NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

Space

Pure sulfur crystals on Mars accidentally discovered by NASA’s Curiosity rover

Jim HendlerJuly 21, 24Mars, NASA

For the first time, NASA scientists have discovered pure sulfur on Mars thanks to the Curiosity rover accidentally revealing a cluster of yellow crystals while driving over a rock. The area appears to be abundant in sulfur, marking an unexpected find as previous observations only showed sulfur within minerals on the Red Planet. NASA notes that elemental sulfur forming in such conditions has not been linked to the history of this location before. Curiosity broke open the rock on May 30 while driving through an area known as the Gediz…

NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

Space

Pure sulfur crystals on Mars accidentally discovered by NASA’s Curiosity rover

Febin MathewJuly 21, 24Mars, NASA

For the first time, NASA scientists have discovered pure sulfur on Mars thanks to the Curiosity rover accidentally revealing a cluster of yellow crystals while driving over a rock. The area appears to be abundant in sulfur, marking an unexpected find as previous observations only showed sulfur within minerals on the Red Planet. NASA notes that elemental sulfur forming in such conditions has not been linked to the history of this location before. Curiosity broke open the rock on May 30 while driving through an area known as the Gediz…

NASA has lost contact with its tiny helicopter Ingenuity during its 72nd flight. Engineers are attempting to re-establish communications after it ended abruptly on Thursday. (NASA/JPL-Caltech)

Space

NASA’s mini-helicopter Ingenuity on Mars loses contact, bringing bad news

Sanjay PatilJanuary 21, 24Mars, NASA

NASA announced that it has been unable to maintain communication with its small helicopter Ingenuity during its 72nd flight. The space agency’s engineers are currently making efforts to restore contact, as the communication abruptly ceased on Thursday while the craft was descending from a test flight, according to NASA’s statement on Friday. The large drone-like Ingenuity had arrived on Mars in 2021 with the Perseverance rover, becoming the first motorized craft to fly autonomously on another planet. The information of the helicopter’s flight is transmitted back to the ground via…

NASA shared two new black and white videos capturing a Martian day with its Curiosity Rover from dusk to dawn.

Space

NASA’s Curiosity Rover Captures a Full Martian Day from Sunset to Sunrise with ‘Hazcams’

Nitin MisraDecember 29, 23Mars, NASA

NASA has released two new black-and-white videos from its Curiosity Rover capturing a Martian day from dusk to dawn on Nov. 8, which happened to be the mission’s 4,002nd Martian day. In the first video, the Curiosity Rover can be seen using black and white Hazcams to capture a 12-hour window of a Martian day. Everything changes dynamically, from the shadow the rover casts on the surface of Mars to how it gets dark. The video is from Gediz Valliks, a valley on Mount Sharp, a 5 km high mountain…

A solar storm will strike Mars on December 11, triggered by a halo CME, shows NASA model. Shockingly, it is expected to erode a small portion of the red planet’s atmosphere. (Pixabay)

Space

NASA model reveals CME’s potential to trigger solar storm on Mars and degrade its atmosphere; Get more information

Febin MathewDecember 8, 23Mars, NASA, Solar storm

Not only is the Sun’s continuous solar activity impacting Earth, but it is also affecting neighboring planets. In October, Venus experienced the effects of a powerful coronal mass ejection (CME) cloud, causing electromagnetic fluctuations that led to the erosion of its atmosphere, which escaped into space. Now, according to NASA’s model, a complete halo CME is projected to strike Mars on December 11, resulting in a solar storm. This event is anticipated to have a similar impact on the red planet, causing a minor loss of its atmosphere. Intriguingly, the…

NASA conducts tests for its future Mars helicopter on both the Earth and the red planet. Check details. (AP)

Space

NASA’s Interplanetary Helicopters: Pioneering a New Frontier!

Jim HendlerNovember 28, 23Mars, NASA

NASA has successfully conducted tests on its next generation of Mars helicopters in two distinct locations. The NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California recently tested a new rotor for future mission helicopters, while the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter carried out a real-life flight simulation on Mars, achieving record-breaking altitude and airspeed. The NASA team was pleasantly surprised by the impressive performance of the new Mars helicopter during the test. Get all the details here. NASA’s upcoming Mars helicopter tests According to a NASA report, the space agency created a…

NASA Mars smallsat mission, ESCAPADE, will be launched with the debut launch of Blue Origin’s New Glenn launch vehicle. (NASA)

Space

Blast Off! Blue Origin’s New Glenn to Launch NASA’s ESCAPADE Mission to Mars!

