670000/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"I paid a lot of attention to the details on the lava surfaces to try and untangle the different eruption events and reconstruct the entire history of these geologic entities,” he added.

A plethora of quakes on Mars was recorded by NASA's InSight lander between 2018 and 2022 which proved that the red planet is anything but dead beneath its surface.

"Our study provides the most comprehensive account of geologically recent volcanism on a planet other than Earth," said Hamilton.&nbsp;

"It is the best estimate of Mars' young volcanic activity for about the past 120 million years, which corresponds to when the dinosaurs roamed on the Earth at their peak to present," he said.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

In a new survey, which was done using ground penetrating radar and satellite imagery, scientists spotted signs of volcanic activity, which may have taken place far more recently than was expected by anyone.

In a new survey, which was done using ground penetrating radar and satellite imagery, scientists spotted signs of volcanic activity, which may have taken place far more recently than was expected by anyone. The discovery, when combined with other evidence, revealed that beneath its barren crust, Mars is likely to have quite a bit more going on compared to what is seen in the outside appearances. The study was carried over a plain called the Elysium Planitia and it was revealed that the volcanic activity may have taken place in the last 120 million years. "Elysium Planitia is the youngest volcanic terrain on the planet, and studying it helps us to better understand Mars' past as well as recent hydrological and volcanic history," wrote the authors, in their paper. Also read: Perseverance completes 1,000 days on Mars, decodes mystery of ancient crater lake Meanwhile, some of the volcanic activity which has been identified dates to only 1 million years ago. This is very recent and geologically, the scientists have still not observed any volcanic activity actually taking place. However, somewhere on Mars, this might exist as per recent studies. Volcanic activity likely took place on Mars when dinosaurs roamed on Earth According to scientists, the volcanic activity appeared very recent but they need to find where it actually took place. "Elysium Planitia was volcanically much more active than previously thought and might even still be volcanically alive today," said Joana Voigt, who co-led the study alongside planetary scientist Christopher Hamilton of the University of Arizona and is a part of the NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. As per the scientists, some of the lava flowing on the surface of Mars looked pretty young which left them baffled. "Elysium Planitia is the perfect location to try to understand the link between what we see at the surface and the interior dynamics that manifested itself through volcanic eruptions,” said Voigt. Watch: NASA's Perseverance Rover finds new clues about water on Mars "I paid a lot of attention to the details on the lava surfaces to try and untangle the different eruption events and reconstruct the entire history of these geologic entities,” he added. A plethora of quakes on Mars was recorded by NASA's InSight lander between 2018 and 2022 which proved that the red planet is anything but dead beneath its surface. "Our study provides the most comprehensive account of geologically recent volcanism on a planet other than Earth," said Hamilton. "It is the best estimate of Mars' young volcanic activity for about the past 120 million years, which corresponds to when the dinosaurs roamed on the Earth at their peak to present," he said. (With inputs from agencies)

Scientists spot recent volcanic activity on Earth’s neighbour Mars

Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon and Blue Origin, hopes for a distant future when "a trillion" humans will colonise the solar system. In the Lex Fridman podcast, published on Thursday, Bezos said that our solar system has enough resources to support a civilisation that large.

Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon and Blue Origin, hopes for a distant future when "a trillion" humans will colonise the solar system. In the Lex Fridman podcast, published on Thursday, Bezos said that our solar system has enough resources to support a civilisation that large. But people won't be inhabiting other planets. Instead, they would be living in massive space stations. By a trillion humans, Bezos meant that "a thousand Mozarts and a thousand Einsteins" could be up in space at any given point. Bezos envisioned space stations that resembled the cylindrical habitats proposed by the late physicist Gerard K. O'Neill. "They have a lot of advantages over planetary surfaces. You can spin them to get normal earth gravity. You can put them where you want them," he said of O'Neill-style colonies, adding that most people will want to live near Earth anyway. ALSO READ | James Webb spots record-breaking small, rare kind of brown 'failed' star Bezos' space colony agenda differs from that of Elon Musk, his main competitor. The SpaceX founder, Musk, has been vocal about his ambition to colonise Mars by 2050. SpaceX also has plans to help NASA send humans to the moon, but its colonisation goals are more aligned towards Mars. Meanwhile, Bezos has set his eyes on the moon, revealing the giant Blue Moon lunar lander concept in 2019. He also spoke about an O'Neill-style shaped cylinder that can maintain a good climate throughout the year. "As a species, we've got to do this. We're going to crucify this planet sooner or later. So you might as well die going to Mars," Kevin Moffat, an associate professor at the University of Warwick who specialises in human physiology, told Business Insider. Previously, experts have talked about the scientific and ethical dilemmas related to the glorious plans of space colonisation of both billionaires. They have warned about the problems related to gravity and space's human immune system. However, that does not mean that their efforts went in vain. During the podcast, Bezos told Fridman that humans could choose to go back and forth between space stations and Earth in the distant future. According to Bezos, space colonisation ultimately means to preserve the planet. "We've sent robotic probes to all the planets," he said. "We know that this is the good one." (With inputs from agencies)

Bezos wants humans to colonise the solar system, while Musk has his sight set on Mars

NASA's Perseverance Rover has uncovered new details about water on the red planet Mars. The latest insights reveal signs of an ancient lake and river delta on Mars's Jezero crater.

NASA's Perseverance Rover finds new clues about water on Mars

The scientists made a startling observation when they observed that the atmosphere of Mars dramatically ballooned outwards because of a void created due to a powerful gust of solar wind. 
 
A new study has been published on the event which states how on 26 December 2022, a sharp drop in the solar particles was recorded by the MAVEN spacecraft present in orbit around Mars. 
 
The spacecraft simultaneously recorded a bizarre and startling change in the atmosphere of Mars. The magnetosphere and ionosphere of Mars expanded thousands of kilometres, which tripled its size. 
 
The last time scientists observed this phenomenon was in 1999 when the solar wind had suddenly dropped which led to outward swelling in the magnetosphere of Earth and increased its volume 100-fold. 
 
These observations provided the scientists with a rare glimpse of how Mars behaves when there is a sudden change in the conditions of the Solar System and also gave insight into how planets interact in the solar system with their environments around different stars.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasas-perseverance-rover-decodes-martian-lakes-ancient-history-after-spending-1000-martian-days-669370">NASA's Perseverance rover decodes Martian lake's ancient history after spending 1000 Martian days</a>

"When we first saw the data, and how dramatic the drop in the solar wind was, it was almost unbelievable," said astronomer Jasper Halekas, who is the lead author of a new study and is a professor at the University of Iowa. 
 
"We formed a working group to study the event, and we have found this time period to be rich with incredible findings,” he added while speaking to Science Alert.

<h2>Scientists trying to decode how Mars will orbit in a less 'windy' star</h2>

Generally, the solar wind remains constant in the Solar System and all the planets remain embedded in it. These solar winds are streams of particles which blow out from the Sun across different directions all the time and create ambient pressure throughout the Solar System, and further subside at a boundary called as heliopause. 
 
However, a different kind of wind was gusted by Mars on 26 December 2022. This wind consisted of two different solar winds, a slower one which was swept up and later engulfed by a faster wind which was coming in from behind before it continued outwards as one superwind.

Watch:&nbsp;Scientists surprised by source of largest quake detected on Mars

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/scientists-surprised-by-source-of-largest-quake-detected-on-mars-648855/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

A higher density of particles which was present in this double solar wind was recorded by MAVEN. After a significant drop in particle density was detected in the wind which passed by the orbiting observatory – a rare void of low density and extremely weak solar wind was detected, and a drop was also seen in solar wind pressure. 
 
"We are really getting to see how Mars responds when the solar wind is effectively removed. It makes for a great outlier study on what Mars would be like if it were orbiting a less 'windy' star,” Halekas said. 
 
The findings are being presented by the team at the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting 2023.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The scientists made a startling observation when they observed that the atmosphere of Mars dramatically ballooned outwards because of a void created due to a powerful gust of solar wind.

The scientists made a startling observation when they observed that the atmosphere of Mars dramatically ballooned outwards because of a void created due to a powerful gust of solar wind. A new study has been published on the event which states how on 26 December 2022, a sharp drop in the solar particles was recorded by the MAVEN spacecraft present in orbit around Mars. The spacecraft simultaneously recorded a bizarre and startling change in the atmosphere of Mars. The magnetosphere and ionosphere of Mars expanded thousands of kilometres, which tripled its size. The last time scientists observed this phenomenon was in 1999 when the solar wind had suddenly dropped which led to outward swelling in the magnetosphere of Earth and increased its volume 100-fold. These observations provided the scientists with a rare glimpse of how Mars behaves when there is a sudden change in the conditions of the Solar System and also gave insight into how planets interact in the solar system with their environments around different stars. Also read: NASA's Perseverance rover decodes Martian lake's ancient history after spending 1000 Martian days "When we first saw the data, and how dramatic the drop in the solar wind was, it was almost unbelievable," said astronomer Jasper Halekas, who is the lead author of a new study and is a professor at the University of Iowa. "We formed a working group to study the event, and we have found this time period to be rich with incredible findings,” he added while speaking to Science Alert. Scientists trying to decode how Mars will orbit in a less 'windy' star Generally, the solar wind remains constant in the Solar System and all the planets remain embedded in it. These solar winds are streams of particles which blow out from the Sun across different directions all the time and create ambient pressure throughout the Solar System, and further subside at a boundary called as heliopause. However, a different kind of wind was gusted by Mars on 26 December 2022. This wind consisted of two different solar winds, a slower one which was swept up and later engulfed by a faster wind which was coming in from behind before it continued outwards as one superwind. Watch: Scientists surprised by source of largest quake detected on Mars A higher density of particles which was present in this double solar wind was recorded by MAVEN. After a significant drop in particle density was detected in the wind which passed by the orbiting observatory – a rare void of low density and extremely weak solar wind was detected, and a drop was also seen in solar wind pressure. "We are really getting to see how Mars responds when the solar wind is effectively removed. It makes for a great outlier study on what Mars would be like if it were orbiting a less 'windy' star,” Halekas said. The findings are being presented by the team at the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting 2023. (With inputs from agencies)

Bizarre solar wind phenomena dramatically ballooned atmosphere of Mars

China became the second country to land a rover on Mars with the successful landing of the Zhurong rover on May 15, 2021. The rover made important observations and studied the red planet as it moved around the surface. The rover was also equipped with a ground-penetrating radar (GPR) which could peer under the surface of the red planet.

