Science

On a beautiful morning on the space coast of Florida, a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket flawlessly launched NASA’s Mars Perseverance Rover on a seven month trip to the red planet.

We’re less than a day from the scheduled launch of the Mars Perseverance Rover and all systems and the weather are a go for launch! The launch window opens up at 7:50 a.m. EDT and you watch all the activity on SpaceQ.

Let’s start with WOW. The image you see and the video below, are from the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope in Chile and show for the first time ever a Sun-like star with two exoplanets. The star system known as TYC 8998-760-1 is 300 light years from us.

You could say that all the past rovers that NASA sent to Mars have been leading up the Mars Perseverance rover mission. The rover may look similar to the Curiosity rover currently exploring Mars, but there are differences. And it’s those differences that have scientists really excited that they might now be able to find signs of ancient life on the Red planet.

In 2017 scientists were surprised and delighted when a mysterious object was discovered transiting out solar system in an unusual trajectory. That object was named ‘Oumuamua.

A Western University team might have spotted six exomoons lurking in old astronomical data.

Is time travel possible? In this episode of Science Weekend, time travel is examined by the Science Channel plus NASA chimes in with their view.

The Canadian Space Agency today released the Lunar Exploration Accelerator Program Phase 0 scientific instruments request for proposals. The RFP was expected and follows a May Letter of Intent notice issued by the CSA. This page is for subscribers only. Already a subscriber? Log in. Fact-driven space news, columns, business, policy, technology and more. Support independent journalism. SUBSCRIBE TODAY

Today on Science Weekend we’re featuring a video from the educational Astro at Home series about growing food in extreme environments, including growing food on Mars.

The ship tracking ESAIL satellite is one of 53 satellites that will be launched next week on an Arianespace Vega mission.