Life as we do not know it: Astrobiology and the Mars 2020 mission
Tuesday, 16 February 2021 13:35
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Life as we know it has never been found anywhere in our solar system or universe, other than on Earth. But that does not necessarily mean it is not out there.
The Mars 2020 mission is the first NASA mission with an explicit astrobiology component. Planned to be executed in multiple parts over decades, Mars 2020 and related missions aim to be the first to return samples of another planet for the purpose of examining them for signs of life.
But what do scientists hope to find? How will they know if or when they have found it? What does it mean for life on Earth if something is found, and what does it mean if it is not?
NASA's next Mars rover is ready for the most precise landing yet
Tuesday, 16 February 2021 13:17 Write a comment
What to expect when the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover arrives at the Red Planet on Feb. 18, 2021:
With about 2.4 million miles (3.9 million kilometers) left to travel in space, NASA's Mars 2020 Perseverance mission is days away from attempting to land the agency's fifth rover on the Red Planet.
Mars Relay Network connects Earth to NASA's robotic explorers
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Russian cargo ship docks at International Space Station
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NASA fears gap in astronaut crew at multibillion-dollar space station
Tuesday, 16 February 2021 11:58 Write a comment
Orlando FL (UPI) Feb 17, 2021
Having spent well over $150 billion on the International Space Station, NASA fears a potential lack of launch vehicles could leave the orbiting platform without a U.S. astronaut and create a potential safety risk.
Such a gap would occur only if a crew had a problem that forced them to leave the space station early, but it would represent a costly "lost opportunity that cannot be regained"
Having spent well over $150 billion on the International Space Station, NASA fears a potential lack of launch vehicles could leave the orbiting platform without a U.S. astronaut and create a potential safety risk.
Such a gap would occur only if a crew had a problem that forced them to leave the space station early, but it would represent a costly "lost opportunity that cannot be regained" NASA ready to land another rover on Mars
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Pasadena CA (JPL) Feb 17, 2021
With about 2.4 million miles (3.9 million kilometers) left to travel in space, NASA's Mars 2020 Perseverance mission is days away from attempting to land the agency's fifth rover on the Red Planet. Engineers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, where the mission is managed, have confirmed that the spacecraft is healthy and on target to touch down in Jezero Crater at around
With about 2.4 million miles (3.9 million kilometers) left to travel in space, NASA's Mars 2020 Perseverance mission is days away from attempting to land the agency's fifth rover on the Red Planet. Engineers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, where the mission is managed, have confirmed that the spacecraft is healthy and on target to touch down in Jezero Crater at around Staying long-term on Mars
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Bremen, Germany (SPX) Feb 17, 2021
The "red planet" in the evening sky seems more and more within reach, as leading space agencies aspire astronaut missions to Mars in the future. Unlike the 1969 moon landing, these missions are designed for a long-term stay, which poses new challenges for science: In addition to a habitat, for example, the few materials brought from Earth must be used efficiently and sustainably to equip and fee
The "red planet" in the evening sky seems more and more within reach, as leading space agencies aspire astronaut missions to Mars in the future. Unlike the 1969 moon landing, these missions are designed for a long-term stay, which poses new challenges for science: In addition to a habitat, for example, the few materials brought from Earth must be used efficiently and sustainably to equip and fee The Mars Relay Network Connects Us to NASA's Martian Explorers
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Pasadena CA (JPL) Feb 17, 2021
A tightly choreographed dance between NASA's Deep Space Network and Mars orbiters will keep the agency's Perseverance in touch with Earth during landing and beyond. When NASA's Mars 2020 Perseverance rover touches down with the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter on the Red Planet on Feb. 18, they won't be alone. From orbit, two robotic buddies will be playing a special role in the event by checking in on
A tightly choreographed dance between NASA's Deep Space Network and Mars orbiters will keep the agency's Perseverance in touch with Earth during landing and beyond. When NASA's Mars 2020 Perseverance rover touches down with the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter on the Red Planet on Feb. 18, they won't be alone. From orbit, two robotic buddies will be playing a special role in the event by checking in on The geological context of the Mars 2020 landing site through the eyes of DLR
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Berlin, Germany (DLR) Feb 17, 2021
On Thursday, 18 February 2021, at approximately 21:55 CET, NASA's control centre in Pasadena should receive the radio signal indicating that the Perseverance rover has been gently lowered onto the surface of Mars by a 'sky crane' as part of NASA's Mars 2020 mission. Perseverance's new home will be the floor of a former lake in the Jezero impact crater. There, the mobile laboratory, which is the