Researchers have now announced that the rover found irregular polygonal wedges about 35 metres under the surface where it landed.

While it is quite tempting to imagine that these geometric polygons are remnants of some complex machinery developed by aliens on Mars, scientists think there are other reasons for their existence.

Watch | Scientists surprised by source of largest quake detected on Mars

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/scientists-surprised-by-source-of-largest-quake-detected-on-mars-648855/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The team of researchers from the Institute of Geology and Geophysics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences writes in their paper in the journal Nature that Zhurong detected 16 such polygonal wedges within a stretch of 1.2 kilometres on Mars. These wedges measure from a few centimetres to tens of metres across. The research paper was cited by ScienceAlert in its report.

<h2>Freeze-thaw cycles and volcanic activity on Mars</h2>

Researchers believe that these wedges were formed due to freeze-thaw cycles on Mars billions of years ago. But the origin of these wedges can also be volcanic and they may also have formed from cooling lava flows.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasas-odyssey-orbiter-acts-as-space-station-to-mars-to-capture-its-atmosphere-from-top-664467">NASA's Odyssey orbiter acts as Space Station to Mars to capture its atmosphere from top</a>

The researchers say that these polygonal structures may have been formed 3.7 – 2.9 billion years ago that is, Late Hesperian–Early Amazonian epochs on Mars. These were formed "possibly with the cessation of an ancient wet environment. The palaeo-polygonal terrain, either with or without being eroded, was subsequently buried," say researchers as quoted by SciencAlert.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/tiangong-space-station-china-releases-beautiful-panoramic-image-with-fully-visible-structure-664263">Tiangong space station: China releases beautiful panoramic image with fully visible structure</a>

"The possible presence of water and ice required for the freeze–thaw process in the wedges may have come from cryogenic suction-induced moisture migration from an underground aquifer on Mars, snowfall from the air or vapor diffusion for pore ice deposition," the paper explains.

"The subsurface structure with the covering materials overlying the buried palaeo-polygonal terrain suggests that there was a notable palaeoclimatic transformation some time thereafter," the researchers wrote.

(With inputs from agencies)

China became the second country to land a rover on Mars with the successful landing of the Zhurong rover on May 15, 2021. The rover made important observations and studied the red planet as it moved around the surface.

China became the second country to land a rover on Mars with the successful landing of the Zhurong rover on May 15, 2021. The rover made important observations and studied the red planet as it moved around the surface. The rover was also equipped with a ground-penetrating radar (GPR) which could peer under the surface of the red planet. Researchers have now announced that the rover found irregular polygonal wedges about 35 metres under the surface where it landed. While it is quite tempting to imagine that these geometric polygons are remnants of some complex machinery developed by aliens on Mars, scientists think there are other reasons for their existence. Watch | Scientists surprised by source of largest quake detected on Mars × The team of researchers from the Institute of Geology and Geophysics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences writes in their paper in the journal Nature that Zhurong detected 16 such polygonal wedges within a stretch of 1.2 kilometres on Mars. These wedges measure from a few centimetres to tens of metres across. The research paper was cited by ScienceAlert in its report. Freeze-thaw cycles and volcanic activity on Mars Researchers believe that these wedges were formed due to freeze-thaw cycles on Mars billions of years ago. But the origin of these wedges can also be volcanic and they may also have formed from cooling lava flows. Also Read | NASA's Odyssey orbiter acts as Space Station to Mars to capture its atmosphere from top The researchers say that these polygonal structures may have been formed 3.7 – 2.9 billion years ago that is, Late Hesperian–Early Amazonian epochs on Mars. These were formed "possibly with the cessation of an ancient wet environment. The palaeo-polygonal terrain, either with or without being eroded, was subsequently buried," say researchers as quoted by SciencAlert. Also Read | Tiangong space station: China releases beautiful panoramic image with fully visible structure "The possible presence of water and ice required for the freeze–thaw process in the wedges may have come from cryogenic suction-induced moisture migration from an underground aquifer on Mars, snowfall from the air or vapor diffusion for pore ice deposition," the paper explains. "The subsurface structure with the covering materials overlying the buried palaeo-polygonal terrain suggests that there was a notable palaeoclimatic transformation some time thereafter," the researchers wrote. (With inputs from agencies)

China's rover finds geometric shapes under Martian surface

In a celestial spectacle that occurs every two years, Mars has seemingly disappeared from our Earthly vantage point as it undergoes the Mars solar conjunction, starting on November 18. This disappearance is not an unexpected event, an optical illusion or an atmospheric anomaly and there is some science behind the absence of the Red Planet.&nbsp;

A planetary alignment positioned Mars directly behind the Sun, rendering it temporarily invisible to observers on Earth. During this phase, Mars is obscured from view due to the Sun's overwhelming brightness.&nbsp;

The conjunction is expected to persist for approximately two weeks. During this period, Mars and Earth are at their maximum distance from each other, with the average gap of 225 million kilometres expanding to as much as 400 million kilometres.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-create-lasers-from-soap-bubbles-for-handheld-sensing-devices-660087">Scientists create lasers from soap bubbles for handheld sensing devices</a>

The phenomenon, while a regular occurrence in the celestial calendar, captivates skygazers with its unique visual impact.

As Mars enters the latter part of the conjunction, it will gradually reemerge to the West of the Sun, becoming increasingly visible in the pre-dawn sky.

<h2>A year later&nbsp;</h2>

Approximately a year later, the Red Planet and the Sun will be situated on opposite sides of Earth. During this phase, Mars will illuminate the night sky for an extended duration.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/sentences-are-more-persuasive-when-written-in-present-tense-claims-study-660066">Sentences are more persuasive when written in present tense, claims study</a>

Notably, the Mars solar conjunction has practical implications for space agencies and their missions on the red planet.

NASA, in response to the celestial alignment, has suspended communications with its Mars fleet. The decision is rooted in the potential interference caused by the Sun's corona, which could disrupt signals between Earth and Mars.

Watch |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-hamas-war-israels-new-air-defence-system-660095">Israel-Hamas war | Israel's new air-defence system</a>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-hamas-war-israels-new-air-defence-system-660095/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

This precautionary measure is aimed at preventing unexpected behaviours in robotic probes such as the Perseverance Rover and the Ingenuity helicopter, safeguarding their operational integrity during this astronomical event.

(With inputs from agencies)

In a celestial spectacle that occurs every two years, Mars has seemingly disappeared from our Earthly vantage point as it undergoes the Mars solar conjunction, starting on November 18.

In a celestial spectacle that occurs every two years, Mars has seemingly disappeared from our Earthly vantage point as it undergoes the Mars solar conjunction, starting on November 18. This disappearance is not an unexpected event, an optical illusion or an atmospheric anomaly and there is some science behind the absence of the Red Planet. A planetary alignment positioned Mars directly behind the Sun, rendering it temporarily invisible to observers on Earth. During this phase, Mars is obscured from view due to the Sun's overwhelming brightness. The conjunction is expected to persist for approximately two weeks. During this period, Mars and Earth are at their maximum distance from each other, with the average gap of 225 million kilometres expanding to as much as 400 million kilometres. Also Read | Scientists create lasers from soap bubbles for handheld sensing devices The phenomenon, while a regular occurrence in the celestial calendar, captivates skygazers with its unique visual impact. As Mars enters the latter part of the conjunction, it will gradually reemerge to the West of the Sun, becoming increasingly visible in the pre-dawn sky. A year later Approximately a year later, the Red Planet and the Sun will be situated on opposite sides of Earth. During this phase, Mars will illuminate the night sky for an extended duration. Also Read | Sentences are more persuasive when written in present tense, claims study Notably, the Mars solar conjunction has practical implications for space agencies and their missions on the red planet. NASA, in response to the celestial alignment, has suspended communications with its Mars fleet. The decision is rooted in the potential interference caused by the Sun's corona, which could disrupt signals between Earth and Mars. Watch | Israel-Hamas war | Israel's new air-defence system × This precautionary measure is aimed at preventing unexpected behaviours in robotic probes such as the Perseverance Rover and the Ingenuity helicopter, safeguarding their operational integrity during this astronomical event. (With inputs from agencies)

Mars vanishes in rare celestial event, will come back shining after 2 weeks

In a first, scientists have detected a soft green glow in the night sky of Mars that can be seen with our human eyes. 
 
The European Space Agency's (ESA) ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter mission while orbiting around Mars spotted the Martian night sky filled with light in the optical spectrum. 
 
As per the scientists, the light is so bright in the polar regions that there is a possibility of human explorers seeing it if the night sky is clear of clouds. 
 
"These observations are unexpected and interesting for future trips to the Red Planet," stated planetary scientist Jean-Claude Gerard of the University of Liege in Belgium.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-can-now-produce-oxygen-on-mars-all-thanks-to-an-ai-powered-robot-chemist-658247">Scientists can now produce oxygen on Mars, all thanks to an AI-powered robot chemist</a>

In the solar system's atmospheres, the nightglow has been a relatively common phenomenon. Scientists have seen infrared and ultraviolet nightglow in the night sky on Mars and have also observed dayglow caused by the atmospheric absorption and energy released from solar radiation in the visible spectrum on Mars. 
 
However, "no nightglow spectrum has been observed so far in the visible domain," wrote the researchers. "Scattered solar light hinders such measurements from Earth's ground and no space-borne instrument has observed the Mars visible nightglow,” they added. 
 
Gerard and his team, intrigued by the discovery of ultraviolet and infrared nightglow and ultraviolet and visible dayglow on Mars, looked into data gathered by Trace Gas Orbiter which pointed at the instruments at the edge of the atmosphere which found signs of nightglow across visible ultraviolet wavelengths.

