marcopolosports.com

Its a Blogging Website

marcopolosports.com

Tag Archives: #nasa

What Happened to Mars’ Water? A latest Study offers a mindblowing answer

Posted on by
Reply

An analysis done by the University of Chicago of Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover data may added why the planet was probable a harsh desert for most of latest past.

The deep canyons on Mars shaped by ancient rivers showed that planed was once warm enough to help flowing liquid water.

But how did it transform into cold dry desert we see today and what caused this dramatic shift.

A latest study led by Edwin Kit scientist at University of Chicago offers latest explanation for this long standing mystery

Mars

Mars

Due to planet unqiue conditions these warm phases were short lived and Mars reverted to its dry inhospitable state.

Unlike Earth which has remained steadily habitable Mars appear to follow natural pattern that favors deser like condition over time.

The study builds on findings from NASA Mars Science Laboratory Curiosirt mission that were revealed in April the rover ultimately found rocks rich in carbonate mineral which could explain where Mars atmosphere went.

A Martian mystery

The explanation was made possible by Curiosity discovery revealed earlier this year of carbonate rich rocks on Mars surface.

This had been missing piece of puzzle for years the scientists added.

To have had liquid water, Mars had have a thicker atmosphere made up of greenhouse gas like CO2.

There is little atmosphere leaving a puzzle of where the carbon went.

“People have been looking for tomb for atmosphere for years” said Kite.

“It really is somethign you cannot know untile you have rover on surface” said study coauthor Benjamin Tutolo professor at University of Calgary

“The chemistry and mineralogy measurement they provide really are essential in our continuing quest to understand how and why planet stay habitable in order to search for hospitable wolrd out in universe”.

Mars has same makeup as Earth its a rocky planet with plenty of water and carbon near to sun to warmed but not cooked by it and today its a frozen desert while Earth fill with life.

Mars

Mars

For years scientists have searching for reply to why you are reading this from Earth and not Mars.

The mystery deepened when we were able to see river carved valley and old lakebeds on surface of Mars showing planet at some point did have climate that was warm enough for liquid water.

“Mars preserves a trace of that enviromental catastrophe in rocks on its surface” Kite said

“And today we are in golden age of Mars science with two plutonium powered rovers on surface and international fleet of spacecraft in orbit that permit us to deeply explore the planet for these traces”

When it comes to keeping planet balmy and mild is not enough to begin out that method there need to mechanism for stability over time that can reply to changes on and around the planet.

Scientist think Earth does this throug finely balance system that moves carbon from sky to rock and back again.

CO2 in atmosphere warms the planet but warmer temperature speed up reactions that lock up carbon dioxide into rock which finally counteracts the temperature rise.

Finally carbon leaks back out into atmosphere via volcanice eruptions.

Over million of years this cycle seems to have kept Earth stable and hospitable for life.

On Mars researchers said a similar cycle could take place but self limiting one.

It hinges on fact that our sun brightness rises very slowly over time about 8 percent per billion years.

As the sun brightens the scientist hypothesize liquid water starts running on Mars. But this water starts causing co2 to get lockied into rocks as it does on Earth which swings the planet back to cold and barren desert.

“In contrast to Earth where there are some volcanoes erupting. Mars right now is dormant and average rate of volcanic outglassing on Mars is slow

Kite said

“So in that situation you really have balance between carbon dioxide in and carbon dioxide out because if you have little bit of liquid water you are going to draw down carbon dioxide through carbonate formation”

Mars

Mars

The group buil models showing how these swings could occur.

They said that Mars experience short periods of liquid water followed by 100 million year long periods of desert.

Needless to added a 100  million year long gap in habitability is worse for life.

Why does Mars look yellow, purple and orange in ESA’s surprising latest satellite photos?

Posted on by
Reply

Stunning colors and features are captured in latest image of Mars’ surface.

Mars shows off its swirling yellows oranges browns in latest satellite images from European Space Agency ESA.

The Earth toned surface reveals an impace crater and four sneaky dust devils making their method across the region.

The Rothko like photo was taken by high resolution camera on ESA Mars Express orbiter and captures Arcadia Planitia an area of Mars critical to research about planet past and its potential to house humans in future.

tianwen-2

space epoch

Arcadia Planitia

Northwest of the tallest volcanoes in solar system Arcadia Planitia is region of intrigue.

