Latest news with #Martian
Economic Times
a day ago
- Science
- Economic Times
Mars secret revealed: The Red Planet's cracked skin may be hiding an ancient truth
NASA's Curiosity rover has captured the first-ever close-up images of spiderweb-like 'boxwork' formations on Mars, revealing new clues about the planet's ancient water systems. These intricate mineral ridges, buried for eons then revealed by Martian wind, suggest Mars once had underground liquid water. Found uniquely on Mount Sharp, they've stunned scientists and sparked new questions about the Red Planet's past climate—and whether it could once have supported microbial life in salt-rich, subsurface habitats. Disclaimer Statement: This content is authored by a 3rd party. The views expressed here are that of the respective authors/ entities and do not represent the views of Economic Times (ET). ET does not guarantee, vouch for or endorse any of its contents nor is responsible for them in any manner whatsoever. Please take all steps necessary to ascertain that any information and content provided is correct, updated, and verified. ET hereby disclaims any and all warranties, express or implied, relating to the report and any content therein. More
Time of India
a day ago
- Science
- Time of India
Mars secret revealed: The Red Planet's cracked skin may be hiding an ancient truth
NASA's Curiosity rover has captured the first-ever close-up images of spiderweb-like 'boxwork' formations on Mars, revealing new clues about the planet's ancient water systems. These intricate mineral ridges, buried for eons then revealed by Martian wind, suggest Mars once had underground liquid water. Found uniquely on Mount Sharp, they've stunned scientists and sparked new questions about the Red Planet's past climate—and whether it could once have supported microbial life in salt-rich, subsurface habitats. Disclaimer Statement: This content is authored by a 3rd party. The views expressed here are that of the respective authors/ entities and do not represent the views of Economic Times (ET). ET does not guarantee, vouch for or endorse any of its contents nor is responsible for them in any manner whatsoever. Please take all steps necessary to ascertain that any information and content provided is correct, updated, and verified. ET hereby disclaims any and all warranties, express or implied, relating to the report and any content therein. More
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Mars orbiter that launched from Florida captures 1st-ever pic of volcano above clouds
A NASA spacecraft that has been circling Mars for more than two decades recently spotted something it never has before in well over 100,000 orbits of the Red Planet. On a morning horizon in May, the Odyssey spacecraft caught a stunning glimpse of one of the planet's largest volcanoes peeking out above a canopy of clouds. Known as Arsia Mons, the volcano dwarfs Earth's tallest volcanoes. Odyssey, which launched on its mission about 24 years ago from Florida, snapped some photos of the volcano in May, which NASA released in June in a blog post. Scientists at the U.S. space agency say the images provide far more than just a striking never-before-seen view of the Martian geography. In fact, studying the features detailed in Odyssey's photos could help NASA prepare for future crewed missions to Mars by better understanding the planet's weather and atmosphere. Here's a look at what Odyssey captured and what to know about the volcano, Arsia Mons. The new panorama captured by the Odyssey orbiter shows one of Mars' tallest volcanoes poking through clouds just before dawn. The image marks the first time a Martian volcano can be seen on the planet's horizon, offering what NASA says is a view akin to what astronauts on the International Space Station have of Earth. Odyssey's camera, called the Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS,) is built to study the Martian surface. The THEMIS camera is equipped to view Mars in both visible and infrared light, the second of which allows scientists to identify subsurface areas that contain water ice. Such a resource would be an invaluable source of not only water, but a means to produce oxygen and fuel for crewed spacecraft when the first astronauts land on Mars. Odyssey rotated 90 degrees while orbiting Mars so that its camera had the correct angle to capture the shot, which, by revealing the horizon, allows scientists to observe seasonal changes on the Red Planet. Understandin the planet's weather, including its dust storms, could also help the space agency plan for future human spaceflights, according to NASA. The volcano Odyssey spotted is known as Arsia Mons, which is one of three on Mars forming the Tharsis Montes, or Tharsis Mountains. While clouds composed of carbon dioxide are common on Mars, the Martian mountain range is instead often surrounded by water ice clouds, especially in the morning, NASA says. Odyssey's latest horizon image, captured May 2, indicates that Arsia Mons stands 12 miles high. That's roughly twice as tall as Earth's largest volcano, Mauna Loa in Hawaii, which rises six miles above the seafloor. The southernmost of the Tharsis volcanoes, Arsia Mons is also the cloudiest of the three. The clouds, which form when air expands as it blows up the sides of the mountain and rapidly cools, are especially thick when Mars is farthest from the sun. The band of clouds that forms across the planet's equator at this time of year, called the aphelion cloud belt, is on prominent display in Odyssey's new panorama. 'We picked Arsia Mons hoping we would see the summit poke above the early morning clouds," Jonathon Hill, a researcher at Arizona State University who is the operations lead for THEMIS, said in a statement. "And it didn't disappoint.' Odyssey, which launched in 2021 from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, is the longest-running mission orbiting any planet besides Earth. The orbiter is also one of two spacecrafts orbiting Mars under threat of being axed under President Donald Trump's budget proposal for NASA. Managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, Odyssey completed its primary science mission from February 2002 through August 2004. Since then, the orbiter has set out to study Martian clouds, fog and frost while mapping the surface to pave the way for future crewed landings. The newest panorama, NASA said, represents the kind of science the orbiter began pursuing in 2023, when it captured the first of its now four high-altitude images of the Martian horizon. Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@ This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Mars orbiter get unprecedented look at volcano years after Florida launch
Time Business News
2 days ago
- Science
- Time Business News
AI in Space Exploration: Ushering in a New Era of Autonomy and Discovery
