Articles tagged with "Mars-exploration"
Rover hears first-ever 'mini-lightning' crackling across Mars
NASA’s Perseverance rover has made the first-ever detection of electrical discharges—described as “mini-lightning” or crackling sparks—on Mars, revealing that the planet’s dusty atmosphere is more electrically active than previously thought. Over 28 hours of microphone recordings spanning two Martian years, researchers identified 55 distinct electrical-discharge events linked to strong winds, dust devils, and storm fronts. These faint electrical zaps, caused by triboelectricity from shifting sand and dust, differ from Earth-style lightning but indicate frequent, subtle sparks occurring in Mars’ thin carbon dioxide atmosphere. This discovery, led by Baptiste Chide and colleagues, has significant implications for understanding Martian atmospheric chemistry, climate, and habitability. Electrostatic discharges could drive chemical reactions in the soil and atmosphere, potentially affecting surface chemistry and the preservation of organic molecules. Additionally, these electrical events may pose risks to future robotic and human missions. While the evidence currently relies on audio and electromagnetic signals without
robotMars-explorationPerseverance-rovertriboelectricityspace-roboticsplanetary-scienceatmospheric-electricityWind-driven tumbleweed rovers could roll up to 1,740 miles on Mars
European researchers have developed a novel concept for Mars exploration using wind-driven “Tumbleweed” rovers—lightweight, spherical robots up to five meters in diameter designed to be propelled across the Martian surface by winds. Inspired by natural tumbleweeds, these rovers carry scientific instruments within their cores and can traverse diverse terrains, including sand, pebbles, rough ground, and slopes equivalent to 30 degrees on Mars. Initial field tests with a 2.7-meter prototype in a Dutch quarry and wind tunnel experiments simulating Martian atmospheric conditions demonstrated that these rovers can maintain sensor functionality while rolling and can be mobilized by wind speeds typical on Mars. The experiments validated fluid dynamics models predicting rover movement and confirmed the feasibility of using swarms of these rovers for low-cost, wide-ranging planetary exploration. Data suggest a single Tumbleweed rover could travel approximately 262 miles in 100 Martian sols at an average speed of 0.22 mph, with potential maximum distances up
roboticsMars-explorationwind-powered-roversplanetary-roversautonomous-robotsspace-roboticsrobotic-sensorsResearchers are teaching robots to walk on Mars from the sand of New Mexico - Robohub
Researchers are advancing the development of dog-like quadruped robots to perform scientific tasks on Mars by conducting field experiments at White Sands National Park in New Mexico, a Mars analog environment. These tests, part of the NASA-funded LASSIE Project (Legged Autonomous Surface Science in Analog Environments), involve a multidisciplinary team from several universities and NASA centers. The project aims to prepare legged robots for future crewed missions to the Moon and Mars, building on prior work with similar robots in lunar-like terrains such as Mount Hood, Oregon. The quadruped robots gather data from their foot interactions with the surface, enabling them to sense terrain stability and adapt their movements accordingly. During recent trials at White Sands, despite challenging high temperatures, the team achieved significant progress, including the robot autonomously making decisions for the first time. This autonomy is crucial for enabling simultaneous independent actions by astronauts and robots on Mars, thereby enhancing scientific productivity. The researchers also tested new locomotion strategies tailored to different surface conditions, which
roboticsquadruped-robotsMars-explorationautonomous-robotsNASAlunar-explorationrobotic-field-testingRobot dog trains on White Sands dunes for future Mars exploration
Oregon State University engineers are training a dog-like quadruped robot on the shifting gypsum dunes of White Sands National Park, New Mexico, to simulate the unstable surfaces expected on the Moon and Mars. This work is part of NASA’s Moon to Mars program under the LASSIE Project (Legged Autonomous Surface Science in Analog Environments), which involves multiple universities and NASA’s Johnson Space Center. The goal is to develop autonomous legged robots capable of navigating and adapting to alien terrains without direct human commands, crucial for overcoming communication delays during extraterrestrial missions. During a five-day trial, the robot’s sensors collected data on surface texture and stability, enabling it to make independent decisions about movement and route selection using refined algorithms. This autonomy allows the robot to operate alongside astronauts, potentially accelerating exploration by scouting terrain, carrying instruments, or identifying scientific sites. The team also tested the robot in other analog environments, such as icy volcanic slopes on Mount Hood, Oregon, to simulate lunar polar conditions. These experiments demonstrate
robotroboticsautonomous-robotsMars-explorationspace-technologyNASAlegged-robotsRobot Team To Tunnel Deep Into Mars
The article discusses a team of three specialized robots engineered to explore and navigate lava tubes, both on Earth and extraterrestrial environments such as Mars. These robots are designed with complementary capabilities that enable them to work together effectively in challenging subterranean conditions. Their combined skills allow them to survey, enter, and traverse lava tubes, which are considered promising sites for scientific exploration due to their potential to harbor signs of past or present life and to offer protection from harsh surface conditions. The key takeaway is that this robotic team represents a significant advancement in planetary exploration technology, particularly for missions targeting subsurface environments on Mars. By leveraging their unique abilities, these robots can perform detailed mapping and analysis of lava tubes, which could provide critical insights into Mars' geology and habitability. The article highlights the importance of such robotic systems in expanding our understanding of other planets while overcoming the limitations faced by human explorers in extreme environments.