<h2>Nightglow seen in the south pole during Martian winter</h2>

The visible nightglow was seen during the Martian winter at the south pole between altitudes of 40 and 60 kilometres (25 to 37 miles). 
 
The researchers stated that this was a result of oxygen atoms which had combined into dioxygen (O2) after getting transported from the sunny Martian day and emitted a glow in the process – one which was bright enough that it was visible from the ground.

Watch:&nbsp;Scientists surprised by source of largest quake detected on Mars

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/scientists-surprised-by-source-of-largest-quake-detected-on-mars-648855/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"This O2 nightglow should be observable from a Martian orbiter as well as from the Martian surface with the naked eye under clear sky conditions. These observations pave the way to future global observations of the Martian atmospheric circulation with simpler lower-cost instrumentation,” the researchers wrote. 
 
All varieties of atmospheric glows are tracers of atmospheric circulation, chemistry, and processes. The atmosphere of Mars is very thin and finding out what it contains will help scientists know why and where the rest of it went.

(With inputs from agencies)

In a first, scientists have detected a soft green glow in the night sky of Mars that can be seen with our human eyes. The European Space Agency's (ESA) ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter mission while orbiting around Mars spotted the Martian night sky filled with light in the optical spectrum.

In a first, scientists have detected a soft green glow in the night sky of Mars that can be seen with our human eyes. The European Space Agency's (ESA) ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter mission while orbiting around Mars spotted the Martian night sky filled with light in the optical spectrum. As per the scientists, the light is so bright in the polar regions that there is a possibility of human explorers seeing it if the night sky is clear of clouds. "These observations are unexpected and interesting for future trips to the Red Planet," stated planetary scientist Jean-Claude Gerard of the University of Liege in Belgium. Also read: Scientists can now produce oxygen on Mars, all thanks to an AI-powered robot chemist In the solar system's atmospheres, the nightglow has been a relatively common phenomenon. Scientists have seen infrared and ultraviolet nightglow in the night sky on Mars and have also observed dayglow caused by the atmospheric absorption and energy released from solar radiation in the visible spectrum on Mars. However, "no nightglow spectrum has been observed so far in the visible domain," wrote the researchers. "Scattered solar light hinders such measurements from Earth's ground and no space-borne instrument has observed the Mars visible nightglow,” they added. Gerard and his team, intrigued by the discovery of ultraviolet and infrared nightglow and ultraviolet and visible dayglow on Mars, looked into data gathered by Trace Gas Orbiter which pointed at the instruments at the edge of the atmosphere which found signs of nightglow across visible ultraviolet wavelengths. Nightglow seen in the south pole during Martian winter The visible nightglow was seen during the Martian winter at the south pole between altitudes of 40 and 60 kilometres (25 to 37 miles). The researchers stated that this was a result of oxygen atoms which had combined into dioxygen (O2) after getting transported from the sunny Martian day and emitted a glow in the process – one which was bright enough that it was visible from the ground. Watch: Scientists surprised by source of largest quake detected on Mars "This O2 nightglow should be observable from a Martian orbiter as well as from the Martian surface with the naked eye under clear sky conditions. These observations pave the way to future global observations of the Martian atmospheric circulation with simpler lower-cost instrumentation,” the researchers wrote. All varieties of atmospheric glows are tracers of atmospheric circulation, chemistry, and processes. The atmosphere of Mars is very thin and finding out what it contains will help scientists know why and where the rest of it went. (With inputs from agencies)

In a first, scientists detect eerie green glow in night sky of Mars

Scientists have announced the development of an AI-powered robot chemist with the ability to synthesise oxygen-producing compounds from meteorites originating from Mars. This breakthrough carries profound implications for future Mars missions, particularly in terms of optimising resources and reducing the need to transport oxygen from Earth.

Future crewed missions to Mars demand a strategic approach to oxygen production, vital not only for sustaining life but also for fueling rockets.

The key lies in leveraging the rich deposits of frozen water ice on Mars, presenting an opportunity to harness local resources efficiently, according to Space.com.

Researchers employed an AI chemist to explore water-splitting catalysts using samples from various categories of Martian meteorites.

The robot, equipped with a laser-scanning mechanism, identified millions of molecules derived from six metallic elements found in the rocks—iron, nickel, manganese, magnesium, aluminium, and calcium.

Operating autonomously, the AI chemist swiftly synthesised and tested 243 different molecules within six weeks, demonstrating a remarkable speed unattainable through conventional methods. The top-performing catalyst, capable of splitting water in Mars-like temperatures, emerged from this accelerated and autonomous experimentation.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/trouble-in-space-soaring-costs-of-nasas-mars-sample-return-mission-risks-other-projects-657819">Also read |&nbsp;Trouble in space: Soaring costs of NASA's Mars Sample Return Mission risk other significant projects</a>

<h2>AI's impact on scientific discovery</h2>

The efficiency showcased in this study highlights the transformative role of AI in scientific discovery. The researchers emphasise that the AI-driven approach significantly outpaces traditional trial-and-error methods, estimating a potential 2,000-year timeline for a human scientist to achieve similar results.

While celebrating AI's prowess, scientists also stress on the importance of human guidance in shaping the AI's capabilities.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/some-stars-are-leaving-our-milky-way-galaxy-but-why-whats-the-crisis-657520">Also read |&nbsp;Some stars are breaking up with our Milky Way galaxy. But why?</a>

The next frontier involves adapting the AI chemist to operate under diverse Martian conditions beyond temperature variations, considering atmospheric composition, air density, humidity, and gravity.

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

Scientists have announced the development of an AI-powered robot chemist with the ability to synthesise oxygen-producing compounds from meteorites originating from Mars.

Scientists have announced the development of an AI-powered robot chemist with the ability to synthesise oxygen-producing compounds from meteorites originating from Mars. This breakthrough carries profound implications for future Mars missions, particularly in terms of optimising resources and reducing the need to transport oxygen from Earth. Future crewed missions to Mars demand a strategic approach to oxygen production, vital not only for sustaining life but also for fueling rockets. The key lies in leveraging the rich deposits of frozen water ice on Mars, presenting an opportunity to harness local resources efficiently, according to Space.com. Researchers employed an AI chemist to explore water-splitting catalysts using samples from various categories of Martian meteorites. The robot, equipped with a laser-scanning mechanism, identified millions of molecules derived from six metallic elements found in the rocks—iron, nickel, manganese, magnesium, aluminium, and calcium. Operating autonomously, the AI chemist swiftly synthesised and tested 243 different molecules within six weeks, demonstrating a remarkable speed unattainable through conventional methods. The top-performing catalyst, capable of splitting water in Mars-like temperatures, emerged from this accelerated and autonomous experimentation. Also read | Trouble in space: Soaring costs of NASA's Mars Sample Return Mission risk other significant projects AI's impact on scientific discovery The efficiency showcased in this study highlights the transformative role of AI in scientific discovery. The researchers emphasise that the AI-driven approach significantly outpaces traditional trial-and-error methods, estimating a potential 2,000-year timeline for a human scientist to achieve similar results. While celebrating AI's prowess, scientists also stress on the importance of human guidance in shaping the AI's capabilities. Also read | Some stars are breaking up with our Milky Way galaxy. But why? The next frontier involves adapting the AI chemist to operate under diverse Martian conditions beyond temperature variations, considering atmospheric composition, air density, humidity, and gravity. (With inputs from agencies)

Scientists can now produce oxygen on Mars, all thanks to an AI-powered robot chemist

Sometimes, big rocks from space, called meteorites, hit our Earth. Some of these meteorites are actually parts of an old explosion that happened on our neighbouring planet&nbsp;Mars.

Scientists wanted to know how old these Martian meteorites are. And now they have reportedly solved this puzzle using a special, research-oriented nuclear reactor.&nbsp;

They found out that most of these meteorites are not very old, only a few hundred million years. They think these rocks came from recent volcanic activity on Mars, especially from the biggest volcano in our whole solar system, called Olympus Mons.

<h2>Argon-argon method</h2>

A scientist named Dr. Ben Cohen, along with a team from the University of Glasgow, the Natural History Museum, the University of Edinburgh, and some researchers in the US, worked very hard to figure out the exact age of these Martian meteorites. They used a special method called 'argon-argon' to measure the age.

"We know from certain chemical characteristics that these meteorites are definitely from Mars," explained Dr. Cohen.

Watch:&nbsp;NASA Mars sample return mission

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/nasa-mars-sample-return-mission-nasa-to-work-with-esa-for-bringing-mars-samples-to-earth-650745/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

They put small pieces of seven Martian meteorites into the nuclear reactor to check the argon levels. They also considered the argon the rocks might have picked up in space and made sure they didn't get mixed with Earth's air.

"Once we did that, the argon-argon ages came out as being young and matched perfectly with other methods, like Uranium-Lead," said Dr. Cohen.

<h2>How come the Martian rocks are so young?</h2>

But here's a bit of a puzzle: Mars is very old, like three to four billion years old. But these meteorites are much younger, only a few hundred million years old.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/european-space-agency-shares-stunning-visualisation-of-mars-labyrinth-of-night-watch-here-647379">Also read:&nbsp;This stunning visualisation of Mars` gigantic `Labyrinth of Night` will blow your mind</a>

Dr. Cohen thinks that Mars gets hit by rocks often, and this creates a layer of crumbly rock on its surface. So, newer rocks keep coming up because of volcanoes. This means that with each new hit, older rocks are less likely to get sent into space.

This research helps us understand more about our solar system's history and is useful for missions to Mars, like the Perseverance rover, Curiosity rover, and ExoMars.

(With inputs from agencies)

Sometimes, big rocks from space, called meteorites, hit our Earth. Some of these meteorites are actually parts of an old explosion that happened on our neighbouring planet Mars.

