NASA finds methane on Mars, indicates life may have existed

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75302 ter an exhaustive analysis conducted over a year and a half, NASA’s Curiosity Rover has finally confirmed the existence of methane on Mars, somewthing which indicates that life may have existed (or still exist) on Mars.

 

In 2013, when Curiosity conducted the first analysis for methane, it didn’t find anything – something which took NASA by surprise. The existence of methane would be a good indication of life on Mars, though it can be produced without life, and life can also exist without producing it. Not finding any of it was a big blow which left scientists scratching their heads. Now, astrobiologists can rest at peace – methane does exist on the Red Planet.

«It is a finding that puts paid to the question of the presence of methane in the Martian atmosphere but it does pose some other more complex and far-reaching questions, such as the nature of its sources,» said study co-author Francisco Javier Martin-Torres from the Andalusian Institute of Earth Sciences (CSIC-UGR) at the University of Granada, Spain.
Methane is an organic chemical compound made of one atom of carbon and four atoms of hydrogen. In its natural state on Earth, methane is found both below ground, and under the sea floor, where it often finds its way to the surface and in the atmosphere. However, on Mars, it’s not clear how the methane might form.

«The sources, we believe, must lie in one or two additional sources that were not originally contemplated in the models used so far. Among these sources, we must not rule out biological methanogenesis,» he added.
According to currently existing models, methane would take 300 years to leave the Martian atmosphere – so if we found methane now then it was likely produced sometime in the pas 300 years. If it is indeed of biological origin, then the life forms which produced it still exist today.

The finding was made with the tunable laser spectrometer in the SAM (Sample Analysis at Mars). Spectroscopic techniques in general have a great potential for detection and monitoring of constituents in gas phase and they are highly sensitive to any change in concentration – so it’s extremely unlikely that Curiosity was wrongl.

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NASA finds methane on Mars, indicates life may have existed

Escrito por

75302 ter an exhaustive analysis conducted over a year and a half, NASA’s Curiosity Rover has finally confirmed the existence of methane on Mars, somewthing which indicates that life may have existed (or still exist) on Mars.

 

In 2013, when Curiosity conducted the first analysis for methane, it didn’t find anything – something which took NASA by surprise. The existence of methane would be a good indication of life on Mars, though it can be produced without life, and life can also exist without producing it. Not finding any of it was a big blow which left scientists scratching their heads. Now, astrobiologists can rest at peace – methane does exist on the Red Planet.

«It is a finding that puts paid to the question of the presence of methane in the Martian atmosphere but it does pose some other more complex and far-reaching questions, such as the nature of its sources,» said study co-author Francisco Javier Martin-Torres from the Andalusian Institute of Earth Sciences (CSIC-UGR) at the University of Granada, Spain.
Methane is an organic chemical compound made of one atom of carbon and four atoms of hydrogen. In its natural state on Earth, methane is found both below ground, and under the sea floor, where it often finds its way to the surface and in the atmosphere. However, on Mars, it’s not clear how the methane might form.

«The sources, we believe, must lie in one or two additional sources that were not originally contemplated in the models used so far. Among these sources, we must not rule out biological methanogenesis,» he added.
According to currently existing models, methane would take 300 years to leave the Martian atmosphere – so if we found methane now then it was likely produced sometime in the pas 300 years. If it is indeed of biological origin, then the life forms which produced it still exist today.

The finding was made with the tunable laser spectrometer in the SAM (Sample Analysis at Mars). Spectroscopic techniques in general have a great potential for detection and monitoring of constituents in gas phase and they are highly sensitive to any change in concentration – so it’s extremely unlikely that Curiosity was wrongl.

Descargar

NASA finds methane on Mars, indicates life may have existed

Escrito por

75302 ter an exhaustive analysis conducted over a year and a half, NASA’s Curiosity Rover has finally confirmed the existence of methane on Mars, somewthing which indicates that life may have existed (or still exist) on Mars.

 

In 2013, when Curiosity conducted the first analysis for methane, it didn’t find anything – something which took NASA by surprise. The existence of methane would be a good indication of life on Mars, though it can be produced without life, and life can also exist without producing it. Not finding any of it was a big blow which left scientists scratching their heads. Now, astrobiologists can rest at peace – methane does exist on the Red Planet.

