A few Updates regarding Mars and Space Travel

Martian Fashion:
Because eventually humans may colonize Mars (despite that one Doctor Who episode that clearly warned us against it), NASA has begun planning what its astronauts would need to wear. And they are trying to make it fashionable. Personally, they look like Cybermen from the '70s but I suppose as long as they keep our scientists safe, I'm okay with it.

BBC News


Curiosity:
The rover has begun drilling into the surface of Mars again. Just as a test right now,  but this does mean more data is on its way down to us.

BBC News


The Future of Space Travel:
The UK government has backed plans that would expand its space industry four-fold. This includes possible plans of a bigger space tourism industry. Already the ESA have had a major part to play in outer space exploration, but with more money being available, their part should expand and more can be accomplished. It seems to be good news for everyone.

BBC News

Mars Meteorite

Summary: A small meteorite may hold the secret to how Mars lost is carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere to become the planet it is today.
Key points:
-The Lafayette meteorite shows signs of carbonation which suggests that water was on Mars more recently than previously thought.
-This is the first direct evidence for carbonation on Mars which connects with the Curiosity's discovery of carbonates.
-Understanding how CO2 was removed can help us reduce climate change here on earth.



BBC News

Mars update

Summary: Curiosity has found signs that Mars used to have a large amount of drinkable water in its past. In fact, there were at least two wet stages and sufficient water for microbial life to have formed. Curiosity has also found calcium sulfate veins which are an indicator of water movement along with more coarse pebbles to large to be moved by wind, but just the right size to be moved by a flowing river.

What Curiosity has not found, though, is evidence of methane. Previous measurements from Earth or from satellites had indication that Curiosity would find 10 parts per billion or more of the gas. The existing theory for the methane seen from telescopes was that it was produced by small methane-producing mugs that could potentially live underground. But this theory is loosing its base foundation.  As with all science, more measurements must be drawn before a definite conclusion can be reached.

But what's next for the future of Mars exploration? It could be a robotic snake. The idea is that a little snake companion would accompany its big sister vehicle and provide assistance. Whether this is gathering samples from tight spaces or providing an anchor for the vehicle to pull itself out a position it got stuck in. It has the potential to be a quick solution to any number of little issues.



Live Science (drinkable water)
Science Mag (lack of methane)
BBC News (lack of methane)
Live Science (Snake robot)

Rivers of Mars

Summary: Scientists have confirmed that there was water in Mars's past. This conclusion is based on rocks found in Peace Vallis. Upon examining the rocks they found three things that pointed to signs of water.
1) The rocks were smooth like pebbles here on Earth found in river beds that had been worn by the water. It was previously thought that this could have been wind erosion but the size of some rocks and the distinctive domino-like placement of the rocks points to water.
2) The rocks found are many different colors due to different chemical make ups so scientists know that these rocks were moved from their original locations. Something a river would do.
3) Using Curiosity's Chemcam, they were able to detect feldspar in the pebbles, a common mineral on Earth that weathers quickly in the presence of water.
Based on this, scientists estimate that the water flow would be about walking pace and the water depth to be anywhere between ankle-height and waist-height.



BBC News

Curiosity and other updates

Summary: Curiosity has discovered that most of Mars's atmosphere has since departed into space. Scientists discovered this by looking at the chemical of argon. Argon reacts with very little so the only way the lighter isotopes will have given way to a majority of the heavier isotopes is by escaping into outer space. The article does not comment on what this means when trying to determine whether or not Mars ever had flowing water other than to say that scientists are still split.


BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22063337


Summary: The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) in the sky has made some observations that may give additional evidence to dark matter. Stay tuned.

BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22016504


Summary: The LHC is being upgraded so that is can find new particles. Not too much info at this moment.


BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21941666

Inside of Mars

Summary: The Curiosity rover has successfully drilled a sample of Mars rock which it will analyze in the near future. For details on the chosen sample, click the link below.



NASA: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/news/msl20130220b.html

Upcoming Science news

Hank Green made a wonderful video outlining exciting space events in this upcoming year including new launches, rare eclipses, and comets. Check it out!

http://youtu.be/AfQdi07LNF8


(100 posts!)

Martian Hula party

After examining its first sample of Martian soil, Curiosity's scientists have noticed that the soil strongly resembles the soil on Hawaii. They've said it was basaltic like the ground near volcanos in Hawaii.
Curiosity also analysed the soil further by shooting X-rays at it. This is a technique well known back here on Earth that allows scientists to learn the chemical make up of a sample by the light it emits.
As always, check out the original article for further details and don't hesitate to ask me any questions you may have.



BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-2015178

Strange rock on Mars

Summary: Curiosity has found a peculiar rock near to its landing sight. While not an entirely new type of rock, it is not a type that was predicted to be in that area. The rock, named Jake Matijevic after a recently deceased scientist, is similar to the types of rocks found near volcanoes on the islands of Hawaii.
"Jake Matijevic was found to be high in elements consistent with the mineral feldspar, such as sodium and potassium, and low in elements such as magnesium and iron."
Further studies will be done with this rock in hopes of learning more about the history of the Gale Crater and Mars as a whole.


BBC News: http://.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19923118

Further evidence for water in Mars' history

Summary: The Curiosity has come to a conglomerate of rocks which gives evidence for water on Mars. The main signs are small rocks that have broken off from a huge rock and have been weathered smooth, like rocks found in a river bed here on Earth. Curiosity will continue to investigate these rocks in hopes of being able to determine the pH level of the water that had passed through this area.


BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19744131

NASA JPL conference on the finding:
http://t.co/VuxTB6e6

Curiosity Update 9/15/12

Curiosity has examined a rock.


BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19712033

Curiosity update

Another update on Curiosity.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19654831

Curiosity Update

Summary: The Curiosity rover is nearly finished with testing its equipment and is scheduled to begin the real experiments this Friday. Read the article for further details on what is forthcoming.


BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19575796

Curiosity completes its first drive

Summary: Curiosity has successfully rolled 4.5 meters forward, turned clockwise, then reversed 2.5 meters. This took around five minutes. This means it is now ready to complete more difficult maneuvers.


BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19342994

Curiosity has succesfully used its laser on a rock

Summary: Curiosity has zapped its first Mars rock. Using a laser, the river zaps the rock with a very high energy beam for only five billionths of a second. This releases a flash of light which the camera captures and sends back to Earth. Scientists can then look at the light spectrum to determine what the chemical make up of the rock is.
The first rock is being used as a control to test the instruments. It is expected to be very similar to other rocks on Earth.


BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19314638

Curiosity

If you have been paying any attention to the news lately, you will know that NASA has successfully landed the Curiosity rover on Mars last Sunday night. This rover is full of instruments to test for signs of life on mars and to learn more about the environment of the red planet. (Hopefully so we can establish a base there someday!) NASA's JPL website is probably the best place to look for news or the rover's twitter feed (@MarsCuriosity). I will also direct you to Hank Green's youtube channel SciShow where he has been nerding out over the project. I'll leave you with some of his videos.

The Curiosity Rover Landing: http://youtu.be/a4YqNoLkmxE
Top 5 Coolest Things about Curiosity: http://youtu.be/bB2eB2qH2-A
The Latest From Mars: Day 2: http://youtu.be/U76y7_jO_Ao