Sometimes, big rocks from space, called meteorites, hit our Earth. Some of these meteorites are actually parts of an old explosion that happened on our neighbouring planet Mars. Scientists wanted to know how old these Martian meteorites are. And now they have reportedly solved this puzzle using a special, research-oriented nuclear reactor. They found out that most of these meteorites are not very old, only a few hundred million years. They think these rocks came from recent volcanic activity on Mars, especially from the biggest volcano in our whole solar system, called Olympus Mons. Argon-argon method A scientist named Dr. Ben Cohen, along with a team from the University of Glasgow, the Natural History Museum, the University of Edinburgh, and some researchers in the US, worked very hard to figure out the exact age of these Martian meteorites. They used a special method called 'argon-argon' to measure the age. "We know from certain chemical characteristics that these meteorites are definitely from Mars," explained Dr. Cohen. Watch: NASA Mars sample return mission × They put small pieces of seven Martian meteorites into the nuclear reactor to check the argon levels. They also considered the argon the rocks might have picked up in space and made sure they didn't get mixed with Earth's air. "Once we did that, the argon-argon ages came out as being young and matched perfectly with other methods, like Uranium-Lead," said Dr. Cohen. How come the Martian rocks are so young? But here's a bit of a puzzle: Mars is very old, like three to four billion years old. But these meteorites are much younger, only a few hundred million years old. Also read: This stunning visualisation of Mars` gigantic `Labyrinth of Night` will blow your mind Dr. Cohen thinks that Mars gets hit by rocks often, and this creates a layer of crumbly rock on its surface. So, newer rocks keep coming up because of volcanoes. This means that with each new hit, older rocks are less likely to get sent into space. This research helps us understand more about our solar system's history and is useful for missions to Mars, like the Perseverance rover, Curiosity rover, and ExoMars. (With inputs from agencies)

Scientists put Martian rock that hit Earth in nuclear reactor and solve a tricky puzzle

Nothing beats the cool sci-fi film scene where a film's protagonist racing against time is beamed up by aliens or other powerful entities at the last minute. But what if this beam could be used to remove junk from space?

This could soon be a reality as scientists develop a high-intensity real-life tractor beam that could nudge dangerous space junk out of the Earth's orbit. Here's how it will work.

<h2>High stakes mission</h2>

Removing space junk is a high-stakes mission. With the commercial space industry gaining prominence, the number of satellites in our planet's orbit is predicted to rise manifold. These would eventually wear out and litter the already crowded 'space junkyard' that surrounds the Earth.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/as-race-to-space-shoots-up-junk-in-earths-orbit-us-space-command-releases-responsible-space-behaviours-568413">As space race zooms junk in Earth’s orbit, US Space Command shares ‘responsible space behaviours’</a>

Scientists are developing the tractor beam dubbed 'electrostatic tractor' that could potentially help rid of dead satellites and clear space for new ones.

However, it is an expensive undertaking. Talking to Live Science, project researcher Kaylee Champion said, "The science is pretty much there, but the funding is not."

The prototype itself could cost millions, and an operation full-scale version much more.

<h2>How will the tractor beam work?</h2>

Behind the idea is Hanspeter Schaub, an aerospace engineering professor at CU Boulder. He came up with the idea in the aftermath of a major satellite collision in 2009 — when Iridium 33, an active communications satellite, smashed into Kosmos 2251, a defunct Russian military spacecraft.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-perseverance-rovers-pictures-raise-question-can-humanity-be-trusted-with-other-planets-488883">NASA Perseverance rover's pictures raise question: Can humanity be trusted with other planets?</a>

He speculates that a spacecraft could be pulled out of harm's way by using attraction between two objects, one charged positively and one negatively. This attraction can be used to make the objects "stick" together, and then the defunct satellite could be pulled away and released into space to drift forever.

Schaub and his team have spent a decade on developing the idea, which one day might help clear the "prime estate" of space orbit.

<h2>Why is removing space junk important?</h2>

Space junk can put space missions and satellite launches at significant risk. Upon launch, the space vehicles can potentially collide with the junk that is crowding the planet's orbit. This junk could also plummet down into the Earth's atmosphere, and pollute the atmosphere with metals, obscuring our view of the cosmos.

In a statement released a few months back, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said: "If left unchecked, the accumulation of orbital debris will increase the risk of collisions and clutter orbits used for human spaceflight and satellites providing communications, weather and Global Positioning System services."&nbsp;

As per the FAA, as of July 2023, the Earth's orbit contains over 23,000 orbital objects of sizes 10 cm and above. Furthermore, there are around one-half million objects sized between 1 and 10 cm, over 100 million larger than 1mm.

(With inputs from agencies)

Nothing beats the cool sci-fi film scene where a film's protagonist racing against time is beamed up by aliens or other powerful entities at the last minute. But what if this beam could be used to remove junk from space?

Nothing beats the cool sci-fi film scene where a film's protagonist racing against time is beamed up by aliens or other powerful entities at the last minute. But what if this beam could be used to remove junk from space? This could soon be a reality as scientists develop a high-intensity real-life tractor beam that could nudge dangerous space junk out of the Earth's orbit. Here's how it will work. High stakes mission Removing space junk is a high-stakes mission. With the commercial space industry gaining prominence, the number of satellites in our planet's orbit is predicted to rise manifold. These would eventually wear out and litter the already crowded 'space junkyard' that surrounds the Earth. Also read | As space race zooms junk in Earth’s orbit, US Space Command shares ‘responsible space behaviours’ Scientists are developing the tractor beam dubbed 'electrostatic tractor' that could potentially help rid of dead satellites and clear space for new ones. However, it is an expensive undertaking. Talking to Live Science, project researcher Kaylee Champion said, "The science is pretty much there, but the funding is not." The prototype itself could cost millions, and an operation full-scale version much more. How will the tractor beam work? Behind the idea is Hanspeter Schaub, an aerospace engineering professor at CU Boulder. He came up with the idea in the aftermath of a major satellite collision in 2009 — when Iridium 33, an active communications satellite, smashed into Kosmos 2251, a defunct Russian military spacecraft. Also read | NASA Perseverance rover's pictures raise question: Can humanity be trusted with other planets? He speculates that a spacecraft could be pulled out of harm's way by using attraction between two objects, one charged positively and one negatively. This attraction can be used to make the objects "stick" together, and then the defunct satellite could be pulled away and released into space to drift forever. Schaub and his team have spent a decade on developing the idea, which one day might help clear the "prime estate" of space orbit. Why is removing space junk important? Space junk can put space missions and satellite launches at significant risk. Upon launch, the space vehicles can potentially collide with the junk that is crowding the planet's orbit. This junk could also plummet down into the Earth's atmosphere, and pollute the atmosphere with metals, obscuring our view of the cosmos. In a statement released a few months back, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said: "If left unchecked, the accumulation of orbital debris will increase the risk of collisions and clutter orbits used for human spaceflight and satellites providing communications, weather and Global Positioning System services." As per the FAA, as of July 2023, the Earth's orbit contains over 23,000 orbital objects of sizes 10 cm and above. Furthermore, there are around one-half million objects sized between 1 and 10 cm, over 100 million larger than 1mm. (With inputs from agencies)

'Beam me up, Scotty': Scientists to use sci-fi beam to get rid of real space junk

The vast expanse of the universe, with its stars, galaxies, planets, comets, and asteroids, is often associated with silence. However, a fascinating aspect of the cosmos is that certain objects within our solar system emit sounds – sounds that are often beyond human hearing but can be captured and translated into audible frequencies using sophisticated space agency tools like NASA's.

This novel technique, known as data sonification, takes the digital data collected by space instruments and transforms it into sound, said NASA in its<a href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/hubble/multimedia/sonifications/"> report</a>.

NASA has compiled a captivating playlist of these space sonifications, providing a unique auditory experience that offers a fresh perspective on the universe.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nisar-in-a-first-nasa-and-isro-to-collaboratively-launch-earth-observing-satellite-in-2024-654044">Also read |&nbsp;NISAR: In a first, NASA and ISRO to collaboratively launch earth-observing satellite in 2024</a>

<h2>NASA's playlist</h2>

From Mercury to Jupiter, NASA's playlist includes eerie sounds captured by the Hubble Space Telescope and other space instruments.

Among these celestial auditory offerings is the haunting resonance of a supermassive black hole, an awe-inspiring sound originating from a location 250 million light years away.

This process of converting light and data into sound is not merely for the sake of creating an auditory spectacle; it serves a crucial scientific purpose.

Data sonification enables scientists to uncover hidden details of the universe that may have otherwise eluded them. For instance, Mars, a planet lacking a robust magnetic field, produces the eerie sounds of its winds as dust devils dance across its dusty terrain.

Jupiter's moons Europa and Ganymede contribute to the cosmic symphony by emitting plasma sounds that resemble robotic blips and bleeps. These intriguing sounds offer valuable insights into the mysterious workings of these celestial bodies.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/guide-for-skygazers-november-night-sky-to-bring-meteor-showers-stunning-views-of-jupiter-and-moon-653961">Also read |&nbsp;Guide for skygazers: November night sky to bring meteor showers, stunning views of Jupiter and Moon</a>

Even our home planet has a place in this cosmic orchestra, offering sounds reminiscent of birdsong or the haunting calls of whales. Saturn, with its majestic rings, contributes a soundscape that could easily be the score of a science fiction movie.

NASA explains the process of converting digital data into sound, where elements from the original image, such as brightness and position, are assigned specific pitches and volumes.

This transformation provides a new way to experience and conceptualise astronomical data.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The vast expanse of the universe, with its stars, galaxies, planets, comets, and asteroids, is often associated with silence. However, a fascinating aspect of the cosmos is that certain objects within our solar system emit sounds – sounds that are often beyond human hearing but can be captured and translated into audible frequencies using sophisticated space agency tools like NASA's.