«It is a finding that puts paid to the question of the presence of methane in the Martian atmosphere but it does pose some other more complex and far-reaching questions, such as the nature of its sources,» said study co-author Francisco Javier Martin-Torres from the Andalusian Institute of Earth Sciences (CSIC-UGR) at the University of Granada, Spain.
Methane is an organic chemical compound made of one atom of carbon and four atoms of hydrogen. In its natural state on Earth, methane is found both below ground, and under the sea floor, where it often finds its way to the surface and in the atmosphere. However, on Mars, it’s not clear how the methane might form.

«The sources, we believe, must lie in one or two additional sources that were not originally contemplated in the models used so far. Among these sources, we must not rule out biological methanogenesis,» he added.
According to currently existing models, methane would take 300 years to leave the Martian atmosphere – so if we found methane now then it was likely produced sometime in the pas 300 years. If it is indeed of biological origin, then the life forms which produced it still exist today.

The finding was made with the tunable laser spectrometer in the SAM (Sample Analysis at Mars). Spectroscopic techniques in general have a great potential for detection and monitoring of constituents in gas phase and they are highly sensitive to any change in concentration – so it’s extremely unlikely that Curiosity was wrongl.

Descargar

Methane on Mars means life may have once existed on the red planet

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75302 Possibility of life on Mars has been a never ending debate but an exhaustive analysis of data obtained during 605 Martian days by NASA’s Curiosity rover confirms presence of methane in Mars’ atmosphere which hints that life may have once existed on the red planet.

 

The tunable laser spectrometer in the SAM (Sample Analysis at Mars) instrument of the Curiosity robot has unequivocally detected an episodic increase in the concentration of methane in Mars’ atmosphere. This increase in concentration of Methane puts an end to the long controversy on the presence of methane in Mars, which started over a decade ago when this gas was first detected with telescopes from the Earth, the authors from the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) reveal.

Since methane can be the product of biological activity – practically all the existing methane in the Earth’s atmosphere originates in this way – this has created great expectations that Martian methane could also be of a similar origin.

«It is a finding that puts paid to the question of the presence of methane in the Martian atmosphere but it does pose some other more complex and far-reaching questions, such as the nature of its sources,» said study co-author Francisco Javier Martin-Torres from the Andalusian Institute of Earth Sciences (CSIC-UGR) at the University of Granada, Spain.

«The sources, we believe, must lie in one or two additional sources that were not originally contemplated in the models used so far. Among these sources, we must not rule out biological methanogenesis,» he added.

According to some current models, if there really existed methane in Mars, it would remain there for an average 300 years and during this period, it would be homogeneously distributed across the atmosphere.

SAM has been detecting basal levels of methane concentration and has confirmed an event of episodic increase of up to 10 times this value during a period of 60 Martian days.

The new data are based on observations during almost one Martian year (almost two Earth years), included in the initial prediction for the duration of the mission (nominal mission), during which Curiosity has surveyed about 8 kms in the basin of the Gale crater.

The newly arrived MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution) from NASA will provide continuity for the study of this subject, the US space agency said in a statement.

In the near future, the Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO), jointly developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Russian Space Agency (Ruscosmos) will measure the concentration of methane on Mars at a larger scale.

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Methane on Mars means life may have once existed on the red planet

Escrito por

75302 Possibility of life on Mars has been a never ending debate but an exhaustive analysis of data obtained during 605 Martian days by NASA’s Curiosity rover confirms presence of methane in Mars’ atmosphere which hints that life may have once existed on the red planet.

 

The tunable laser spectrometer in the SAM (Sample Analysis at Mars) instrument of the Curiosity robot has unequivocally detected an episodic increase in the concentration of methane in Mars’ atmosphere. This increase in concentration of Methane puts an end to the long controversy on the presence of methane in Mars, which started over a decade ago when this gas was first detected with telescopes from the Earth, the authors from the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) reveal.

Since methane can be the product of biological activity – practically all the existing methane in the Earth’s atmosphere originates in this way – this has created great expectations that Martian methane could also be of a similar origin.

«It is a finding that puts paid to the question of the presence of methane in the Martian atmosphere but it does pose some other more complex and far-reaching questions, such as the nature of its sources,» said study co-author Francisco Javier Martin-Torres from the Andalusian Institute of Earth Sciences (CSIC-UGR) at the University of Granada, Spain.

