China is making big waves in space exploration. It has sent a spacecraft on a mission to visit two asteroids. This isn't just any mission. It aims to bring back samples from these asteroids. The spacecraft, named Tianwen-2, took off from southern China. It will travel to an asteroid called 2016HO3 and then to a comet named 311P. Both of these are way out there, even ...
The Red Planet is about to get a new visitor from Earth. NASA has introduced Nighthawk, a helicopter designed to explore Mars' tricky terrain. This isn't just any helicopter. It's a six-rotor machine packed with advanced tech, ready to tackle the challenges of Mars' eastern region, specifically Noctis Labyrinthus. First, let's talk about why this matters. Mars has a...
The human body faces a tough test during long space trips. Every part of it can suffer. This is especially true for missions to Mars. These trips are long and tough on the body. Astronauts must stay fit and healthy. They must be ready for any challenge. This is where sport science comes in. It can help astronauts train and stay in shape. Just like athletes, astronaut...
The quest to find life on Mars has taken an interesting turn. A British space company has stepped in to replace a Russian corporation in a European mission to Mars. This company, Airbus, is based in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. They will be working on the ExoMars lander, which will gently place the Rosalind Franklin rover on the Martian surface. The original plan invol...
The Curiosity Rover has been exploring Mars for over a decade, and it's still making groundbreaking discoveries. This rover, launched in 2011, has been a game-changer for scientists studying the Red Planet. It has sent back detailed footage and challenged old beliefs about water on Mars. Last May, Curiosity was roaming around an area rich with sulfates. While doing ...
On Mars, the Perseverance rover did something unusual to uncover hidden secrets. Instead of drilling or scraping, it pressed down on a pile of rock fragments, flattening them out. This simple act revealed important clues about the planet's past. The rover's SHERLOC instrument, which analyzes minerals and organic compounds, needed a smooth surface to work properly. Th...
First, imagine rocks that look like tiny fingers sticking out of hot springs. These are called digitate siliceous sinters. They form when hot, silica-rich water cools and hardens. Scientists are interested in these rocks because they look similar to some rocks found on Mars. The big question is, can these rocks hold clues about life, just like they do on Earth? ...
Imagine the human family tree is a big puzzle. Scientists have been adding new pieces for years. Recently, they found some bones in China that don't fit any known ancient human relative. These bones belong to a new species with a huge brain, even bigger than ours! Some scientists think this species might be linked to the mysterious Denisovans, who we know existed but...
NASA is rethinking its strategy for bringing Martian samples back to Earth. The Perseverance rover has been collecting samples since 2021, which could help scientists understand if life existed on Mars. The original plan was too expensive and time-consuming, so NASA has come up with two new strategies that aim to return the samples by either 2035 or 2039, costing bet...
Fifty-three years ago, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin made history as part of the Apollo 11 mission, becoming the first humans to step on the moon. Now, lawmakers in Congress have their eyes set on seeing another American on the moon by 2027. However, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has a different vision. He thinks NASA should prioritize exploring Mars instead o...