The vast expanse of the universe, with its stars, galaxies, planets, comets, and asteroids, is often associated with silence. However, a fascinating aspect of the cosmos is that certain objects within our solar system emit sounds – sounds that are often beyond human hearing but can be captured and translated into audible frequencies using sophisticated space agency tools like NASA's. This novel technique, known as data sonification, takes the digital data collected by space instruments and transforms it into sound, said NASA in its report. NASA has compiled a captivating playlist of these space sonifications, providing a unique auditory experience that offers a fresh perspective on the universe. Also read | NISAR: In a first, NASA and ISRO to collaboratively launch earth-observing satellite in 2024 NASA's playlist From Mercury to Jupiter, NASA's playlist includes eerie sounds captured by the Hubble Space Telescope and other space instruments. Among these celestial auditory offerings is the haunting resonance of a supermassive black hole, an awe-inspiring sound originating from a location 250 million light years away. This process of converting light and data into sound is not merely for the sake of creating an auditory spectacle; it serves a crucial scientific purpose. Data sonification enables scientists to uncover hidden details of the universe that may have otherwise eluded them. For instance, Mars, a planet lacking a robust magnetic field, produces the eerie sounds of its winds as dust devils dance across its dusty terrain. Jupiter's moons Europa and Ganymede contribute to the cosmic symphony by emitting plasma sounds that resemble robotic blips and bleeps. These intriguing sounds offer valuable insights into the mysterious workings of these celestial bodies. Also read | Guide for skygazers: November night sky to bring meteor showers, stunning views of Jupiter and Moon Even our home planet has a place in this cosmic orchestra, offering sounds reminiscent of birdsong or the haunting calls of whales. Saturn, with its majestic rings, contributes a soundscape that could easily be the score of a science fiction movie. NASA explains the process of converting digital data into sound, where elements from the original image, such as brightness and position, are assigned specific pitches and volumes. This transformation provides a new way to experience and conceptualise astronomical data.

NASA releases playlist of eerie recordings from the solar system

Scientists have said in new studies that the core of Mars can look bigger than it actually is because of a previously unknown layer of molten rock which is surrounding it.&nbsp;

The researchers have said that the pair of studies may finally solve a mystery from two years ago about how the centre of Mars appeared surprisingly large and soft.&nbsp;

To carry out the study, the team of scientists analysed seismic waves on the planet by using sensors on NASA's InSight lander, which touched down on the Red Planet in 2018.&nbsp;

The researchers hoped to find insights into the planet's inner structure by studying the seismic waves that rippled through Martian rock after a meteorite slammed into Mars in September 2021.&nbsp;

The findings were reported on Thursday (Oct 26) in two papers in Nature Journal. It mentioned that the researchers have discovered a layer of molten rock that envelops Mars's liquid-metal core.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/three-stars-mysteriously-disappear-in-1952-no-trace-of-them-yet-herere-some-theories-651460">Three stars mysteriously disappeared in 1952, no trace of them yet. Here're some theories</a>&nbsp;

In the report, Nature mentioned that the seismic waves which are produced by quakes or impacts can slow down or speed up depending on what type&nbsp;of material they are travelling through.&nbsp;

Hence, seismologists can measure the waves' passage in order to understand the details of the interior of a planet and what it looks like.&nbsp;

Researchers used the same technique on Earth as they probed the earthquakes to discover the planet's layers which are: a brittle outer crust, a mostly solid mantle, a liquid outer core, and a solid inner core.&nbsp;

Ever since its landing on the Red Planet, InSight's seismometer has recorded many observations of Mars-quake, in fact, it was also the first to detect marsquakes.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-curiosity-rover-finds-evidence-mars-was-once-a-planet-of-rivers-651444">NASA Curiosity rover finds evidence, Mars was once a 'planet of rivers'</a>

On the basis of the mission's observations of quakes in July 2021, researchers established the fact that the liquid core of Mars seemed to have a radius of around 1,830 kilometres, which was bigger than many scientists were expecting.&nbsp;

The finding also suggested that the core has surprisingly high amounts of light chemical elements, such as sulfur, mixed with iron.

But Henri Samuel, who is a geophysicist at the Institute of Earth Physics of Paris and lead author of one of the papers, said that the September 2021 meteorite impact "unlocked everything".&nbsp;

"A second liquid layer inside the planet also meshes better with other evidence, such as how Mars responds to being deformed by the gravitational tug of its moon Phobos," Nature had written.&nbsp;

In another paper, the same conclusions were made as the team, independent of Samuel's, agreed that Mars'&nbsp;core is surrounded by a layer of molten rock. However, they estimated that the core has a radius of 1,675 kilometres.&nbsp;

Its lead author, Amir Khan, who is a geophysicist at ETH Zurich, said that having molten rock right up against molten iron "appears to be unique".&nbsp;

"You have this peculiarity of liquid–liquid layering, which is something that doesn't exist on Earth," he added.&nbsp;

Scientists have said in new studies that the core of Mars can look bigger than it actually is because of a previously unknown layer of molten rock which is surrounding it.

Scientists have said in new studies that the core of Mars can look bigger than it actually is because of a previously unknown layer of molten rock which is surrounding it. The researchers have said that the pair of studies may finally solve a mystery from two years ago about how the centre of Mars appeared surprisingly large and soft. To carry out the study, the team of scientists analysed seismic waves on the planet by using sensors on NASA's InSight lander, which touched down on the Red Planet in 2018. The researchers hoped to find insights into the planet's inner structure by studying the seismic waves that rippled through Martian rock after a meteorite slammed into Mars in September 2021. The findings were reported on Thursday (Oct 26) in two papers in Nature Journal. It mentioned that the researchers have discovered a layer of molten rock that envelops Mars's liquid-metal core. Also read: Three stars mysteriously disappeared in 1952, no trace of them yet. Here're some theories In the report, Nature mentioned that the seismic waves which are produced by quakes or impacts can slow down or speed up depending on what type of material they are travelling through. Hence, seismologists can measure the waves' passage in order to understand the details of the interior of a planet and what it looks like. Researchers used the same technique on Earth as they probed the earthquakes to discover the planet's layers which are: a brittle outer crust, a mostly solid mantle, a liquid outer core, and a solid inner core. Ever since its landing on the Red Planet, InSight's seismometer has recorded many observations of Mars-quake, in fact, it was also the first to detect marsquakes. Also read: NASA Curiosity rover finds evidence, Mars was once a 'planet of rivers' On the basis of the mission's observations of quakes in July 2021, researchers established the fact that the liquid core of Mars seemed to have a radius of around 1,830 kilometres, which was bigger than many scientists were expecting. The finding also suggested that the core has surprisingly high amounts of light chemical elements, such as sulfur, mixed with iron. But Henri Samuel, who is a geophysicist at the Institute of Earth Physics of Paris and lead author of one of the papers, said that the September 2021 meteorite impact "unlocked everything". "A second liquid layer inside the planet also meshes better with other evidence, such as how Mars responds to being deformed by the gravitational tug of its moon Phobos," Nature had written. In another paper, the same conclusions were made as the team, independent of Samuel's, agreed that Mars' core is surrounded by a layer of molten rock. However, they estimated that the core has a radius of 1,675 kilometres. Its lead author, Amir Khan, who is a geophysicist at ETH Zurich, said that having molten rock right up against molten iron "appears to be unique". "You have this peculiarity of liquid–liquid layering, which is something that doesn't exist on Earth," he added.

Researchers say a surprise layer of molten rock envelops Mars' liquid-metal core

Following the conclusion of an independent evaluation that the existing Mars Sample Return (MSR) design has a "unrealistic" budget and timeline, NASA has begun to modify its strategy to retrieving samples from Mars.

NASA Mars sample return mission | NASA to work with ESA for bringing Mars samples to Earth

We all know that NASA Curiosity rover is carefully trudging the surface of the Red Planet making observations and collecting samples. What good is a sample if it can't be analysed to see if it reveals some fascinating new thing about our neighbouring planet? But for this analysis, the sample must be brought to Earth. And NASA is going for an 'amusement park' approach to get the precious cargo back to Earth.

Enter NASA's 'Mars Sample Return Mission' which it will carry out with the European Space Agency (ESA).

The mission will be launched to bring Martian samples back to Earth. But it will not be as easy as firing a rocket from here and just picking up sample to bring it back home. It will be a multi-step process.&nbsp;

The Mars Sample Return Mission will be historic as it will involve&nbsp;lifting off of a rocket from another planet for the first time in history of our space-faring endeavours!

So here's how things will unfold.

A spacecraft named 'Sample Retrieval Lander' (SRL) will lift off from Earth and travel all the way to Mars. It will make a careful landing on the planet's surface. The SRL will carry with it another rocket named Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV).&nbsp;

Watch | Scientists surprised by source of largest quake detected on Mars

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/scientists-surprised-by-source-of-largest-quake-detected-on-mars-648855/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

After landing on Mars, the Martian samples collected by Curiosity rover will be loaded onto MAV, which will then get ready for a launch.

<h2>So what's the 'amusement park' bit?</h2>

Since we have never carried out a lift-off from the surface of another planet, we do not know 100 per cent what will happen during a lift-off from Mars. But scientists certainly have an idea about the obstacles in this path.

Unlike Earth, Mars does not have a launchpad which provides flat surface for a rocket to lift off. And when a rocket lifts off, it exerts crazy amount of force on the ground beneath it. Launchpads on Earth are designed to withstand this unimaginable force.

But loose Martian soil is unlikely to withstand the giant force and may cave in during the lift-off of a rocket from its surface. The fuel blast may also hurl up rocks which may damage the rocket before it gets a chance to lift off.&nbsp;

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/evidence-of-life-on-mars-hiding-in-ancient-mud-lake-research-suggests-so-649647">Evidence of life on Mars hiding in ancient mud lake? Research suggests so</a>

It is because of this the Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV), after it is loaded with Martian samples, will be 'tossed' up in Martian air by the Sample Retrieval Lander (SRL). When the MAV is in the air and before it crashes back to the ground due to Mars' gravity, it will fire its thrusters and set off for the Martian sky! The manoeuvre is sure to be tricky.

In amusement parks, we have come across attractions that toss us up in the sky and make us question our life choices, even when the safety wires bring you down, albeit almost at the speed of a free-fall.&nbsp;

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/will-devil-comet-hurtling-towards-earth-bring-devastation-heres-what-scientists-suggest-649879">Will 'Devil Comet' hurtling towards Earth bring devastation? Here's what scientists suggest</a>

The manoeuvre of the MAV is similar, it's just that it will not come back down towards the surface, but will fire engines and lift-off.