Jim HendlerNovember 28, 23Mars, NASA

Blue Origin’s New Glenn launch vehicle is anticipated to transport the NASA Mars smallsat mission in the near future, but concerns arise regarding potential delays caused by spacecraft development. In February 2023, both companies revealed their collaboration to launch the Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers (ESCAPADE) spacecraft using the New Glenn. Presently, the mission is projected to embark on its inaugural flight with the new launch vehicle by the conclusion of 2024. For further information on the NASA and Blue Origin partnership, click here. Launch of NASA’s ESCAPADE…

Mars will vanish during the solar conjunction and NASA has been forced to pause all communications with its robotic explorers there. (Pixabay)

News

Sun “Swallows” Mars: A Celestial Game of Hide and Seek!

Jim HendlerNovember 18, 23Mars, NASA

Starting this Saturday, Mars will disappear from our view in a fascinating astronomical event called solar conjunction. During this phenomenon, the sun acts as a radiant curtain, temporarily hiding Mars and Earth from each other. NASA describes this celestial ballet as similar to dancers being obscured by a massive bonfire. This cosmic encounter occurs every two years, creating a celestial gap of about 235 million miles between Earth and Mars, compared to their usual distance of 140 million miles. While sky watchers may only notice the momentary absence, the event…

ISRO Director Dr. M Sankaran reveals plans for India’s Mars and Venus missions within five years. (ISRO/Twitter)

Space

India’s Space Odyssey: Exploring Venus and Mars in the Next 5 Years!

Adarsh V.KNovember 13, 23ISRO, Mars, Venus

According to Dr. M Sankaran, Director of the UR Rao Satellite Center in Bengaluru, India’s space exploration efforts are reaching unprecedented levels as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) sets its sights on Venus and Mars missions within the next five years. After accomplishing a smooth landing on the Moon and initiating a mission to investigate the Sun, ISRO is now preparing to conquer uncharted territories in outer space. Dr. Sankaran, head of the satellite unit responsible for putting several Indian satellites into orbit, shared insights on the challenges and…

US Fish and Wildlife Service reviews SpaceX's Starship upgrades, focusing on the water deluge system's environmental impact before flight resumption. (representative image) (unsplash)

Space

US Evaluation of SpaceX Starship Underway to Resume Launches

Adriana MaraisOctober 28, 23Mars

Following the explosive April debut, SpaceX’s Starship launch system upgrades are now under a formal review by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, marking one of the last regulatory procedures required before flights can recommence. The agency said in an emailed statement Thursday that it began a review — a hearing under the Endangered Species Act — with the Federal Aviation Administration on Oct. 19. FWS now has as many as 135 days to create an updated biological statement on how Starship and its launches will affect the local environment,…

Martian bench-and-nose landforms hint at ancient rivers, fueling hopes for past life, reveals NASA. (Pixabay)

Space

NASA Optimistic about Possibility of Life on Mars After Curiosity Rover Findings

Nitin MisraOctober 26, 23Mars, NASA

A team of geologists has utilized data from NASA’s Curiosity rover, examinations of sedimentary rock beneath the Gulf of Mexico, and computer simulations to uncover intriguing evidence suggesting that Mars may have once supported life. Recent findings indicate the presence of ancient river systems in multiple Martian craters. Gale Crater, a major impact basin on the Martian surface, played a key role in this discovery. Scientists found compelling evidence that rivers may have been more common on the Red Planet than previously thought. Geoscientist Benjamin Cardenas, lead author from Penn…

ISRO is planning four payloads for Mangalyaan-2 mission to Mars. (Pixabay)

Space

ISRO Prepares for Return to Mars with Mangalyaan-2 Mission After 9 Years

Adarsh V.KOctober 2, 23ISRO, Mars

Following the successful Chandrayaan-3 mission to the Moon and the ongoing Aditya-L1 mission, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is once again preparing for a new mission. Back in 2014, ISRO achieved its first Mars mission, and now, after a span of 9 years, it is gearing up for the Mangalyaan-2 mission with even more ambitious goals and strategies. While the primary objective of the Mangalyaan-1 mission was to enter the Mars orbit, the upcoming second mission aims to uncover even more discoveries. To learn more about the ISRO Mangalyaan-2…

Vikram lander and Pragyan rover have still not recovered from their sleep mode. (ISRO)

Space

India Space Agency Unmoved by Lunar Mission’s Concluding Moment

Adarsh V.KSeptember 29, 23Earth, ISRO, Mars

India’s space chief expressed contentment with the idea of concluding its triumphant lunar mission as the possibility of further communication with the Moon rover from India dwindles. India began exploring the lunar surface in August after becoming only the fourth nation to land a craft on the celestial body, sparking celebrations in a country fast approaching milestones set by global space powers. The rover Pragyan – Sanskrit for “Wisdom” – was exploring the vicinity of the Moon’s south pole, but it lost power before the start of the lunar night,…

NASA's Perseverance rover spots a substantial sunspot on the far side of the Sun, but as it turned, a massive dangerous sunspot came to face the Earth, indicating potential solar storm activity. (Pixabay)

Space

NASA’s Mars Rover Captures Sun Rotating and Spots Potentially Hazardous Sunspot Aimed at Earth