robotMars-explorationplanetary-roboticsautonomous-robotsspace-roboticslava-tube-explorationrobotic-surveyorsSupersonic parachutes get upgrade, NASA conducts flight tests
NASA is advancing the reliability and safety of supersonic parachutes used for delivering scientific instruments and payloads to Mars through a series of flight tests led by the EPIC (Enhancing Parachutes by Instrumenting the Canopy) team. These tests, conducted at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in California, involved air-launching a capsule from a drone that deployed a parachute equipped with flexible, strain-measuring sensors. The sensors successfully collected data without interfering with the parachute canopy, validating the team's approach and providing valuable information for refining computer models and future tests. The parachute system, developed by NASA’s Langley Research Center with support from Armstrong interns, builds on previous supersonic parachute technology used during the Perseverance Mars Rover landing in 2021. That parachute, measuring 65 feet in diameter, deployed at hypersonic speeds and endured extreme aerodynamic forces. NASA’s ongoing work aims to improve numerical simulations of parachute inflation dynamics, which are complex due to
sensorsaerospaceflexible-strain-sensorsNASAsupersonic-parachutesdrone-technologyMars-explorationIn a first, astronaut remotely commands Mars robot from space
The article reports a historic milestone in space exploration where NASA astronaut Jonny Kim remotely commanded a team of robots on Earth from the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the German Aerospace Center’s (DLR) Surface Avatar experiment. Conducted at DLR’s ‘Earthly Mars’ site in Oberpfaffenhofen, the experiment involved navigating a simulated Martian landscape, collecting samples, and demonstrating advanced human-robot collaboration. The robotic team included DLR’s humanoid Rollin' Justin, ESA’s Interact rover, DLR’s four-legged robot Bert, and ESA’s four-legged robot Spot, which worked together to explore terrain and complete tasks efficiently within two and a half hours. Notably, the experiment featured a simulated failure scenario where Bert’s leg malfunctioned, and Kim used reinforcement learning to help the robot adapt a three-legged gait, showcasing problem-solving and teamwork. A significant innovation in the experiment was the integration of Neal AI, an AI chatbot assistant developed by DLR based
robotspace-roboticsremote-robot-controlMars-explorationAI-assistantrobotic-teamworkhumanoid-robots‘Skyfall maneuver’: NASA plans mid-air drop for 6 Mars helicopters
NASA and AeroVironment, Inc. (AV) have unveiled a new Mars exploration concept called Skyfall, which plans to deploy six autonomous scout helicopters simultaneously from a larger spacecraft during its descent through the Martian atmosphere. This "Skyfall maneuver" eliminates the need for a traditional landing platform, reducing costs and risks while dramatically increasing exploration speed and range. Scheduled for a potential launch by 2028, the mission aims to gather critical high-resolution surface images and subsurface radar data from multiple candidate landing sites, aiding the safe landing of future human missions targeted for the 2030s. Building on the success of the Ingenuity helicopter, which completed 72 flights on Mars between 2021 and 2024 and far exceeded its expected lifespan, Skyfall seeks to expand aerial exploration capabilities by deploying six helicopters that operate independently once on the surface. The data collected will not only facilitate crewed landings in resource-rich areas but also contribute to the search for past life on Mars. While
robotMars-explorationNASAautonomous-helicoptersaerospace-technologyaerial-roboticsspace-missionsChina planning drone with robotic arm for Mars sample hunt, eyeing bio-safety
China’s Tianwen-3 mission, planned for launch in 2028 atop two Long March 5B rockets, aims to return Martian soil and rock samples to Earth by 2031, collecting at least 500 grams of material. A key innovation in this mission is the deployment of an uncrewed helicopter drone equipped with a robotic arm and claw, designed to fly up to 100 meters from the lander to retrieve larger, scientifically valuable rocks that may contain biosignatures. The lander itself will use a robotic arm to scoop surface material and a drill capable of extracting samples from depths of up to 2 meters, targeting areas potentially shielded from harsh surface radiation. This approach enhances sample diversity from a single landing site and marks China’s first use of a drone in planetary exploration. Given the mission’s focus on searching for signs of past or present life on Mars, the Chinese team is prioritizing bio-safety and planetary protection. They are developing a comprehensive sample preservation and analysis
robotdroneMars-explorationrobotic-armspace-technologyplanetary-protectionaerospace-engineeringNew CO₂-capturing battery stores 2.5x more energy, could power mars gear
energyCO₂-capturelithium-batteryrenewable-energyenergy-storageclean-technologyMars-exploration