When it reaches the Martian orbit, it will hand over the sample to the Earth Return Orbiter (ERO) which would already be orbiting Mars. The ERO will then hed towards Earth, with the precious samples collected on the surface of the Red Planet.

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

We all know that NASA Curiosity rover is carefully trudging the surface of the Red Planet making observations and collecting samples. What good is a sample if it can't be analysed to see if it reveals some fascinating new thing about our neighbouring planet?

We all know that NASA Curiosity rover is carefully trudging the surface of the Red Planet making observations and collecting samples. What good is a sample if it can't be analysed to see if it reveals some fascinating new thing about our neighbouring planet? But for this analysis, the sample must be brought to Earth. And NASA is going for an 'amusement park' approach to get the precious cargo back to Earth. Enter NASA's 'Mars Sample Return Mission' which it will carry out with the European Space Agency (ESA). The mission will be launched to bring Martian samples back to Earth. But it will not be as easy as firing a rocket from here and just picking up sample to bring it back home. It will be a multi-step process. The Mars Sample Return Mission will be historic as it will involve lifting off of a rocket from another planet for the first time in history of our space-faring endeavours! So here's how things will unfold. A spacecraft named 'Sample Retrieval Lander' (SRL) will lift off from Earth and travel all the way to Mars. It will make a careful landing on the planet's surface. The SRL will carry with it another rocket named Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV). Watch | Scientists surprised by source of largest quake detected on Mars × After landing on Mars, the Martian samples collected by Curiosity rover will be loaded onto MAV, which will then get ready for a launch. So what's the 'amusement park' bit? Since we have never carried out a lift-off from the surface of another planet, we do not know 100 per cent what will happen during a lift-off from Mars. But scientists certainly have an idea about the obstacles in this path. Unlike Earth, Mars does not have a launchpad which provides flat surface for a rocket to lift off. And when a rocket lifts off, it exerts crazy amount of force on the ground beneath it. Launchpads on Earth are designed to withstand this unimaginable force. But loose Martian soil is unlikely to withstand the giant force and may cave in during the lift-off of a rocket from its surface. The fuel blast may also hurl up rocks which may damage the rocket before it gets a chance to lift off. Also Read | Evidence of life on Mars hiding in ancient mud lake? Research suggests so It is because of this the Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV), after it is loaded with Martian samples, will be 'tossed' up in Martian air by the Sample Retrieval Lander (SRL). When the MAV is in the air and before it crashes back to the ground due to Mars' gravity, it will fire its thrusters and set off for the Martian sky! The manoeuvre is sure to be tricky. In amusement parks, we have come across attractions that toss us up in the sky and make us question our life choices, even when the safety wires bring you down, albeit almost at the speed of a free-fall. Also Read | Will 'Devil Comet' hurtling towards Earth bring devastation? Here's what scientists suggest The manoeuvre of the MAV is similar, it's just that it will not come back down towards the surface, but will fire engines and lift-off. When it reaches the Martian orbit, it will hand over the sample to the Earth Return Orbiter (ERO) which would already be orbiting Mars. The ERO will then hed towards Earth, with the precious samples collected on the surface of the Red Planet. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Rocket from Mars to Earth? NASA's 'amusement park' approach to return red planet samples

Amid the ongoing efforts to understand Mars' habitability, scientists have recently found a new idea that the evidence of life on the red planet is probably hiding in an ancient mud lake, as per the latest research.

Although, they have not been able to identify the specific regions where evidence of life must be searched, however, they have come to the conclusion that regions with plenty of sediments will be a good starting point.

This is one of the reasons why NASA's Perseverance rover has been placed in Jezero Crater, which is the site of an ancient paleolake and has sediment deposits around one km deep. However, the planet has many such sediment-rich regions. So the question arises, in which places should scientists look for life to widen their scope?

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-finally-know-what-really-caused-the-massive-marsquake-of-2022-648265">Mars shook for over 6 hours in 2022 and its source is quite shocking</a>

<h2>Selecting sediment-rich regions to explore life on Mars</h2>

In the research paper, the researchers have stated, "The quest for past Martian life hinges on locating surface formations linked to ancient habitability.”

One region which has attracted the attention of scientists is where the material from the Southern Highlands of Mars is carried by the massive outflow channels into its Northern Lowlands and towards the east of Valles Marineris.

In these northern lowlands, there have been reports of accumulation of massive amounts of sediments, which might suggest that it is a good place for exploration. However, the authors of a new paper said that this might be a mistake.

The paper has been titled "Exploring the evidence of Middle Amazonian aquifer sedimentary outburst residues in a Martian chaotic terrain". It was published in Nature Scientific Reports, and its lead author is Alexis Rodriguez, who is a Senior Researcher at the Planetary Science Institute.

According to Rodriguez, scientists should look into the source of the sediments and not explore the region where the sediments flow.

Watch |&nbsp;Scientists surprised by source of largest quake detected on Mars

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/scientists-surprised-by-source-of-largest-quake-detected-on-mars-648855/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"Venturing into the northern plains for sampling could prove precarious, as distinguishing between materials sourced from the aquifers and those eroded and transported during channel formation could become an intricate task," stated Rodriguez.

"The plains, situated within Hydraotes Chaos, offer a unique glimpse into ancient aquifer materials. These plains, which we think formed from mud extruding into a basin directly above their source aquifer, provide a more targeted exploration opportunity," Rodriguez added, as reported by sciencealert.com.

"Unlike vast flood channels with their complex erosion patterns, this finding simplifies the examination of Martian aquifers, reducing the risk of overland sedimentary acquisition, and opens a new window into Mars' geological past," he further stated.

(With inputs from agencies)

You can&nbsp;now write for wionews.com&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

Amid the ongoing efforts to understand Mars' habitability, scientists have recently found a new idea that the evidence of life on the red planet is probably hiding in an ancient mud lake, as per the latest research.

Amid the ongoing efforts to understand Mars' habitability, scientists have recently found a new idea that the evidence of life on the red planet is probably hiding in an ancient mud lake, as per the latest research. Although, they have not been able to identify the specific regions where evidence of life must be searched, however, they have come to the conclusion that regions with plenty of sediments will be a good starting point. This is one of the reasons why NASA's Perseverance rover has been placed in Jezero Crater, which is the site of an ancient paleolake and has sediment deposits around one km deep. However, the planet has many such sediment-rich regions. So the question arises, in which places should scientists look for life to widen their scope? ALSO READ | Mars shook for over 6 hours in 2022 and its source is quite shocking Selecting sediment-rich regions to explore life on Mars In the research paper, the researchers have stated, "The quest for past Martian life hinges on locating surface formations linked to ancient habitability.” One region which has attracted the attention of scientists is where the material from the Southern Highlands of Mars is carried by the massive outflow channels into its Northern Lowlands and towards the east of Valles Marineris. In these northern lowlands, there have been reports of accumulation of massive amounts of sediments, which might suggest that it is a good place for exploration. However, the authors of a new paper said that this might be a mistake. The paper has been titled "Exploring the evidence of Middle Amazonian aquifer sedimentary outburst residues in a Martian chaotic terrain". It was published in Nature Scientific Reports, and its lead author is Alexis Rodriguez, who is a Senior Researcher at the Planetary Science Institute. According to Rodriguez, scientists should look into the source of the sediments and not explore the region where the sediments flow. Watch | Scientists surprised by source of largest quake detected on Mars "Venturing into the northern plains for sampling could prove precarious, as distinguishing between materials sourced from the aquifers and those eroded and transported during channel formation could become an intricate task," stated Rodriguez. "The plains, situated within Hydraotes Chaos, offer a unique glimpse into ancient aquifer materials. These plains, which we think formed from mud extruding into a basin directly above their source aquifer, provide a more targeted exploration opportunity," Rodriguez added, as reported by sciencealert.com. "Unlike vast flood channels with their complex erosion patterns, this finding simplifies the examination of Martian aquifers, reducing the risk of overland sedimentary acquisition, and opens a new window into Mars' geological past," he further stated. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Evidence of life on Mars hiding in ancient mud lake? Research suggests so

A recent study has revealed that the cause behind the largest marsquake that occurred on 4 May 2022 was not a meteor but something else. According to the paper published in the Geophysical Research Letters journal, two of the most shocking quakes on Mars did not occur because of a meteor or any object from the sky.

A recent study has revealed that the cause behind the largest marsquake that occurred on 4 May 2022 was not a meteor but something else. According to the paper published in the Geophysical Research Letters journal, two of the most shocking quakes on Mars did not occur because of a meteor or any object from the sky. The most likely explanation is that the tectonic forces within Mars released suddenly. The marsquake, S1222a, had a magnitude of 4.7 and caused shakings around the planet to resonate for six hours. Dr Benjamin Fernando, the lead author of the recently published paper, contacted space agencies of various countries to survey the marsquake. But after exploring 144.8 million square kilometres of Mars, Fernando's team could not find a crater, concluding that an asteroid did not cause the tremor. "The most exciting thing about this research has been bringing together researchers from across the world to search for the crater, including those from nations who do not routinely collaborate in space research," he told IFLScience. The research team InSight concluded that Mars is more geographically active than they expected, as per previous measurements. However, Dr Fernando believes Mars still does not have active tectonic plates, and the stress release within Mars' crust caused the tremors. He said, "These stresses are the result of billions of years of evolution, including the cooling and shrinking of different parts of the planet at different rates." "We still do not fully understand why some parts of the planet seem to have higher stresses than others, but these results help us to investigate further. One day, this information may help us to understand where it would be safe for humans to live on Mars and where you might want to avoid it!" he added. Dr Daniela Tirsch, the science coordinator for the high-resolution stereo camera on board the ESA's Mars Express spacecraft, explained, "This experiment shows how important it is to maintain a diverse set of instruments at Mars, and we are glad to have played our part in completing the multi-instrumental and international approach of this study." Other international collaborators have also echoed these sentiments. Dr Jianjun Liu, National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, said, "We are willing to collaborate with scientists around the world to share and apply this scientific data to get more knowledge about Mars, and are proud to have provided data from the colour images on Tianwen-1 to contribute to this effort." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Mars shook for over 6 hours in 2022 and its source is quite shocking

A dwarf planet near Mars might help researchers detect alien life in space, as a recent study points towards the presence of organic matter on that planet in abundance.