Adarsh V.KAugust 27, 23Mars, NASA, Solar storm, Space

NASA’s Perseverance Rover on Mars has recently recorded a captivating sight of a colossal sunspot, indicating an area of intensified solar activity on the opposite side of the Sun. This sunspot is currently turning towards Earth, significantly raising the chances of a powerful solar storm. Early sun warning According to a spaceweather.com blog post, Mars’ unique position on the opposite side of the sun allows Perseverance to notify approaching sunspots, sometimes more than a week before they become visible from our planet. This early warning has been issued: A significant…

NASA's Ingenuity helicopter soars over the Martian surface in historic flight and landing. (NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS)

Space

NASA Rover Captures Historic Ingenuity Mars Helicopter Flight on Martian Surface

Jim HendlerAugust 21, 23Mars, NASA

NASA’s rover on Mars has successfully recorded extraordinary video footage of its helicopter in flight and during landing, marking a significant achievement. The Martian atmosphere, which is considerably thinner than Earth’s, poses challenges for takeoff. Nevertheless, NASA’s experimental helicopter, Ingenuity, was specifically designed to overcome these adverse conditions by utilizing its unique rotor. Despite initial expectations of only five flights, this compact robot, boasting a four-foot wingspan, has impressively completed over 50 successful flights. The Watchful Eye of Perseverance Recently, NASA’s large Perseverance rover filmed the helicopter‘s entire 54th flight…

NASA's Artemis 3 mission, intended to bring humans back to the Moon in 2025, may not include a crewed landing (REUTERS)

Space

Postponement of Crewed Lunar Landing by NASA Possible Beyond Artemis 3 Mission

Sanjay PatilAugust 9, 23Mars, NASA, SpaceX

According to an official statement on Tuesday, NASA’s Artemis 3 mission, which aims to bring humans back to the Moon by 2025, may not include a manned landing as previously anticipated. Jim Free, chief of the space agency’s Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, told reporters at a news conference that certain key elements must be in place — particularly the landing system developed by SpaceX. If it’s not ready in time, “We may end up flying a different mission,” he said. Under the Artemis program, NASA is planning a series…

Humanity will, after all, experience extreme temperatures on moon and Mars.

Space

Scientists to Investigate Cooling Methods for Astronauts on ISS

Adriana MaraisAugust 9, 23Mars, moon, Space

Northrop Grumman’s 19th resupply mission for the ISS successfully reached the space station on August 4th. In addition to providing essential supplies, the mission also carried an experiment aimed at benefiting future human colonies beyond Earth. The module contained hardware designed to explore the functioning of heating and air conditioning systems in reduced gravity and extreme temperatures found on the moon and Mars. For instance, temperatures near the lunar equator can soar up to 250 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, surpassing the boiling point of water, while plummeting to -208…

NASA takes a nuclear leap for future Mars missions. (DARPA/NASA)

Space

Revolutionising Space Travel: NASA to Utilise Nuclear-Powered Rocket

Febin MathewJuly 28, 23Mars, NASA

NASA and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), operating under the US government, have introduced an ambitious strategy to transform space exploration. Their collaborative project, named the Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO), seeks to elevate space travel to unprecedented levels through the utilization of nuclear-powered rockets. Lockheed Martin has been selected to spearhead the development, building, and testing of this groundbreaking rocket, with a projected launch into space expected by 2027. The DRACO program The DRACO program represents a huge leap forward in propulsion technology, offering the…

To make the most of this stargazing marvel, find a spot with an unobstructed view of the horizon. (Pexels)

Space

Tonight’s Celestial Show: Mars, Venus, and Mercury to Appear with Crescent Moon

Adriana MaraisJuly 20, 23Mars, Space

Prepare yourself for an exceptional celestial spectacle this evening as the dark sky reveals a captivating assembly of celestial entities just after sundown. Although certain regions of North America may experience hazy conditions due to Canadian wildfires, the moon, Mercury, Venus, and Mars are all poised to adorn the sky with their stunning display. A gathering of planets Direct your gaze just after sunset to the western sky, where you’ll find a faint sliver of a two-day-old crescent moon fascinatingly low on the horizon. Along with this celestial beauty comes…

Check out the images of Earth and Moon from Mars. (ESA/DLR/FU Berlin)

Space

Stunning Photos of Earth from Mars: Carl Sagan’s Reflections on the Pale Blue Dot

Sanjay PatilJuly 20, 23Earth, Mars, moon

When viewed from space, both our planet and the moon appear as tiny, luminous dots. However, when observed from Mars, there is more to see than just two orbiting dots. Despite the captivating photographs of our planet taken during previous space missions, the images captured by ESA from Mars depict Earth as a mere “pale blue dot.” “On the 20th anniversary of the launch of Mars Express, we wanted to bring Carl Sagan’s reflections back to the present, where the worsening climate and ecological crisis make them more valid than…