Category Archives: Mars Colonization

With a temperature of about 500 degrees Celsius, the surface of Venus is hostile to life but the higher temperatures in the planets atmosphere are much lower. Could microorganisms colonize this area? My research team has now answered this question with a resounding refusal. According to scientists in the journal Nature Astronomy, there is not enough water for life. Mars offers better prospects. Lakes on the Red Planet have not only provided sparse conditions, but have also been life-friendly for millions of years, a second team also reports in Nature Astronomy.

Only recently has the supposed discovery of phosphine gas in the atmosphere of Venus sparked discussions about life on the planet. However, research on this matter has so far overlooked the role of aquatic activity in ecological livability, explain John Halsworth of Queens University Belfast and colleagues. Biologists use water activity to describe the proportion of unconstrained water, that is, water that is available for life processes. This value can range from 0 to 1, but life is only possible if the water activity is greater than 0.585.

Hallsworth and his team have now analyzed conditions in the highly volatile region of Venuss atmosphere. It turns out that the value of water activity in this area is less than 0.004 water is rarely available for life there. According to scientists, this is caused by large amounts of sulfuric acid droplets. This means that there are no microbes there.

The situation is different with Mars: Hallsworth and colleagues have determined a water activity of 0.537 for its thin atmosphere just below the limit allowed for a life-friendly environment. Since the climate on the Red Planet has changed dramatically during its history, the atmosphere may have been more favorable for life in the past.

This is also supported by the findings of a study by Elizabeth Lusa Adams and colleagues from the University of Vigo in Spain. The team analyzed X-ray measurements taken by the Curiosity rover on sediment deposits in Gale crater. Curiosity has been traveling in this Martian crater since 2012, where there was a lake in the early days of Mars. Until now, we did not know whether the sediments were formed by the slow process of deposition or by short-term selective floods, Losa-Adams and colleagues explain.

With the help of X-ray measurements, the researchers were able to examine the crystalline structure of the sediment and learn how it was deposited. Their finding: The sediment must have been deposited in calm waters over a long period of time. So the lake in Gale Crater was not a short-lived body of water, but rather provided life-friendly conditions for a much longer period of time perhaps up to ten million years. The temperatures should also have been suitable for the emergence of life during this epoch, because the water did not freeze into ice and did not evaporate very quickly. Unlike the atmosphere of Venus, it is possible that life may have arisen in the water-rich environment of the young planet Mars.

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There is no life in the atmosphere of Venus - Tech News Inc

What may still sound like science fiction to some is actually becoming more and more likely in reality: the colonization of another planet. Various projects are actively working on the implementation of ideas that are supposed to bring about the extraterrestrial survival of humans. In the past, we have already reported on 3D printing on the moon, Mars rovers and 3D-printed rockets. But for survival in a place like Mars to be possible at all, creativity is needed to ensure basic human needs are met. If the Robotic Building Lab at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands has its way, however, humans could make themselves comfortable in a sort of anthill on the red planet. Zebro robots are expected to excavate a subterranean living space, using 3D printing as a key force to solidify the walls. But what does the infrastructure need to look like to enable colonization of Mars? Can humans even survive in a different climate?

The fact that humans are able to travel to the moon or Mars in rockets is nothing extraordinary anymore. However, the thought of staying longer in these places or even settling down raises questions in a flash. This is because evolution has not prepared humans for the high levels of ionizing radiation and the sometimes drastic temperature changes that prevail on Mars. For this reason, researchers worldwide are working on the development of solutions that will nevertheless enable survival on extraterrestrial terrain.

Zebro Robots could make it possible for humans to colonize Mars in the future. (Photo Credits: TU Delft)

For the past several years, the Delft University of Technology has been working the development of Zebro robots, which will be able to dig tunnels under the surface of Mars. Zebro robots are nano-rovers that are specially designed for the extraordinary environmental demands on the planet. For example, they have legs that allow them to negotiate uneven surfaces such as rock as they are moving. According to the TU Delft team, the rovers also work autonomously and cooperatively, thus they are classified as swarm robots.

This means that the robots can communicate with each other and divide tasks among themselves. For example, one group of Zebro robots will dig the tunnels while another will implement 3D-printed structures to strengthen the walls. Eventually, living space is to be created in this way, similar to ant structures. There, the sometimes strong temperature changes are less noticeable, which is why the underground living space could be suitable for potential colonization.

