Tag Mars

On the mornings of 13 and 14 August, stargazers will witness a spectacular astronomical event as Mars and Jupiter align beautifully in the sky. The two planets will appear remarkably close, with Mars positioned roughly 23 arcminutes above and to the left of brilliant Jupiter. This proximity is particularly noteworthy as it is a distance […]

Perseverance, the intrepid Mars rover, has been pioneering innovative “adaptive sampling” techniques that harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to autonomously identify and analyze mineral compositions in Martian rocks. This groundbreaking approach marks a significant stride toward creating “smart” spacecraft capable of independent scientific exploration. At the heart of this technology lies PIXL (Planetary […]

An antenna on ExoMars’ Trace Gas Orbiter has been repurposed to help researchers explore new areas of the Martian atmosphere. Using this modified equipment, a team including researchers from Imperial College London has investigated previously unreachable regions of Mars’ atmosphere. These areas, which can obstruct radio signals, are vital for future Mars habitation missions. The […]

The question of whether Mars ever supported life has fascinated scientists and the public for decades. Central to this inquiry is understanding the planet’s past climate: was it warm and wet, akin to Earth’s climate, or was it cold and icy, making it less likely to support life as we know it? A recent study […]

When the first humans travel to the Red Planet, they will face a high number of challenges that must be overcome. The CHAPEA crew took on these rigors during their simulated 378-day Mars expedition, providing invaluable insights for future missions. From repairing equipment and growing food to contending with communication delays, the crew confronted obstacles […]

The Earth Return Orbiter (ERO) is a groundbreaking spacecraft designed by the European Space Agency (ESA) to play an important role in the Mars Sample Return campaign. This ambitious endeavor aims to bring Martian rock, soil, and atmospheric samples back to Earth for the first time, enabling scientists to conduct in-depth analyses that could unravel […]

Scientists have long sought to determine the rate of meteoroid impacts on Mars, employing two primary methods before the availability of seismic data. One approach involved calculating the impact rate from lunar crater chronology models, which are based on studies of craters on the Moon and adjusted to account for Mars’ atmosphere and proximity to […]

In the Martian atmosphere billions of years ago, the Sun’s ultraviolet radiation broke down carbon dioxide (CO2) molecules through a process called photolysis. This photochemical reaction split CO2 into carbon monoxide (CO) and oxygen. However, the process occurred more rapidly for the lighter carbon-12 isotope than for the heavier carbon-13 isotope. As a result, the […]

NASA’s first simulated yearlong Mars habitat mission, known as the Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA), has been an ambitious undertaking to prepare for future human exploration of the Red Planet. The mission aimed to simulate the challenges and conditions that astronauts would face during an actual Mars mission, providing invaluable insights for future […]

NASA’s Mars habitat simulator, Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA), has provided invaluable insights into the challenges of living and working on the Red Planet. The 3D-printed, 1,700 square-foot habitat, aptly named Mars Dune Alpha, has been home to a dedicated crew of four volunteers for over a year. Kelly Haston, Anca Selariu, Ross […]