«The sources, we believe, must lie in one or two additional sources that were not originally contemplated in the models used so far. Among these sources, we must not rule out biological methanogenesis,» he added.

According to some current models, if there really existed methane in Mars, it would remain there for an average 300 years and during this period, it would be homogeneously distributed across the atmosphere.

SAM has been detecting basal levels of methane concentration and has confirmed an event of episodic increase of up to 10 times this value during a period of 60 Martian days.

The new data are based on observations during almost one Martian year (almost two Earth years), included in the initial prediction for the duration of the mission (nominal mission), during which Curiosity has surveyed about 8 kms in the basin of the Gale crater.

The newly arrived MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution) from NASA will provide continuity for the study of this subject, the US space agency said in a statement.

In the near future, the Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO), jointly developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Russian Space Agency (Ruscosmos) will measure the concentration of methane on Mars at a larger scale.

Descargar

Methane on Mars means life may have once existed on the red planet

Escrito por

75302 Possibility of life on Mars has been a never ending debate but an exhaustive analysis of data obtained during 605 Martian days by NASA’s Curiosity rover confirms presence of methane in Mars’ atmosphere which hints that life may have once existed on the red planet.

 

The tunable laser spectrometer in the SAM (Sample Analysis at Mars) instrument of the Curiosity robot has unequivocally detected an episodic increase in the concentration of methane in Mars’ atmosphere. This increase in concentration of Methane puts an end to the long controversy on the presence of methane in Mars, which started over a decade ago when this gas was first detected with telescopes from the Earth, the authors from the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) reveal.

Since methane can be the product of biological activity – practically all the existing methane in the Earth’s atmosphere originates in this way – this has created great expectations that Martian methane could also be of a similar origin.

«It is a finding that puts paid to the question of the presence of methane in the Martian atmosphere but it does pose some other more complex and far-reaching questions, such as the nature of its sources,» said study co-author Francisco Javier Martin-Torres from the Andalusian Institute of Earth Sciences (CSIC-UGR) at the University of Granada, Spain.

«The sources, we believe, must lie in one or two additional sources that were not originally contemplated in the models used so far. Among these sources, we must not rule out biological methanogenesis,» he added.

According to some current models, if there really existed methane in Mars, it would remain there for an average 300 years and during this period, it would be homogeneously distributed across the atmosphere.

SAM has been detecting basal levels of methane concentration and has confirmed an event of episodic increase of up to 10 times this value during a period of 60 Martian days.

The new data are based on observations during almost one Martian year (almost two Earth years), included in the initial prediction for the duration of the mission (nominal mission), during which Curiosity has surveyed about 8 kms in the basin of the Gale crater.

The newly arrived MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution) from NASA will provide continuity for the study of this subject, the US space agency said in a statement.

In the near future, the Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO), jointly developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Russian Space Agency (Ruscosmos) will measure the concentration of methane on Mars at a larger scale.

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Methane on Mars hints life existed there: NASA

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75302 After an exhaustive analysis of data obtained during 605 Martian days, NASA’s Curiosity rover has confirmed the presence of methane on Mars environment which may hint that life once existed on the Red Planet.

 

The tunable laser spectrometer in the SAM (Sample Analysis at Mars) instrument of the Curiosity robot has unequivocally detected an episodic increase in the concentration of methane in Mars’ atmosphere.

This puts an end to the long controversy on the presence of methane in Mars, which started over a decade ago when this gas was first detected with telescopes from the Earth, the authors from the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) reported.
Since methane can be the product of biological activity – practically all the existing methane in the Earth’s atmosphere originates in this way – this has created great expectations that Martian methane could also be of a similar origin.

«It is a finding that puts paid to the question of the presence of methane in the Martian atmosphere but it does pose some other more complex and far-reaching questions, such as the nature of its sources,» said study co-author Francisco Javier Martin-Torres from the Andalusian Institute of Earth Sciences (CSIC-UGR) at the University of Granada, Spain.

«The sources, we believe, must lie in one or two additional sources that were not originally contemplated in the models used so far. Among these sources, we must not rule out biological methanogenesis,» he added.

