Latest news with #MarsExpress
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Mars may hold a massive water reservoir, enough to flood the planet up to nine feet
Mars may be hiding a vast stash of water beneath the Medusae Fossae Formation (MFF) near its ice-rich deposit could be the largest known water reservoir in this part of Mars, with an estimated volume comparable to Earth's Red Sea. If melted, it has the potential to flood the entire planet in nine feet of water, scientists data from the Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionospheric Sounding (MARSIS) suggests the underground water reservoir extends up to 2.2 miles (3.7 km) deep—far more than previously thought. 'We've explored the MFF again using newer data from Mars Express's MARSIS radar and found the deposits to be even thicker than we thought,' said Thomas Watters, lead author of the study and a scientist at the Smithsonian Institution. 'Excitingly, the radar signals match what we'd expect from layered ice, similar to Mars' known polar ice caps.' The MFF has long intrigued scientists due to its size and unusual composition. Stretching for hundreds of miles and rising over a mile high in places, it marks the transition between Mars' northern lowlands and southern highlands. The formation has been a focal point of scientific debate, with theories ranging from it being a massive accumulation of windblown dust to layers of volcanic ash or sediment. Early observations suggested the MFF contained ice, as radar scans revealed a structure both transparent to signals and unusually low in density. But alternative explanations persisted—until now. Researchers believe that the MFF plays a crucial role in shaping the Martian environment. Its dust-rich deposits, which have been sculpted by wind into striking ridges, have been influencing the planet's atmosphere for millions of years. Scientists suspect that underneath this layer lies a vast store of ice. 'This latest analysis challenges our understanding of the Medusae Fossae Formation and raises as many questions as answers,' said Colin Wilson, ESA project scientist for Mars Express and the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter. 'How long ago did these ice deposits form, and what was Mars like at that time? If confirmed to be water ice, these massive deposits would change our understanding of Mars' climate history. Any reservoir of ancient water would be a fascinating target for human or robotic exploration.' Mars' poles contain vast ice reserves, but their harsh terrain and energy challenges make them unsuitable for human landings. As scientists prefer landing crewed missions near the equator, the discovery of equatorial ice could offer a strategic advantage to scientists and engineers. Water on Mars could be used for drinking, oxygen generation, and even fuel production, reducing reliance on Earth-based supplies. 'The MFF deposits, buried under extensive dust layers, remain out of reach for the time being,' said Colin Wilson, ESA project scientist for Mars Express and the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter. 'Yet, each discovery of Martian ice enriches our understanding of the planet's hydrological history and current water distribution.' Beyond its role in exploration, the discovery offers new insights into Mars' past climate. The presence of deep equatorial ice suggests a drastically different environment in the planet's history Scientists believe the MFF's ice, protected by layers of dust or ash, could reveal clues about Mars' ancient, water-rich past. The full study was published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Unprecedented images of mysterious Mars moon captured by space probe
A space probe flying past Mars captured images of the red planet's small, mysterious moon. The space probe, named Hera, was launched on Oct. 7, 2024, and is on a mission to gather close-up data about the Dimorphos asteroid, the European Space Agency said in a news release. The asteroid was the first to have its orbit altered by human action, when it was impacted by NASA's DART spacecraft in 2022. The goal of Hera is to learn more about asteroid deflection so the technique can be refined and used again. While on a flyby of Mars, Hera was able to use three of its imaging instruments to capture images of Deimos, the smaller of Mars' two moons, the ESA said. Deimos is about 15,000 miles from Mars. Scientists have previously speculated that it may actually be a piece of asteroid, not a moon. Hera got as close as 1,000 kilometers, or about 620 miles, to Deimos. It