On Thursday, 18 February 2021, at approximately 21:55 CET, NASA's control centre in Pasadena should receive the radio signal indicating that the Perseverance rover has been gently lowered onto the surface of Mars by a 'sky crane' as part of NASA's Mars 2020 mission. Perseverance's new home will be the floor of a former lake in the Jezero impact crater. There, the mobile laboratory, which is the Biotech fit for the Red Planet
Tuesday, 16 February 2021 11:58 Write a comment
Washington DC (SPX) Feb 17, 2021
NASA, in collaboration with other leading space agencies, aims to send its first human missions to Mars in the early 2030s, while companies like SpaceX may do so even earlier. Astronauts on Mars will need oxygen, water, food, and other consumables. These will need to be sourced from Mars, because importing them from Earth would be impractical in the long term. In Frontiers in Microbiology, scien
NASA, in collaboration with other leading space agencies, aims to send its first human missions to Mars in the early 2030s, while companies like SpaceX may do so even earlier. Astronauts on Mars will need oxygen, water, food, and other consumables. These will need to be sourced from Mars, because importing them from Earth would be impractical in the long term. In Frontiers in Microbiology, scien HKU planetary scientists discover evidence for a reduced atmosphere on ancient Mars
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Hong Kong (SPX) Feb 17, 2021
Both Earth and Mars currently have oxidising atmospheres, which is why iron-rich materials in daily life develop rust (a common name for iron oxide) during the oxidation reaction of iron and oxygen. The Earth has had an oxidising atmosphere for approximately two and a half billion years, but before that, the atmosphere of this planet was reducing - there was no rust.
The transition from a
Both Earth and Mars currently have oxidising atmospheres, which is why iron-rich materials in daily life develop rust (a common name for iron oxide) during the oxidation reaction of iron and oxygen. The Earth has had an oxidising atmosphere for approximately two and a half billion years, but before that, the atmosphere of this planet was reducing - there was no rust.
The transition from a Airbus space technology reaches Mars
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Madrid, Spain (SPX) Feb 17, 2021
When NASA's Perseverance rover lands on the surface of the Red Planet next Thursday, key Airbus technology will be on board: the MEDA meteorological station will provide scientists with valuable Mars weather data and the High Gain Antenna System will ensure a high-speed comms link with Earth for the duration of the MARS2020 mission.
Perseverance will use seven scientific instruments to stu
When NASA's Perseverance rover lands on the surface of the Red Planet next Thursday, key Airbus technology will be on board: the MEDA meteorological station will provide scientists with valuable Mars weather data and the High Gain Antenna System will ensure a high-speed comms link with Earth for the duration of the MARS2020 mission.
Perseverance will use seven scientific instruments to stu China publishes technical requirements for key civilian BDS products
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Beijing (XNA) Feb 10, 2021
China has published six documents detailing technical requirements and test methods for key civilian products using the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS).
The documents have been issued to facilitate the construction of a certification system for key BDS-3 products, according to the China Satellite Navigation Office.
Technical requirements and test methods were drafted for c
China has published six documents detailing technical requirements and test methods for key civilian products using the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS).
The documents have been issued to facilitate the construction of a certification system for key BDS-3 products, according to the China Satellite Navigation Office.
Technical requirements and test methods were drafted for c Scientists manipulate magnets at the atomic scale
Tuesday, 16 February 2021 11:58 Write a comment
Lancaster UK (SPX) Feb 15, 2021
Fast and energy-efficient future data processing technologies are on the horizon after an international team of scientists successfully manipulated magnets at the atomic level.
Physicist Dr Rostislav Mikhaylovskiy from Lancaster University said: "With stalling efficiency trends of current technology, new scientific approaches are especially valuable. Our discovery of the atomically-driven
Fast and energy-efficient future data processing technologies are on the horizon after an international team of scientists successfully manipulated magnets at the atomic level.
Physicist Dr Rostislav Mikhaylovskiy from Lancaster University said: "With stalling efficiency trends of current technology, new scientific approaches are especially valuable. Our discovery of the atomically-driven Emerging robotics technology may lead to better buildings in less time
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West Lafayette IN (SPX) Feb 12, 2021
Emerging robotics technology may soon help construction companies and contractors create buildings in less time at higher quality and at lower costs.
Purdue University innovators developed and are testing a novel construction robotic system that uses an innovative mechanical design with advances in computer vision sensing technology to work in a construction setting.
The technology w
Emerging robotics technology may soon help construction companies and contractors create buildings in less time at higher quality and at lower costs.
Purdue University innovators developed and are testing a novel construction robotic system that uses an innovative mechanical design with advances in computer vision sensing technology to work in a construction setting.
The technology w