The Mars rover images a plume of debris from the impact of the descent stage that helped the spacecraft land safely on the red planet. Source: https://earthsky.org/todays-image/photo-mars-perseverance-descent-stage-smoke-plume…
Tag: ExoMars
ExoMars discovers new gas and traces water loss on Mars
Sea salt embedded in the dusty surface of Mars and lofted into the planet’s atmosphere has led to the discovery of hydrogen chloride—the first time the ESA-Roscosmos ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter has detected a new gas. The spacecraft is also providing new information about how Mars is losing its water. Source: https://phys.org/news/2021-02-exomars-gas-loss-mars.html…
ExoMars orbiter’s 20,000th image
The CaSSIS camera onboard the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter has captured its 20,000th image of Mars. Source: https://phys.org/news/2021-01-exomars-orbiter-20000th-image.html…
3-D print your own Mars rover with ExoMy
Europe’s Rosalind Franklin ExoMars rover has a younger ‘sibling’ – ExoMy. The blueprints and software for this mini-version of the full-size Mars explorer are available for free so that anyone can 3-D print, assemble and program their own ExoMy. Source: https://phys.org/news/2020-12-d-mars-rover-exomy.html…
ExoMars parachute testing moves forward
The parachute system that will help deliver the Rosalind Franklin ExoMars rover to Mars has completed the first full-scale high altitude drop test with redesigned elements following two unsuccessful tests last year. Parachute extraction and deceleration proceeded as expected, the test vehicle landed safely and the test parachutes were recovered. However, some canopy damage occurred, pointing to the early inflation process…
The way forward to Mars
The path that ExoMars 2022 will follow to reach the Red Planet is set. The trajectory that will take the spacecraft from Earth to Mars in 264 days foresees a touchdown on the martian surface on 10 June 2023, at around 17:30 CEST (15:30 UTC). Source: https://phys.org/news/2020-10-mars.html…
Is there life below the Martian surface?
Galactic cosmic rays are high energy particles from explosive events like supernovae, zinging through our solar system, constantly bombarding both Earth and Mars. A researcher suggests they supply enough energy to make subsurface life on Mars possible. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/is-there-life-below-the-martian-surface…
Can other gases help explain Mars methane mystery?
The European Space Agency’s Trace Gas Orbiter has unexpectedly detected carbon dioxide and ozone in Mars’ atmosphere where the elusive methane should be, researchers in the UK and Russia have announced. The two gases may be hindering the probe’s methane detections. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/mars-methane-mystery-tgo-carbon-dioxide-ozone…
NASA takes first step to allow computers to decide what to tell us in search for life on Mars
NASA has stepped closer to allowing remote onboard computers to direct the search for life on other planets. Scientists from the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center have announced first results from new intelligent systems, to be installed in space probes, capable of identifying geochemical signatures of life from rock samples. Allowing these intelligent systems to choose both what to analyze and…
Weird green glow spotted in atmosphere of Mars
Europe’s Trace Gas Orbiter spotted an emerald glow in Mars’ wispy atmosphere, marking the first time the phenomenon has been spotted on a world beyond Earth. Source: https://www.livescience.com/mars-green-glow-exomars.html