The planet is called Ceres and is located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

It was in 2017 that the presence of organic matter was first detected on the planet. But now it has been revealed that the presence is more widespread than earlier thought.

"The organics were initially detected in the vicinity of a large impact crater, which is what motivated us to look at how impacts affect these organics," Terik Daly, a planetary scientist at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, and leader of the study, said in a statement.&nbsp;

"We are finding that organics may be more widespread than first reported and that they seem to be resilient to impacts with Ceres-like conditions," Daly added.

<h2>What does the presence of organic matter mean?</h2>

The widespread presence of organic matter means that Ceres may actually have the necessary building blocks to support life.

"Although researchers have performed impact and shock experiments on various types of organics in the past," Daly said, "what was missing was a study dedicated to the type of organics detected on Ceres using the same type of analytical method used by the Dawn spacecraft to detect them."

Watch:&nbsp;Gravitas | 'Aliens are out there': NASA chief's admission as hunt begins for extraterrestrial life

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-aliens-are-out-there-nasa-chiefs-admission-as-hunt-begins-for-extraterrestrial-life-636438/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The scientists will compare the two data sets gathered from the organics of the planet and map areas having the most potential of supporting extraterrestrial life.

"By capitalising on the strengths of two different datasets collected over Ceres, we've been able to map potential organic-rich areas on Ceres at higher resolution," Juan Rizos, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Maryland who also worked on the study, said in the statement.

<h2>A large interior reservoir of organics might be found</h2>

Scientists even believe that a large interior reservoir of organics might be found on the planet, which would mean that oxygen is present on the planet and also life.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/alien-life-search-gets-easier-as-scientists-develop-this-new-and-simple-test-639698">Also read:&nbsp;Hunt for alien life just got easier, thanks to this simple AI test</a>

"While the origin of the organics remains poorly understood, we now have good evidence that they formed in Ceres and likely in the presence of water. There is a possibility that a large interior reservoir of organics may be found inside Ceres," said Juan Rizos.

(With inputs from agencies)

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

A dwarf planet near Mars might help researchers detect alien life in space, as a recent study points towards the presence of organic matter on that planet in abundance.

A dwarf planet near Mars might help researchers detect alien life in space, as a recent study points towards the presence of organic matter on that planet in abundance. The planet is called Ceres and is located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It was in 2017 that the presence of organic matter was first detected on the planet. But now it has been revealed that the presence is more widespread than earlier thought. "The organics were initially detected in the vicinity of a large impact crater, which is what motivated us to look at how impacts affect these organics," Terik Daly, a planetary scientist at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, and leader of the study, said in a statement. "We are finding that organics may be more widespread than first reported and that they seem to be resilient to impacts with Ceres-like conditions," Daly added. What does the presence of organic matter mean? The widespread presence of organic matter means that Ceres may actually have the necessary building blocks to support life. "Although researchers have performed impact and shock experiments on various types of organics in the past," Daly said, "what was missing was a study dedicated to the type of organics detected on Ceres using the same type of analytical method used by the Dawn spacecraft to detect them." Watch: Gravitas | 'Aliens are out there': NASA chief's admission as hunt begins for extraterrestrial life × The scientists will compare the two data sets gathered from the organics of the planet and map areas having the most potential of supporting extraterrestrial life. "By capitalising on the strengths of two different datasets collected over Ceres, we've been able to map potential organic-rich areas on Ceres at higher resolution," Juan Rizos, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Maryland who also worked on the study, said in the statement. A large interior reservoir of organics might be found Scientists even believe that a large interior reservoir of organics might be found on the planet, which would mean that oxygen is present on the planet and also life. Also read: Hunt for alien life just got easier, thanks to this simple AI test "While the origin of the organics remains poorly understood, we now have good evidence that they formed in Ceres and likely in the presence of water. There is a possibility that a large interior reservoir of organics may be found inside Ceres," said Juan Rizos. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Scientists find dwarf planet near Mars that might be hosting alien life

Scientists surmised that a meteorite impact was the origin of this earthquake on Mars because the planet does not have the plate tectonics mechanism, which causes earthquakes on Earth. However, a search for an impact crater turned up nothing, which helped scientists determine that the earthquake was actually generated by tectonic activity—rumbling within the planet—and provided them with more insight into what causes Mars to tremble.

Scientists surprised by source of largest quake detected on Mars

SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk made a bold declaration that SpaceX could achieve a spacecraft landing on Mars within three to four years during a video conference at the International Astronautical Congress in Baku, Azerbaijan.

He also expressed optimism about the SpaceX Starship, renowned as the largest and most potent launch vehicle ever constructed, indicating that it has a promising outlook for its upcoming flight. However, Musk's ambitious vision faces significant challenges and regulatory hurdles, and this article offers a detailed overview.

<h2>Musk's Mars landing ambition</h2>

Elon Musk's statement about the possibility of SpaceX landing a spacecraft on Mars within three to four years underscores his unyielding commitment to pushing the boundaries of space exploration.

SpaceX's Starship embarked on its maiden uncrewed test flight from the Starbase facility in Boca Chica on April 20, 2023.

The mission faced a major setback when the upper stage of the launch vehicle failed to separate from the lower-stage Super Heavy, leading to a mid-air explosion.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/elon-musks-x-formerly-twitter-strips-headlines-from-news-story-links-for-esthetics-642986">Elon Musk’s X, formerly Twitter, strips headlines from news story links for ‘aesthetics’</a>

Originally designed for a 90-minute debut flight, the mission was cut short in under four minutes, ending in failure.

Elon Musk acknowledged the importance of not setting overly optimistic expectations following the April explosion, emphasising SpaceX's commitment to learning from setbacks.

Despite the challenges, Musk continues to hold onto his long-standing aspiration of using the Starship rocket to facilitate human landings on Mars.

The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded the Starship in September due to the April incident.

The FAA's decision followed the conclusion of an investigation into the explosion, which identified numerous potential contributing factors and prompted the agency to stipulate 63 corrective actions to prevent similar incidents.

A Reuters report suggested that the FAA might expedite a launch license for the Starship, possibly as early as October, pending successful resolution of the identified issues.

SpaceX maintains that it has effectively addressed all concerns outlined by the FAA.

Also watch |&nbsp;Musk's Twitter takeover: Will Elon Musk testify in Twitter probe?

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/musks-twitter-takeover-will-elon-musk-testify-in-twitter-probe-643313/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The company has yet to secure the necessary launch license from the federal regulator.

In addition to regulatory hurdles, SpaceX must obtain further environmental approvals for its future launches.

&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe>

SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk made a bold declaration that SpaceX could achieve a spacecraft landing on Mars within three to four years during a video conference at the International Astronautical Congress in Baku, Azerbaijan.

SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk made a bold declaration that SpaceX could achieve a spacecraft landing on Mars within three to four years during a video conference at the International Astronautical Congress in Baku, Azerbaijan. He also expressed optimism about the SpaceX Starship, renowned as the largest and most potent launch vehicle ever constructed, indicating that it has a promising outlook for its upcoming flight. However, Musk's ambitious vision faces significant challenges and regulatory hurdles, and this article offers a detailed overview. Musk's Mars landing ambition Elon Musk's statement about the possibility of SpaceX landing a spacecraft on Mars within three to four years underscores his unyielding commitment to pushing the boundaries of space exploration. SpaceX's Starship embarked on its maiden uncrewed test flight from the Starbase facility in Boca Chica on April 20, 2023. The mission faced a major setback when the upper stage of the launch vehicle failed to separate from the lower-stage Super Heavy, leading to a mid-air explosion. Also read | Elon Musk’s X, formerly Twitter, strips headlines from news story links for ‘aesthetics’ Originally designed for a 90-minute debut flight, the mission was cut short in under four minutes, ending in failure. Elon Musk acknowledged the importance of not setting overly optimistic expectations following the April explosion, emphasising SpaceX's commitment to learning from setbacks. Despite the challenges, Musk continues to hold onto his long-standing aspiration of using the Starship rocket to facilitate human landings on Mars. The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded the Starship in September due to the April incident. The FAA's decision followed the conclusion of an investigation into the explosion, which identified numerous potential contributing factors and prompted the agency to stipulate 63 corrective actions to prevent similar incidents. A Reuters report suggested that the FAA might expedite a launch license for the Starship, possibly as early as October, pending successful resolution of the identified issues. SpaceX maintains that it has effectively addressed all concerns outlined by the FAA. Also watch | Musk's Twitter takeover: Will Elon Musk testify in Twitter probe? The company has yet to secure the necessary launch license from the federal regulator. In addition to regulatory hurdles, SpaceX must obtain further environmental approvals for its future launches. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Elon Musk asserts SpaceX could achieve Mars landing in '3 to 4 years'

Check the story to know how NASA, is planning to build houses on the moon by 2040 - and Mars could be next. The U.S. Space Agency recently granted a pioneering construction firm $60 million to build a house on the moon. These lunar homes can be used not just by astronauts but by ordinary civilians as well.

Homes for humans on the moon by 2040

NASA aims to build moon homes by 2040

After a very successful and celebrated moon mission, India has now set its eyes on the red planet. India's national space agency ISRO, has begun preparation for Mangalyaan-2, which aims at a better understanding of Mars.

Mangalyaan 2: ISRO starts working on the mission which aims at understanding Mars better

It's been three days since the Indian space agency ISRO kept their metaphorical eyes and ears wide open, awaiting a signal from the re-awakened Chandrayaan-3. However, there has been no telemetry data coming from the Vikram Lander thus far, WION has learned.