Its fill with solidified lava flows that are 3 billion years old.

The region is thought to host water ice close to planet surface making it region of interest when planning futrure mission to Mars according to statement from ESA.

Arcadia Planitia is home to dust devils short lived columns of wind akin to little tornadoes.

Dust devils from when the Martian surface warms air just above it leading air to climb and pulling dust with it.

The new photo shows four dust devil as snake their method across the plains of area.

Easy to overlook you can spit them whitish puffs of dust near center of photos straddling the boundary between darket brown and lighter red parts of plain.

A mega impact crater sits in right corner of images and measure 9 miles across according to ESA.

The formation of layered material around crater is evidence that ground encompassed amounts of water ice during impace and lack of erosion of crater dates it relatively latest on geological timeline.

Chinese Space

CSA

Is the image out of focus?

Guts of air pick up and carry small particles of debris from planet surface which creates a minor visual haze.

Below the red section is purplish brown terrain which has high concentration of silicates and low concentration of iron notes.

The difference in colors stems from properties of sand like size and density which affect how grains accumulate and travel across Mars.

The wind cause haze is responsible for reddish region at top of images.

The red area is covered in ridges called vardangs which formed when wind erodes vulnerable rock and leaves resistant rock still standing.

Trump Signs Budget Bill Billions for Shuttle Relocation to Texas and NASA

Posted on by
Reply
The US House passed President Trump mega spending bill officially named the One Big Beautiful Bill Act on 3rd july.
Trump signed the bill on 4th July.
The bill consist of $10.08 billion for NASA programmes that Trump Administration had proposed cutting from Fy 2026 budget.
Space usa

MTO

Budget Proces Ongoing

This reconcillation bill provide funding to regular appropriations.

Progress on FY 2026 budget bills has been slower than usual.

The House was set to mark up the NASA consisting Commerve Justice Science CJS bill on 7th and 10th July

Space usa

MTO

How the Shuttle Sites were Chosen

Discovery is only shuttle orbiter still owned by government.

NASA used a formal method to decide ultimate display locations for four surviving orbiters.

A sum of 29 companies submitted proposals.

The main priority was to maximise public reach not programme history.

In 2011 then Administrator Charlie Bolden revealed the selections

Enterprise Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum NY

Endeavour California Science Center CA

Atlantis Kennedy Space Center FL

Discovery Smithsonia Udvar Hazy Center VA

An internal review confirmed that NAS followed its guidelines and was not required to priorities historical ties to programme.

Lawmakers Worjed Through the Recess

To meet 4th July deadline both chambers of Congress worked long hours giving up most of planned recess.

The Senate vote was tied 50-50 with Vice President Vance casting tie breaker.

Three senat republicans joined democrats and independents in opposing the bill.

In House it passed by narrow 218-214 margin with two Republicans voting no and all Democrats against.

Space usa

MTO

Mega Wins for NASA Projects

The final version of bill consist of following major allocations for NASA

$1.25 billion to ensure uninterrupted accest to ISS International Space Station until 2030.

This funding aims to avoid a gap before commerical replacements are ready.

At least $250 million per annum is set aside from FY 2025 through FY2029.

$700 million for MTO Mars Telecommunications Orbiter.

The Orbiter will developed by US commercial provide and is due by 31st December 2028.

It will help the Mars Sample Return mission and future Mars exploration efforts.

$6.72 billion is allocated to Artemis related projects consisting $2.6 billion for Gateway lunar space station.

$4.1 billion for SLS rockets help Artemis IV and V and $20 million for 4th Orion Spacecraft.

$1 billion for facility upgrades at five NASA centres

Michould Assembly Facility LA $30 million

Marshall Space Flight Center AL-$100 million

Stennis Space Center, MS $120 million

Kennedy Spece Center FL $250 million

Johnson Space Center TX $300 million.

$85 million for transffering a space Vehicl to NASA center involved in Commercial Crew Program.

This included $5 million for transportation and expected to used to relocate Shuttle discovery to Houston.

