The colors of exoplanets may tell us if they possess life: Extreme life might be visible on colourful exoplanets – New Scientist
Category Archives: Space Science
Curiosity drills out sample of rock for the first time on Mars
Curiosity has drilled into rock for the first time:
- NASA Curiosity Rover Collects First Martian Bedrock Sample – Mars Science Laboratory/NASA JPL
- Curiosity’s First Sample Drilling – Mars Science Laboratory/NASA JPL
NASA JPL report:
NASA’s Curiosity rover has, for the first time, used a drill carried at the end of its robotic arm to bore into a flat, veiny rock on Mars and collect a sample from its interior. This is the first time any robot has drilled into a rock to collect a sample on Mars.
The fresh hole, about 0.63 inch (1.6 centimeters) wide and 2.5 inches (6.4 centimeters) deep in a patch of fine-grained sedimentary bedrock, can be seen in images and other data Curiosity beamed to Earth Saturday. The rock is believed to hold evidence about long-gone wet environments. In pursuit of that evidence, the rover will use its laboratory instruments to analyze rock powder collected by the drill.
“The most advanced planetary robot ever designed is now a fully operating analytical laboratory on Mars,” said John Grunsfeld, NASA associate administrator for the agency’s Science Mission Directorate. “This is the biggest milestone accomplishment for the Curiosity team since the sky-crane landing last August, another proud day for America.”
The grand voyage of Voyage 1
Ian O’Neill writes about the adventures of Voyager 1 as it travels towards intersteller space: Discovering Voyager 1’s interstellar dragons: Voyager 1 has become our eyes and ears on an interstellar trip to the ultimate frontier. – Al Jazeera English
NEOs and Asteroid 2012 DA14 on Hotel Mars this week
Dr. Don Yeomans of the NASA JPL Near-Earth Object Program joined David Livingston on the Hotel Mars segment this week of the John Batchelor show to talk about Near Earth Objects and Asteroid 2012 DA14: The John Batchelor Show Hotel Mars, Wednesday, 2-6-13 « Thespaceshow’s Blog.
The ice and snow of Mars
The latest Planetary Society hangout featured
Dr. Paul Hayne from JPL. Dr. Hayne studies snow and ice on Mars, extreme temperatures of the Moon, and is on the Cassini science team. He also founded the group Young Scientists for Planetary Exploration to help organize early-career scientists to be aware of the politics of space.