New Images from esa Mars mission

Summary: Although the Schiaparelli lander was not as successful as hoped and plummeted into the surface of Mars rather than gently landing, the satellite it was released from is still working and returning new images of the surface of the planet. This Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) is orbiting the planet and using it's impressive cameras to send us back images with a resolution of 2.8 metres per pixel. The camera's principal investigator, Nicolas Thomas, compared it to "flying over Bern at 15,000km/h and simultaneously getting sharp pictures of cars in Zurich."

Other sensors on board will also be investigating the atmospheric gases and looking for water vapor, nitrogen dioxide, and sulphur dioxide among other chemical species. The goal is to detect possible signs of microbial life on the surface and detect the presence of hydrated minerals.

Source and images

Waters of Mars

Summary: As you have no doubt heard, NASA announced yesterday that there is now concrete evidence of flowing water on the surface of Mars. Amazing isn't it? I'll put a link to the press release but first let me highlight a few items. 

1. This was first noticed by am undergraduate student who was studying photos of the surface of Mars. They noticed that there were dark patterns on the surface, resembling river beds, that would appear in June and grow before shrinking again to nothing in September. They would then appear at the same time next year although never in the exact same spot. 

2. Not only was this proof of flowing liquid, but scientists were able to detect hydrated salt crystals. Proof that this liquid is definitely water. 

3. And because it is such a regular pattern, it is safe to assume that it has been occurring for much longer than five years. 

All this gives me greater hope for future exploration of Mars. Maybe this will provide enough public support that the space programs of the world can start collaborations more effectively. 

Of course the Whovian in me is also screaming that we shouldn't trust the water, but that's for another episode to address. 

NASA

Backlog of Articles

I've been really busy with my studies but I have been still finding articles. These are no longer recent but for the sake of record keeping I would still like to post them on here for your reading pleasure.

Giant Black Hole at the Heart of a Dwarf Galaxy
Physics World

Leap Forward in Quantum Teleportation
Business Insider

First Images from India's spacecraft
BBC News

Complex Organic Molecules, Now Found in Space
BBC News

The Water-ice of Mercury
BBC News

Death Star Moon has confusing innards
BBC News

New Distance Record for Tractor Beams
BBC News

Water on a Neptune sized exoplanet
BBC News

India and US to collaborate on Mission
NASA

Hidden Valleys of the Moon
BBC News

Comets, Coming to a Printer Near You

Have you ever bemoaned your lack of a model of a comet? Feel your bedroom is incomplete without one? Worry no more; you can now 3D print your own. The ESA has released a model of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, the duck shaped comet Rossetta will be Landing on.
BBC News

Nobel Prize to Blue LEDs
BBC News

All Eyes to the Skies

Summary: One really fascinating advantage of modern technology is that in a natural disaster, everyone takes out their cameras to document the event. Turns out scientists are not immune to this way of thinking. The Siding Spring Comet will be making a dramatic flyby of Mars and all cameras available will be watching.

This Oort Cloud object will be passing incredibly close to the planet; it will be just 139,000km above the surface. Okay, close in astronomer's terms. Because it will be so close, the rovers on the surface will be instructed to train their instruments upwards to study this comet. More importantly, the orbiters will also be watching. Only they must be extra careful. While not in danger of being smashed by the comet, the dust being shot off still poses a threat so they are going to be directed to the other side of the planet in order to avoid the tail.

I can't wait to see what new breakthroughs in comet research comes from this.



BBC News
SciShow Space
esa live Google hangout
NASA JPL

India in Orbit

Summary: Congratulations to India for becoming the fourth nation to have a satellite orbiting Mars. The satellite, Mangalyaan, is orbiting with the mission goal of studying the atmosphere of the planet.
I'm so proud of the country for reaching another milestone in their space program. We are on our way to making the exploration of space a worldwide initiative. That's one step close to me enrolling in the Starfleet Academy.


BBC News

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

One Step Closer to Mars

Summary: NASA's Orion spacecraft passed it's electronics test last week at Kennedy Space Center. This spacecraft is designed to carry a four-person crew to near-Earth asteroids and eventually to Mars. The first test launch will be in the fall of next year for a brief unmanned journey up into space before falling back down into the ocean.


Popular Science
Physics World

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)

Are we all Martians?

Summary: According to new research by Prof Steven Benner, Mars may have been a better place for life to begin. He suggests that minerals containing boron and molybdenum are vital is creating life-forming molecules. It had been previously thoughts that an early Earth was unsuitable for these elements, due to an insufficient amount of oxygen. However, Mars would have had enough oxygen for the element to form.


BBC News:

Latin lessons for Astonomers

Summary: Because sometimes scientists enjoy making things more confusing, images from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) are now going to be captioned in Latin. This is in addition to the already 10 different languages available to read the captions in. I find this particularly fitting as the planet is named for the Roman god of war and many of the sites on the planet already have Latin names.
Does this give anyone extra motivation to try to learn Latin in their spare time?


BBC News:

New evidence for water

Summary: NASA's Opportunity rover has just discovered clay on Mars. This leads further credence to Mars having water in its past. The significance here is that clay usually forms in water of a neutral pH, thus safe to drink.



BBC News

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!)

Another chance for Mars

Summary: Europe and Russia are teaming up to explore the surface and the atmosphere of Mars with missions set for 2016 and 2018.



BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20407902

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