used its various instruments to capture the images, characterize the mineral makeup on the moon and chart surface temperatures. These features combined will help scientists learn more about the lunar body, the ESA said. "These instruments have been tried out before, during Hera's departure from Earth, but this is the first time that we have employed them on a small distant moon for which we still lack knowledge – demonstrating their excellent performance in the process," ESA Hera mission scientist Michael Kueppers said in the news release. The ESA's Mars Express, which has been orbiting the red planet for over 20 years, also contributed observations of the moon. Results from the encounter should help guide operational planning for a mission set to explore Martian moons in 2026, the ESA said. That mission, in conjunction with NASA and French and German space agencies, will collect detailed measurements of Mars' two moons and land on Phobos, the larger lunar body, to collect a sample that can be returned to Earth for analysis. Hera also used the flyby of Mars to adjust its trajectory through deep space. That maneuver shortened Hera's travel time to Dimorphos, the ESA said. Hera will also collect information about Didymos, the asteroid that Dimorphos orbits around. Hera is expected to reach the Didymos in December 2026, the ESA said. "This has been the Hera team's first exciting experience of exploration, but not our last," said Hera mission manager Ian Carnelli in the news release. "In 21 months the spacecraft will reach our target asteroids, and start our crash site investigation of the only object in our Solar System to have had its orbit measurably altered by human action." Trump reacts to European Union slapping tariffs on U.S. goods Kentucky bourbon maker says Trump tariffs immediately impacted his business Latest on missing American college student in the Dominican Republic
CBS News
13-03-2025
- Science
- CBS News
Mysterious Mars moon captured in unprecedented images by space probe
A space probe flying past Mars captured images of the red planet's small, mysterious moon. The space probe, named Hera, was launched on Oct. 7, 2024, and is on a mission to gather close-up data about the Dimorphos asteroid, the European Space Agency said in a news release. The asteroid was the first to have its orbit altered by human action, when it was impacted by NASA's DART spacecraft in 2022. The goal of Hera is to learn more about asteroid deflection so the technique can be refined and used again. While on a flyby of Mars, Hera was able to use three of its imaging instruments to capture images of Deimos, the smaller of Mars' two moons, the ESA said. Deimos is about 15,000 miles from Mars. Scientists have previously speculated that it may actually be a piece of asteroid, not a moon. Hera got as close as 1,000 kilometers, or about 620 miles, to Deimos. It used its various instruments to capture the images, characterize the mineral makeup on the moon and chart surface temperatures. These features combined will help scientists learn more about the lunar body, the ESA said. "These instruments have been tried out before, during Hera's departure from Earth, but this is the first time that we have employed them on a small distant moon for which we still lack knowledge – demonstrating their excellent performance in the process," ESA Hera mission scientist Michael Kueppers said in the news release. The ESA's Mars Express, which has been orbiting the red planet for over 20 years, also contributed observations of the moon. Results from the encounter should help guide operational planning for a mission set to explore Martian moons in 2026, the ESA said. That mission, in conjunction with NASA and French and German space agencies, will collect detailed measurements of Mars' two moons and land on Phobos, the larger lunar body, to collect a sample that can be returned to Earth for analysis. Hera also used the flyby of Mars to adjust its trajectory through deep space. That maneuver shortened Hera's travel time to Dimorphos, the ESA said. Hera will also collect information about Didymos, the asteroid that Dimorphos orbits around. Hera is expected to reach the Didymos in December 2026, the ESA said. "This has been the Hera team's first exciting experience of exploration, but not our last," said Hera mission manager Ian Carnelli in the news release. "In 21 months the spacecraft will reach our target asteroids, and start our crash site investigation of the only object in our Solar System to have had its orbit measurably altered by human action."