According to some current models, if there really existed methane in Mars, it would remain there for an average 300 years and during this period, it would be homogeneously distributed across the atmosphere.

SAM has been detecting basal levels of methane concentration and has confirmed an event of episodic increase of up to 10 times this value during a period of 60 Martian days.

The new data are based on observations during almost one Martian year (almost two Earth years), included in the initial prediction for the duration of the mission (nominal mission), during which Curiosity has surveyed about 8 kms in the basin of the Gale crater.

The newly arrived MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution) from NASA will provide continuity for the study of this subject, the US space agency said in a statement.

In the near future, the Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO), jointly developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Russian Space Agency (Ruscosmos) will measure the concentration of methane on Mars at a larger scale.

The paper was published in the journal Science.

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Methane on Mars hints life existed there: NASA

Escrito por

75302 After an exhaustive analysis of data obtained during 605 Martian days, NASA’s Curiosity rover has confirmed the presence of methane on Mars environment which may hint that life once existed on the Red Planet.

 

The tunable laser spectrometer in the SAM (Sample Analysis at Mars) instrument of the Curiosity robot has unequivocally detected an episodic increase in the concentration of methane in Mars’ atmosphere.

This puts an end to the long controversy on the presence of methane in Mars, which started over a decade ago when this gas was first detected with telescopes from the Earth, the authors from the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) reported.
Since methane can be the product of biological activity – practically all the existing methane in the Earth’s atmosphere originates in this way – this has created great expectations that Martian methane could also be of a similar origin.

«It is a finding that puts paid to the question of the presence of methane in the Martian atmosphere but it does pose some other more complex and far-reaching questions, such as the nature of its sources,» said study co-author Francisco Javier Martin-Torres from the Andalusian Institute of Earth Sciences (CSIC-UGR) at the University of Granada, Spain.

«The sources, we believe, must lie in one or two additional sources that were not originally contemplated in the models used so far. Among these sources, we must not rule out biological methanogenesis,» he added.

According to some current models, if there really existed methane in Mars, it would remain there for an average 300 years and during this period, it would be homogeneously distributed across the atmosphere.

SAM has been detecting basal levels of methane concentration and has confirmed an event of episodic increase of up to 10 times this value during a period of 60 Martian days.

The new data are based on observations during almost one Martian year (almost two Earth years), included in the initial prediction for the duration of the mission (nominal mission), during which Curiosity has surveyed about 8 kms in the basin of the Gale crater.

The newly arrived MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution) from NASA will provide continuity for the study of this subject, the US space agency said in a statement.

In the near future, the Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO), jointly developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Russian Space Agency (Ruscosmos) will measure the concentration of methane on Mars at a larger scale.

The paper was published in the journal Science.

Descargar

Methane on Mars hints life existed there: NASA

Escrito por

75302 After an exhaustive analysis of data obtained during 605 Martian days, NASA’s Curiosity rover has confirmed the presence of methane on Mars environment which may hint that life once existed on the Red Planet.

 

The tunable laser spectrometer in the SAM (Sample Analysis at Mars) instrument of the Curiosity robot has unequivocally detected an episodic increase in the concentration of methane in Mars’ atmosphere.

This puts an end to the long controversy on the presence of methane in Mars, which started over a decade ago when this gas was first detected with telescopes from the Earth, the authors from the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) reported.
Since methane can be the product of biological activity – practically all the existing methane in the Earth’s atmosphere originates in this way – this has created great expectations that Martian methane could also be of a similar origin.

«It is a finding that puts paid to the question of the presence of methane in the Martian atmosphere but it does pose some other more complex and far-reaching questions, such as the nature of its sources,» said study co-author Francisco Javier Martin-Torres from the Andalusian Institute of Earth Sciences (CSIC-UGR) at the University of Granada, Spain.

«The sources, we believe, must lie in one or two additional sources that were not originally contemplated in the models used so far. Among these sources, we must not rule out biological methanogenesis,» he added.

According to some current models, if there really existed methane in Mars, it would remain there for an average 300 years and during this period, it would be homogeneously distributed across the atmosphere.

SAM has been detecting basal levels of methane concentration and has confirmed an event of episodic increase of up to 10 times this value during a period of 60 Martian days.