$325 million for US Deorbit Vehicle USDV which will finally deorbit the ISS into Pacific Ocean. NASA awarded $843 million to SpaceX for USDV. That did not consist of lauch costs.

This new funding is to finish the project though its not visible how it will be allocated.

Space usa

MTO

Shuttle Discovery to Leave Smithsonian?

The bill consist of $85 million for transfer of space vehicle to NASA centre involved in Commercial Crew Program.

The vehicle will go on public display at non profit venue with in 5 miles of that center.

Senators Ted Cruz and John  Corny of Texas are backing separate legislation to move Space Shuttle Discovery to Johnson Space Center in Houston.

$85 million is designated for vehicle transportation.

The two shuttle carrier aircraft use for transfer are museum exhibit themselves making logistics of move unclear.

 

Nasa Launches probe towards jupiter and its moon Europa to assess habitability

Posted on by
Reply

One day after launching a Starship rocket on test fight in Texas SpaceX fired off Falcon Heavy rocket from Florida Monday sending a $5.2 billion NASA probe on 1.8 billion mile voyage to jupiter to find out if one of moons host a habitable sub surface ocean.

The Europa Clipper will brake into orbit around Jupiter in April 2030 setting up 49 close flybys of the moon Europa an ice covered region with inside warmed by retenless squeezing of Jupiter gravity as it swings the giant planet in elliptical orbit.

Data from past mission and long range studies from Earth show a salt water ocean lurks beneath moon frozen crust providing a habitable environment.

Microbial life exist in ocean is unknown but Europa Clipper tools will try to find out if it is least possible.

“We want to determine whether Europa has potential to support simple life in deep ocean, beneath its icy layer” “We want to understand whether Europa has key ingredient to support life in its ocean the right chemical elements and energy source for life”

Project Scientist Robert Pappalardo said

“Europa is ice covered moon of Jupiter about the size of Earth moon but believed to have global subsurface ocean that contains more than twice the water of all of Earth oceans combined”

Europa Clipper Launch

To get to jupiter the clipper will first fly past Mars on March 1 using red planet gravity too its speed and bend trajectory to send the probe back toward Earth for another gravity assist flyby in December 2026.

The probe will brake into orbit around Jupiter on April 11,2030 using the gravity of moon Ganymede to slow down before a six to seven hour firing of probe thrusters.

The first of 49 planned flybys of Europa low as 16 miles above surface will start in early 2031.

The mission is expected to last at least three years with chance of extension depending on spacecraft health.

The Clipper will end its voyage with kamikaze descent to Jupiter moon Ganymede to prevent any chance of future uncontrolled crash on Europa that might bring microbes to moon and its habitable sub surface environment.

The Clipper was designed to withstand doses of radiation while making close flybys of Europa housing its flight computer and sensitive gear inside a vault shielded by sheets of aluminium zinc alloy.

Engineers held review to decide how that might affect Clipper and finally concluded the spacecraft could minimize radiation induced degradation by changing the way the flybys are executed.

The only change was to delay launch for years to replace components.

Engineers were dismayed to discover earlier that electrical components used throughout spacecraft failed lower levels of radiation than expected.

“The distance of Jupiter is five times farther from sun than the  Earth is That means it is very cold out there and there only faint sunlight to power the solar arrays so they are huge”

Once deployed the 13.5 foot wide solar arrays will stretch more than 100 feet from end to end more than length of basketball court with two radar antennas extending 58 feet from each array.

NASA planned to launch clipper past week but mission managers ordered a delay to avoid Hurricane Milton which swept across Cape Canaveral on Thursday.

One day slip was ordered to resolve a technical issue and while details were not provided the rocket was cleared for launch.

Right one time the triple core falcon Heavy 27 first engines ignited and throttled up at 12:6pm EDT pushing the towering rocket away from pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center with over 5 million pounds of thrust.

Falcon Heavy is giving Europa Clipper its all sending the spacecraft to farthest destination we have ever sent which mean mission requires maximum performance.

“I do not know about you guys but I can not think of better mission to sacrifice booster for where we might have chance to discover life in own solar system”

Missian scientists were attempt to get long mission underway.

“What would be greatest outocme?

“In future may be NASA could send a lander to scoop down below surface and literally search for signs of life”

Pappalardo said.