1. Life on Mars
  2. NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO)
  3. PREDICCS
  4. LCROSS
  5. Hard x-ray modulation telescope (HXMT)
  6. Zero Gravity effect

Life on Mars
Why life is possible on Earth but not on mars: some reasons

  1. Our moon is of the right size, able to control the spinning of the earth and its axis of rotation, thus stabilizing our climate and seasons.
  2. ozone layer, which shields molecules on earth from being zapped away by cosmic radiation
  3. gravitational strength of Earth keeps useful gases from escaping off into space.

NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO)
Used for acquiring 3-D views of the moon’s surface.
PREDICCS

  • web-based tool
  • for predicting and forecasting the radiation environment in near-Earth, lunar and Martian space.
  • It will provide critical information as preparations are made for potential future manned missions to the Moon and Mars.

LCROSS

  • NASA’s Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing satellite,
  • It has detected presence of water locked inside the soil of moon.

Hard x-ray modulation telescope (HXMT)

  • China’s first space telescope.
  • Will be used for studying blackholes.

Zero Gravity effect

  • disembarking astronauts are taller than embarking ones.
  • This growth is due to zero gravity — the vertebrae of the spine spread out.

Ref
Based on Hindu S&T Section in September, October 2012