The new data are based on observations during almost one Martian year (almost two Earth years), included in the initial prediction for the duration of the mission (nominal mission), during which Curiosity has surveyed about 8 kms in the basin of the Gale crater.

The newly arrived MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution) from NASA will provide continuity for the study of this subject, the US space agency said in a statement.

In the near future, the Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO), jointly developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Russian Space Agency (Ruscosmos) will measure the concentration of methane on Mars at a larger scale.

The paper was published in the journal Science.

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NASA: There Might Have Been Life On Mars; Mars One Mission Candidates Narrowed Down to 100

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75302 NASA just found out that there may have been life on Mars.

The Curiosity rover, which is part of the space agency’s Mars Science Laboratory Mission, collected data for nearly a Martian year. NASA analyzed the data and confirmed that there is methane in the environment of the Red Planet, indicating that life might have existed once.

Curiosity’s tunable laser spectrometer in its SAM (Sample Analysis at Mars) detected an increase in Mar’s methane concentration in the planet’s atmosphere, NDTV reported.

The data from Curiosity ends a decade-long controversy that there is methane on Mars. The gas was first detected not from a space mission, but just from telescopes installed on Earth.

Methane can be produced as a result of biological activity, which is evident on Earth as almost all of methane gases originate by activity coming from animals, plants and humans. Scientists are now speculating that the methane detected from Mars was also generated due to activity from life forms.

The study’s co-author Francisco Javier Martin-Torres from the University of Granada’s Andalusian Institute of Earth Sciences at Spain said that even though the detection of methane answered one question, it generated more complex questions such as from where did it came from or how it came to be.

Martin-Torres said: «The sources, we believe, must lie in one or two additional sources that were not originally contemplated in the models used so far. Among these sources, we must not rule out biological methanogenesis».

Scientists said that for methane to have existed on Mars, it would have to remain for about 300 years, which the gas would be distributed throughout the Red Planet’s atmosphere.

The Curiosity rover’s SAM detected basal levels of the gas concentration. It also confirmed that there was a 10 times episodic increase of the methane concentration’s value within 60 Martian days, which is about 40 minutes longer than the Earth’s 24-hour day.

The analyzed data came from the Curiosity’s observations during 605 days, or nearly two years here on Earth, which was included in NASA’s initial forecast for the nominal mission. Curiosity surveyed around 8 kilometers of the Gale crater’s basin during the period.

To continue the study, the NASA’s MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution) which was first launched in the late 2013 finally arrived with additional data on the Red Planet’s atmosphere.

The Russian Space Agency (Ruscosmos) and the European Space Agency (ESA) collaborated and developed the Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO), which is a new instrument will be used to measure the methane concentration on the Mars’ atmosphere more accurately and on a larger scale.

NASA is not the only one interested in collecting data from Mars.

The Netherland-based Mars One, a not-for-profit organization, aims to land the first humans on the Red Planet and set up a permanent human colony by 2025.

Mars One wrote on its website:» Mars is the stepping stone of the human race on its voyage into the universe. Human settlement on Mars will aid our understanding of the origins of the solar system, the origins of life and our place in the universe. As with the Apollo Moon landings, a human mission to Mars will inspire generations to believe that all things are possible, anything can be achieved».

The organization’s mission include cargo missions, preparation of habitable settlement and human landings. Within the following years, Mars One is aiming to launch two rovers and communication satellites to help them on their mission.

Mars One’s search for astronaut candidates began in April 2013. Over 200,000 aspiring astronauts registered for the Mars selection program. Out of all the applicants, 100 semifinalists were chosen, 30 of them are Americans. The applicants range from managers to researchers and software engineers among others.

The training for the first batch of selected applicants will begin this year. In 2018, a Demonstration Mission will be launched to the Red Planet, which will provide the proof of concept needed for the technologies crucial for a human space mission. In addition a communication satellite will also be launched on the same year at a stationary orbit on Mars. This satellite will provide the required communication between Earth and Mars for 24 hours and 7 days a week. It will also be used to pass videos, images and other data from the surface of Mars.

By 2020, Mars One will launch its rover and a Trailer that will transport the humans who will land on Mars to the outpost location. The rover will drive around a specific region on the planet to search for the best location for the human colony. Mars One will be looking for an ideal location that will be flat enough for construction and equatorial enough to harvest solar energy for their power needs.