Telemetry data is a technical term that refers to the regular status update and health report that a spacecraft sends back to its controllers on Earth. While all is silent on the Moon, memories have arrived from Mars, as September 24th, 2014 is when India's maiden Mars Orbiter Mission Mangalyaan entered Martian orbit and began circling the red planet.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/isro-extends-wait-giving-pragyaan-rover-vikram-lander-14-more-days-to-awaken-on-lunar-surface-639033">India: ISRO extends wait, giving Pragyaan rover, Vikram lander 14 more days to awaken on lunar surface</a>

Launched on November 5th, 2013, on board the PSLV rocket, Mangalyaan continues to be India's furthest foray into space as the craft traveled almost 10 months in space to reach its destination which was 401 million kilometres away.

For context, India's moon missions in the Chandrayaan series traveled a distance of 3.84 lakh kilometres. The craft entered Martian orbit on September 24th, 2014 and served its scientific purpose and mission until September 2022. Designed for a mission life of six months, the craft lived for nine years and provided valuable scientific data about the Red planet.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/we-walk-the-talk-jaishankar-on-indias-unwavering-commitment-to-south-south-cooperation-639028">'We walk the talk...': Jaishankar on India's unwavering commitment to South-South cooperation</a>

As far as Chandrayaan-3 is concerned, it's been three days since September 22nd, which has been the expected re-awakening date. While the deep space antennae of ISRO and the partner agencies from abroad are peering at the moon to receive any signal emissions from the Vikram lander, there is no progress so far.

ISRO plans to wait out the entire duration of the Lunar Day (which ends in the first week of October), to see if Chandrayaan-3 will have a second lease of life.

<section>
Watch |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/mann-ki-baat-105th-edition-g20-doubled-the-joy-of-every-indian-says-indian-pm-modi-639102">Mann Ki Baat 105th Edition: ‘G20 doubled the joy of every Indian,’ says Indian PM Modi</a>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/mann-ki-baat-105th-edition-g20-doubled-the-joy-of-every-indian-says-indian-pm-modi-639102/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

It must be remembered that Chandrayaan-3 has been a complete success and the mission's 14-day (1 Lunar day) planned life ended on a high note after the lander was made to perform a hop test on the moon.
</section>

ISRO knew fully well that surviving the Lunar night(where temperatures could fall to minus 200 degrees Celsius), was very tough and challenging. All lunar missions that are meant to survive the Lunar night are equipped with a Radioisotope thermoelectric generator(a sort of Nuclear battery).

However, Chandrayaan-3 doesn't have such a device that would both power it and keep it warm through the night. This is because India hasn't developed such a technology, so far. The possible re-awakening is nothing more than a bonus or a life extension for the already completed mission.

One might ask why ISRO did not consider insulating the Lunar lander and rover to survive the night, but any such alteration would change the design and drastically increase the payload mass of the spacecraft and pose challenges to the launch mission.

This is because India's LVM3 rocket has a payload-lifting capability of 4 tons to high-earth orbits and payloads have to be within that limit. The Chandrayaan-3 craft(comprising propulsion module, lander, and rover) weighed a little over 3.9 tons, so the payload capacity of the vehicle was utilized almost entirely.&nbsp;

Reports say that the rear wheels of the Pragyan rover were not able to make a clear imprint of the Indian National emblem and the ISRO logo on the Lunar surface, owing to lumpy soil. The imprinting of the logos on the Lunar surface depends on a lot of factors - the type of soil at the site, the mass of the rover, the depth of the impression on the wheel, etc.

It must be remembered that the Pragyan rover weighed only 26kgs and with lunar gravity being 1/6th that of Earth, it would weigh less than 4.5kgs there.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

It's been three days since the Indian space agency ISRO kept their metaphorical eyes and ears wide open, awaiting a signal from the re-awakened Chandrayaan-3. However, there has been no telemetry data coming from the Vikram Lander thus far, WION has learned.

It's been three days since the Indian space agency ISRO kept their metaphorical eyes and ears wide open, awaiting a signal from the re-awakened Chandrayaan-3. However, there has been no telemetry data coming from the Vikram Lander thus far, WION has learned. Telemetry data is a technical term that refers to the regular status update and health report that a spacecraft sends back to its controllers on Earth. While all is silent on the Moon, memories have arrived from Mars, as September 24th, 2014 is when India's maiden Mars Orbiter Mission Mangalyaan entered Martian orbit and began circling the red planet. Also Read | India: ISRO extends wait, giving Pragyaan rover, Vikram lander 14 more days to awaken on lunar surface Launched on November 5th, 2013, on board the PSLV rocket, Mangalyaan continues to be India's furthest foray into space as the craft traveled almost 10 months in space to reach its destination which was 401 million kilometres away. For context, India's moon missions in the Chandrayaan series traveled a distance of 3.84 lakh kilometres. The craft entered Martian orbit on September 24th, 2014 and served its scientific purpose and mission until September 2022. Designed for a mission life of six months, the craft lived for nine years and provided valuable scientific data about the Red planet. Also Read | 'We walk the talk...': Jaishankar on India's unwavering commitment to South-South cooperation As far as Chandrayaan-3 is concerned, it's been three days since September 22nd, which has been the expected re-awakening date. While the deep space antennae of ISRO and the partner agencies from abroad are peering at the moon to receive any signal emissions from the Vikram lander, there is no progress so far. ISRO plans to wait out the entire duration of the Lunar Day (which ends in the first week of October), to see if Chandrayaan-3 will have a second lease of life. Watch | Mann Ki Baat 105th Edition: ‘G20 doubled the joy of every Indian,’ says Indian PM Modi × It must be remembered that Chandrayaan-3 has been a complete success and the mission's 14-day (1 Lunar day) planned life ended on a high note after the lander was made to perform a hop test on the moon. ISRO knew fully well that surviving the Lunar night(where temperatures could fall to minus 200 degrees Celsius), was very tough and challenging. All lunar missions that are meant to survive the Lunar night are equipped with a Radioisotope thermoelectric generator(a sort of Nuclear battery). However, Chandrayaan-3 doesn't have such a device that would both power it and keep it warm through the night. This is because India hasn't developed such a technology, so far. The possible re-awakening is nothing more than a bonus or a life extension for the already completed mission. One might ask why ISRO did not consider insulating the Lunar lander and rover to survive the night, but any such alteration would change the design and drastically increase the payload mass of the spacecraft and pose challenges to the launch mission. This is because India's LVM3 rocket has a payload-lifting capability of 4 tons to high-earth orbits and payloads have to be within that limit. The Chandrayaan-3 craft(comprising propulsion module, lander, and rover) weighed a little over 3.9 tons, so the payload capacity of the vehicle was utilized almost entirely. Reports say that the rear wheels of the Pragyan rover were not able to make a clear imprint of the Indian National emblem and the ISRO logo on the Lunar surface, owing to lumpy soil. The imprinting of the logos on the Lunar surface depends on a lot of factors - the type of soil at the site, the mass of the rover, the depth of the impression on the wheel, etc. It must be remembered that the Pragyan rover weighed only 26kgs and with lunar gravity being 1/6th that of Earth, it would weigh less than 4.5kgs there. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

As India awaits message from Moon, memories arrive from Mars

Astronauts go through an episode of loss of bone density during extended microgravity missions. This is why there have been very few lunar landing missions in the history of space science. A quick loss of bone density is deemed life-threatening, and this has been a major factor that space agencies are supposed to address before humans can be sent to Mars.

Experiments on astronaut mice prove humanity has a chance to land on Mars

After three failed attempts, NASA's Curiosity rover has reached a ridge on Mars, believed to have been partly formed by a muddy landslide which occurred three billion years ago.

After three failed attempts, NASA's Curiosity rover has reached a ridge on Mars, believed to have been partly formed by a muddy landslide which occurred three billion years ago. A ridge is a narrow, long and elevated structural feature surrounded by steep sides. The Martian Ridge holds significance because it might contain some of the earliest evidence of liquid water on the red planet, as it was one of the last geographic features created in the area. "It's a thrill to be able to reach out and touch rocks, transported from places high up on Mount Sharp that we'll never be able to visit with Curiosity," said Ashwin Vasavada, Curosity's project scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The Curiosity rover took a month to climb the Gediz Vallis Ridge. It completed its most challenging climb yet after navigating through a sharp 23-degree incline, slippery sand and rocks around the size of its wheels. After reaching the ridge in August, the rover spent 11 days capturing the rocks in the area, some of which were as large as cars. ALSO READ | Scientists one step closer to resurrecting Tasmanian tiger that went extinct 100 years ago On August 19, the Curiosity rover clicked 136 pictures of the broader landscape on the ridge and stitched them into a 360-degree mosaic. Curiosity also captured a separate image in which the upper region of Mount Sharp is visible at a distance behind a prominent butte (flat-topped mountain) in the forepart. The ridge lies in Curiosity rover's way through the foothills of Mount Sharp, a sharp 3-mile-tall mountain once covered in lakes and streams. Researchers who studied the composition of many dark rocks and boulders on the ridge found that these rocks originated somewhere on the mountain and skated down with the debris flow. These rocks might enable scientists to study higher mountain regions that Curiosity cannot reach. The Curiosity rover marked its 11th year on the Red Planet in August 2023. On its journey, Curiosity has been to incredible locations, like Gale Crater, an impact divot with a layered mountain at its centre. In the upcoming mission, it will attempt to search for a path up a channel above the ridge. Researchers might be able to understand how and where the water flowed down the mountains with its next task. Although NASA's Curiosity and Perseverance rovers have not found evidence that the red planet once supported life, they have helped disclose Mars' more hospital past. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

NASA's Curiosity rover reaches Mars ridge to study red planet's watery past

In pics: A picture of the Andromeda galaxy wins top spot in astronomy photography contest

A new NASA device the size of a microwave oven is capable of plucking oxygen out of thin Martian air. The breakthrough was achieved via an instrument on NASA’s Mars Perseverance rover. The experiment produced enough oxygen for a small dog to breathe for about 10 hours.

Oxygen on Mars: Paving the way to sustaining life on the planet

mars

Mars, News on Mars, stories on Mars, articles on Mars, Mars stories at Wion, Mars news, Mars latest news