Mars
Mars is a planet in the inner solar system, the fourth planet from the Sun. It is best known for its dusty deserts, polar ice caps, and notable features such as Olympus Mons the tallest volcano and Valles Marineris canyon, as well as evidence of past liquid water. It remains a focus of current news and public discourse due to ongoing robotic missions, upcoming sample-return plans, and interest in past habitability and potential human exploration.
Activity
NASA’s Curiosity Rover Captures Fish-Scale and 'Dragon Scale' Patterns on Mars
NASA's Curiosity Rover has observed fish-scale and polygonal 'dragon scale' patterns on Mars' surface. The findings enhance understanding of Mars' geology and surface formations, prompting new research questions.
NASA's Curiosity Rover Finds Most Diverse Organic Molecules on Mars, Including First-Time Compounds
NASA's Curiosity rover analyzed a 2020 rock sample on Mars and identified 20+ organic molecules, including seven never before seen on the planet. This breakthrough highlights the planet's potential to have supported life and guides future exploration endeavors.
NASA's Artemis II crew safely returns to Earth after 10-day lunar orbit
NASA's Artemis II crew completed a 10-day mission around the Moon and safely returned to Earth with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. This milestone advances lunar exploration and paves the way for future crewed missions to Mars.
Mars Orbiters Capture Solar Superstorm Impact, Signaling New Insights into Red Planet's Atmosphere
Mars orbiters have observed a solar superstorm hitting the Red Planet, offering unprecedented data on planetary responses to solar activity. The event's timing was fortunate, providing scientists with new insights into Mars' atmospheric dynamics during extreme space weather.
Life on Mars and Earth Could Share Origins via Interplanetary Debris
Scientists have found that asteroid debris can carry and support life forms traveling between Mars and Earth. This discovery raises important questions about planetary contamination and the potential spread of microbial life across planets.
NASA upgrades Perseverance rover with Mars-centric navigation system and Mars Helicopter tech
NASA is upgrading its Perseverance rover's navigation system by incorporating technology from the Mars Helicopter, Ingenuity. This new system provides the rover with a form of GPS on Mars, enhancing its autonomy in the planet's challenging terrain.