Once a location is found, the rover will then clear the area for the solar panels and the arrival of the Cargo missions.

In 2024, the first crew will be launched and is expected to land on Mars by 2025. About a year later, the second crew will be launched.

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NASA: There Might Have Been Life On Mars; Mars One Mission Candidates Narrowed Down to 100

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75302 NASA just found out that there may have been life on Mars.

The Curiosity rover, which is part of the space agency’s Mars Science Laboratory Mission, collected data for nearly a Martian year. NASA analyzed the data and confirmed that there is methane in the environment of the Red Planet, indicating that life might have existed once.

Curiosity’s tunable laser spectrometer in its SAM (Sample Analysis at Mars) detected an increase in Mar’s methane concentration in the planet’s atmosphere, NDTV reported.

The data from Curiosity ends a decade-long controversy that there is methane on Mars. The gas was first detected not from a space mission, but just from telescopes installed on Earth.

Methane can be produced as a result of biological activity, which is evident on Earth as almost all of methane gases originate by activity coming from animals, plants and humans. Scientists are now speculating that the methane detected from Mars was also generated due to activity from life forms.

The study’s co-author Francisco Javier Martin-Torres from the University of Granada’s Andalusian Institute of Earth Sciences at Spain said that even though the detection of methane answered one question, it generated more complex questions such as from where did it came from or how it came to be.

Martin-Torres said: «The sources, we believe, must lie in one or two additional sources that were not originally contemplated in the models used so far. Among these sources, we must not rule out biological methanogenesis».

Scientists said that for methane to have existed on Mars, it would have to remain for about 300 years, which the gas would be distributed throughout the Red Planet’s atmosphere.

The Curiosity rover’s SAM detected basal levels of the gas concentration. It also confirmed that there was a 10 times episodic increase of the methane concentration’s value within 60 Martian days, which is about 40 minutes longer than the Earth’s 24-hour day.

The analyzed data came from the Curiosity’s observations during 605 days, or nearly two years here on Earth, which was included in NASA’s initial forecast for the nominal mission. Curiosity surveyed around 8 kilometers of the Gale crater’s basin during the period.

To continue the study, the NASA’s MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution) which was first launched in the late 2013 finally arrived with additional data on the Red Planet’s atmosphere.

The Russian Space Agency (Ruscosmos) and the European Space Agency (ESA) collaborated and developed the Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO), which is a new instrument will be used to measure the methane concentration on the Mars’ atmosphere more accurately and on a larger scale.

NASA is not the only one interested in collecting data from Mars.

The Netherland-based Mars One, a not-for-profit organization, aims to land the first humans on the Red Planet and set up a permanent human colony by 2025.

Mars One wrote on its website:» Mars is the stepping stone of the human race on its voyage into the universe. Human settlement on Mars will aid our understanding of the origins of the solar system, the origins of life and our place in the universe. As with the Apollo Moon landings, a human mission to Mars will inspire generations to believe that all things are possible, anything can be achieved».

The organization’s mission include cargo missions, preparation of habitable settlement and human landings. Within the following years, Mars One is aiming to launch two rovers and communication satellites to help them on their mission.

Mars One’s search for astronaut candidates began in April 2013. Over 200,000 aspiring astronauts registered for the Mars selection program. Out of all the applicants, 100 semifinalists were chosen, 30 of them are Americans. The applicants range from managers to researchers and software engineers among others.

The training for the first batch of selected applicants will begin this year. In 2018, a Demonstration Mission will be launched to the Red Planet, which will provide the proof of concept needed for the technologies crucial for a human space mission. In addition a communication satellite will also be launched on the same year at a stationary orbit on Mars. This satellite will provide the required communication between Earth and Mars for 24 hours and 7 days a week. It will also be used to pass videos, images and other data from the surface of Mars.

By 2020, Mars One will launch its rover and a Trailer that will transport the humans who will land on Mars to the outpost location. The rover will drive around a specific region on the planet to search for the best location for the human colony. Mars One will be looking for an ideal location that will be flat enough for construction and equatorial enough to harvest solar energy for their power needs.

Once a location is found, the rover will then clear the area for the solar panels and the arrival of the Cargo missions.