The past two years have marked an unprecedented leap in the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) across space exploration missions, transforming everything from spacecraft autonomy and robotic cooperation to deep-space computing. As global space agencies, commercial ventures, and academic institutions harness AI's power, the boundaries of human ingenuity continue to expand beyond Earth's atmosphere. Transformative AI Milestones On-orbit AI Supercomputers In May 2025, China launched the first 12 satellites of its ambitious 'Three‑Body Computing Constellation,' an in-space AI supercomputer network. Ultimately planned to include 2,800 tightly linked satellites capable of onboard processing at an estimated 1,000 peta-operations per second, this constellation uses laser-based inter-satellite links and passive cooling in orbit to revolutionize data handling dramatically reducing dependency on Earth-based ground stations. Robotic Intelligence on the Moon and Mars AI-driven systems now play central roles in locating lunar ice for life support, producing oxygen from Martian dirt, and constructing shelters using local materials all essential components for sustainable off-world habitats. ESA's OPS-SAT mission has successfully deployed AI neural networks onboard to autonomously analyze imagery, detect anomalies, retrain models in orbit, and even generate sanitized images using Generative AI. Intelligent Earth Observation Satellites ESA's Phi‑Sat‑1 CubeSat and Poland's Intuition‑1 hyperspectral satellite demonstrate AI-enabled onboard processing designed to identify cloud-covered images and characterize soil health before downlinking reducing bandwidth usage and delivering actionable insights more efficiently Scientific Algorithms and Autonomous Decision-Making NASA's Perseverance rover now leverages AI to detect minerals on Mars in real time, effectively making science-based decisions without awaiting instructions from Earth. Concurrently, NASA's 'AI Use Case Inventory' has cataloged multiple tools like AEGIS, AutoNav, ASPEN, and CLASP enabling autonomous navigation, mission planning, and operational management in deep space. Emerging Research and Future Initiatives In-Orbit Manufacturing & Digital Twins: A new German-led initiative is developing an 'in-orbit factory' to assemble small satellites autonomously using AI-guided robotic arms and digital process twins to ensure fault-tolerance Collaborative Robots for ISRU: The CISRU framework combines multi-agent autonomy, environment perception, and MR interfaces for efficient collaboration between humans and robots in resource extraction from extra-terrestrial surfaces. Astrobiology with ML: Cutting-edge machine learning research supports real-time identification of bio signatures during planetary missions—advancing the scientific search for life beyond Earth. Looking Ahead: Charting an Interstellar Future Deep Space Computing Networks Onboard AI supercomputers, like China's Three‑Body Constellation, signal a transformative shift toward decentralized, edge-enabled computations in orbit and pave the way for faster, more reliable missions. Fully Autonomous Missions The integration of rock-hunting rovers, intelligent sat-nav systems, and autonomous planners is driving humanity toward missions led primarily by intelligence algorithms, not Earth-based controllers. About Author: HTF Market Intelligence Consulting is uniquely positioned to empower and inspire with research and consulting services to empower businesses with growth strategies, by offering services with extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events, and experience that assist in decision-making. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Time of India
2 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
NASA's Mars rover captures first close-up of bizarre 'spiderwebs' on the Red Planet
's Curiosity rover has captured the first-ever close-up images of strange, spiderweb-like rock formations on the surface of Mars. These formations offer new clues about the planet's ancient, watery past. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The mysterious zig-zagging structures, known as 'boxwork,' were discovered on the slopes of Mount Sharp inside Gale Crater, where Curiosity has been exploring since 2012. These intricate mineral-rich ridges likely formed from ancient groundwater activity and resemble webs when viewed from above. Scientists hope these formations may hold vital clues about Mars' potential to support microbial life in the distant past. What are Martian "spiderwebs" that are captured by NASA? Despite their nickname, the spiderweb-like structures aren't made by Martian insects. They are geological features known as boxwork, a pattern of intersecting mineral ridges that form when groundwater seeps through cracks in rock, leaving behind mineral deposits. Over time, wind erosion removes the surrounding softer rock, revealing the hardened web-like framework underneath. A first in Martian exploration While boxwork formations have been seen from orbit, this marks the first time they've been examined up close on Mars. Curiosity reached the site in early June 2025 after months of navigating Mount Sharp. NASA released the images and a 3D interactive video of the formations on June 23, describing them as a top scientific priority due to their unique structure and unexplained location. What the rocks reveal about ancient Mars Analysis of the surrounding rocks shows veins of calcium sulfate, a salty mineral commonly left behind by groundwater. These findings suggest the area was once rich in liquid water, and the underground environment could have been warm and salty—potentially hospitable to microbial life, similar to some regions on early Earth. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Not the first 'spiders' on Mars The newly imaged boxwork formations should not be confused with the so-called 'spiders on Mars' — dark, radial patterns caused by carbon dioxide ice erupting from beneath the surface. Unlike those seasonal features, boxwork is permanent and mineral-based, formed through geological—not atmospheric—processes. Could this mean Mars once supported life? Scientists believe these formations could help settle the debate over whether Mars once harbored life. The mineral composition, protected underground conditions, and evidence of flowing water all point to an environment that could have supported microbial organisms. As Kirsten Siebach, a Curiosity mission scientist, put it, 'Early Earth microbes could have survived in a similar environment.' What's next for Curiosity? Curiosity will continue studying this patch of boxwork on Mount Sharp, drilling samples and conducting in-depth chemical analysis. Researchers hope these unique structures will not only reveal more about Mars' climate history but also help guide future missions in the search for signs of life beneath the Martian surface.