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
New Data Shows Mars' Red Hue May Have Come From A Different Source Than Previously Thought
Scientists may finally know what gives Mars its red hue, and it's turned the previous theory on its head. It has long been thought that the Red Planet got its coloring due to rusted iron minerals within the dust on the surface. Since observations by spacecraft didn't detect any evidence of water on the planet, it was believed that the iron oxide came from hematite, forming through reactions with the planet's atmosphere over billions of years, CNN reported. This theory meant that the hematite would have formed later in Mars' history after the planet's lakes and rivers disappeared. But new findings published in February in the journal Nature Communications have shown that iron within Mars' rocks may have reacted with both water and oxygen to create iron oxide, just like what happens on Earth. That iron oxide broke down over billions of years, creating the planet's famous red dust. (MORE: Five Must-See Night Sky Events This March) 'There are ways to form oxidized iron without water, and some proposed dry processes include surface oxidation like the oxidation rinds that form in rocks in the Antarctic Dry Valleys, and surface oxidation by abrasion as the surface is blasted with sand grains over long periods. But there are also lots of ways to oxidize with water too, including in soils and lakes,' Briony Horgan, co-investigator on the Perseverance rover mission and professor of planetary science at Purdue University, told CNN. The type of iron oxide now believed to be responsible for Mars' coloring is called ferrihydrite, which forms quickly in cool water, and likely formed on the planet when water was still present on the surface before the planet chilled significantly, NASA reported. Scientists used data collected by the European Space Agency's Mars Express orbiter, the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter and NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and several NASA rovers. (MORE: Earth Will Have Second Moon For About Two Months) The scientists also recreated dust similar to that found on Mars using different types of iron oxide and grinding it finely similar to the dust on the planet. They then compared their creations to dust from Mars' surface. The findings change our understanding of Mars and its history. Ferrihydrite lending to Mars' red coloring could mean that there was more widespread water across the planet than previously thought. Both water and oxygen are important resources for a planet to host life, and for water to be present, the planet was likely at a more habitable temperature.
Voice of America
02-03-2025
- Science
- Voice of America
New Discovery Could Explain What Gives Mars its Red Color
Scientists say they might have identified the mineral on Mars that is responsible for making the planet appear red. New data collected on Mars through several methods suggests the substance, called ferrihydrite, is likely found in dust and rock material across wide areas of the planet. The team carrying out the research describes ferrihydrite as an 'iron oxide mineral.' The mineral appears reddish in color and can form in water-rich environments. The scientists said discovering large amounts of it on Mars adds to existing evidence that the planet might have held a large supply of liquid water in the past. The research was carried out by an international team led by America's Brown University and the University of Bern in Switzerland. The findings recently appeared in a study published in Nature Communications. The researchers noted that scientists have long wondered about the exact substance that gives Mars – which is also known as the Red Planet – its deep red color. Past studies had suggested a mineral called hematite might be the cause. The study is based on Martian data collected by several spacecraft. These include the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, operated by the American space agency NASA. In addition, information was captured by instruments aboard the European Space Agency's (ESA's) Mars Express and Trace Gas orbiters. Some data also came from exploring vehicles, called rovers, operating on Mars. In their examinations, the researchers also used manmade, or synthetic, material designed to look and feel similar to real Martian dust. Adomas Valantinas currently works as a researcher at Brown University's Department of Earth, Environment & Planetary Sciences. He helped write the study. Valantinas noted the mystery of why Mars is red had been considered 'for hundreds, if not thousands, of years.' Valantinas recognized his team was not the first to consider ferrihydrite as a possible reason for the coloring of Mars. But he noted, 'it has never been proven as we have now, using observational data and novel laboratory methods…' Valantinas noted the discovery of widespread ferrihydrite suggests Mars once held liquid water that would have made it possible for the planet to support some form of life. "Our study reveals that ferrihydrite formation on Mars required the presence of both oxygen…and water capable of reacting with iron,' he added. 'These conditions were very different from the dry, cold environment of Mars today." John Mustard is a planetary expert at Brown University and was a co-writer of the study. He called it 'a door-opening opportunity' for future research. But he added that additional study is needed to confirm the team's latest findings. "As exciting as the new findings are, we realize that our results can only be verified by samples from Mars, which are currently being collected by NASA's Perseverance rover,' Mustard said. He added, 'When we get those back, we will be able to check whether our theory about ferrihydrite is correct." I'm Bryan Lynn. Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from __________________________________________________ Words in This Story novel – adj. new or different from anything else opportunity – n. a situation in which it is possible for someone to do something verify – v. to confirm whether something is true check –v. to find out if something is correct or not