In 2024, the first crew will be launched and is expected to land on Mars by 2025. About a year later, the second crew will be launched.

Descargar

NASA: There Might Have Been Life On Mars; Mars One Mission Candidates Narrowed Down to 100

Escrito por

75302 NASA just found out that there may have been life on Mars.

The Curiosity rover, which is part of the space agency’s Mars Science Laboratory Mission, collected data for nearly a Martian year. NASA analyzed the data and confirmed that there is methane in the environment of the Red Planet, indicating that life might have existed once.

Curiosity’s tunable laser spectrometer in its SAM (Sample Analysis at Mars) detected an increase in Mar’s methane concentration in the planet’s atmosphere, NDTV reported.

The data from Curiosity ends a decade-long controversy that there is methane on Mars. The gas was first detected not from a space mission, but just from telescopes installed on Earth.

Methane can be produced as a result of biological activity, which is evident on Earth as almost all of methane gases originate by activity coming from animals, plants and humans. Scientists are now speculating that the methane detected from Mars was also generated due to activity from life forms.

The study’s co-author Francisco Javier Martin-Torres from the University of Granada’s Andalusian Institute of Earth Sciences at Spain said that even though the detection of methane answered one question, it generated more complex questions such as from where did it came from or how it came to be.

Martin-Torres said: «The sources, we believe, must lie in one or two additional sources that were not originally contemplated in the models used so far. Among these sources, we must not rule out biological methanogenesis».

Scientists said that for methane to have existed on Mars, it would have to remain for about 300 years, which the gas would be distributed throughout the Red Planet’s atmosphere.

The Curiosity rover’s SAM detected basal levels of the gas concentration. It also confirmed that there was a 10 times episodic increase of the methane concentration’s value within 60 Martian days, which is about 40 minutes longer than the Earth’s 24-hour day.

The analyzed data came from the Curiosity’s observations during 605 days, or nearly two years here on Earth, which was included in NASA’s initial forecast for the nominal mission. Curiosity surveyed around 8 kilometers of the Gale crater’s basin during the period.

To continue the study, the NASA’s MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution) which was first launched in the late 2013 finally arrived with additional data on the Red Planet’s atmosphere.

The Russian Space Agency (Ruscosmos) and the European Space Agency (ESA) collaborated and developed the Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO), which is a new instrument will be used to measure the methane concentration on the Mars’ atmosphere more accurately and on a larger scale.

NASA is not the only one interested in collecting data from Mars.

The Netherland-based Mars One, a not-for-profit organization, aims to land the first humans on the Red Planet and set up a permanent human colony by 2025.

Mars One wrote on its website:» Mars is the stepping stone of the human race on its voyage into the universe. Human settlement on Mars will aid our understanding of the origins of the solar system, the origins of life and our place in the universe. As with the Apollo Moon landings, a human mission to Mars will inspire generations to believe that all things are possible, anything can be achieved».

The organization’s mission include cargo missions, preparation of habitable settlement and human landings. Within the following years, Mars One is aiming to launch two rovers and communication satellites to help them on their mission.

Mars One’s search for astronaut candidates began in April 2013. Over 200,000 aspiring astronauts registered for the Mars selection program. Out of all the applicants, 100 semifinalists were chosen, 30 of them are Americans. The applicants range from managers to researchers and software engineers among others.

The training for the first batch of selected applicants will begin this year. In 2018, a Demonstration Mission will be launched to the Red Planet, which will provide the proof of concept needed for the technologies crucial for a human space mission. In addition a communication satellite will also be launched on the same year at a stationary orbit on Mars. This satellite will provide the required communication between Earth and Mars for 24 hours and 7 days a week. It will also be used to pass videos, images and other data from the surface of Mars.

By 2020, Mars One will launch its rover and a Trailer that will transport the humans who will land on Mars to the outpost location. The rover will drive around a specific region on the planet to search for the best location for the human colony. Mars One will be looking for an ideal location that will be flat enough for construction and equatorial enough to harvest solar energy for their power needs.

Once a location is found, the rover will then clear the area for the solar panels and the arrival of the Cargo missions.

In 2024, the first crew will be launched and is expected to land on Mars by 2025. About a year later, the second crew will be launched.

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