According to some experts, this colonization of the red planet by humans is only a matter of time anyway. Henriette Bier, founder and current head of the Robotic Building Laboratory, states that it is particularly important to use resources that are already available on Mars. For the additive manufacturing of the support structures, the Zebro robots will therefore work with cement obtained from local dust and rock. The project team will receive a grant from the European Space Agency (ESA) for the further development of the project. In addition to this project, similar nano rovers from TU Delft, the Lunar Zebro, will be sent on a mission to the moon as early as 2022.

Do you think that extraterrestrial colonizations are realistic? Let us know in a comment below or on our FacebookandTwitterpages. Dont forget to sign up for our free weekly Newsletter, with all the latest news in 3D printing delivered straight to your inbox!

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Zebro Robots to Use 3D Printing to Help Colonize Mars - 3Dnatives

[Ed. Note: Spoilers for Planet-Size X-Men #1 follow.]

Lets say you want to throw a party, and you really want it to make a statement. Theres a lot of ways you could do this: killer passed apps, a sick DJ, maybe get some celebrities to show up. Or, you could do what the X-Men did in this weeks Planet-Size X-Men #1, and terraform all of Mars, make it habitable for mutants overnight, and declare it the capital of our solar system instead of Earth.

Planet-Size X-Men #1 is a one-off story about the climax of the X-Mens Hellfire Gala, a high society party where the mutants of Earth, now established as a sovereign nation on the living island of Krakoa, have invited luminaries from normie human culture exclusively to watch mutants flex. Throughout the Gala, which is unfolding across most of Marvels X-Men comics in June, there have been hints of a huge surprise the Krakoans cooked up for the galas grand finale, and it isnt just the debut of the new, democratically-elected X-Men team. It is, instead, the unveiling of the latest, audacious power move from the mutant nation: The terraforming and colonization, of Mars, which is now dubbed Planet Arakko.

That name will be familiar to readers of the recent X of Swords crossover, which culminated in the reunion of Krakoa and its sister-island Arrako, home to the Arakki, a warlike splinter of mutant-kind that were long exiled to another dimension. Few X-Men comics have delved into what this sudden reunion has been like, but Planet-Size X-Men suggests that the wider world has found Krakoas sudden expansion alarming, and that the relationship between the Krakoans and the Arraki are peaceful, but a bit tense. The relations between the Arraki and humans, well, the less said about that the better.

Planet Arakko, then, is both an offering to the Arraki, a peaceful solution to their attitude towards humans, and also the most aggressive play the Krakoan mutants have made in the Marvel Universe yet. In the middle of a bold new status quo that already has the human nations of Earth feeling uncomfortable, Krakoa has up and claimed a whole planet after making it habitable in a matter of hours. (Half of the fun of the comic is seeing just how, exactly, they do this. Lets say...it doesnt not involve some psychic mpreg weirdness.)

The icing on the cake? Magneto declares the renamed planet the capital of the solar system, to all the assembled dignitaries of Marvels alien civilizations.

This is an audacious, absurd comic book story that has all sorts of potential for future X-Men comics. It escalates tensions between the Mutants and the wider Marvel Universe, and shows the X-Men aggressively moving into further morally gray territory. (Is space colonization really the way forward for mutantkind? Seems awfully human of them.) Its a fitting capstone to the Hellfire Gala, an event designed to celebrate mutant expansion and excess. What makes it extra delicious is the way that it just might be the finest moment of mutant hubris as well.

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The X-Men just took over Mars in the Marvel Universe - Polygon

FP staffJune 21, 2021 19:08:23 IST

Whether to make a living, get connections and information, or just survive in a year when most of the world is cocooned in the house and somehow glued to the device. Malaise With screen is also set. As a voice-only app that doesnt require any text or images to communicate, Clubhouse takes advantage of this void left by the visual virtual experience of Internet users by eliminating the complexity.

Heres everything you need to know about why Clubhouse is a buzzword of the internet and culture today, and why you should (or shouldnt) jump on it

The origin and rise of Clubhouse

Silicon Valley entrepreneur Alpha Exploration Co. Founded in March 2020 by Paul Davison and Rohan Seth as an iOS and invitation-only app, Clubhouse has gradually gained momentum and has become one of the hottest social media platforms in less than a year. launch. During April Bloomberg report Tech startups have shown that they were trying to raise money from investors in a round that raised their valuation from $ 1 billion in December 2020 to $ 4 billion.

Clubhouse was introduced to Android users in May 2021 but still retained the invitation-only warning.

According to the appWith over 10 million active users each week, over 300,000 rooms created daily, the average user spends over an hour a day on the platform. According to CEO Davison, Clubhouse has seen more usage and installations since the launch of Android, with millions more on the waiting list.

How does it work?

The clubhouse focuses to rest your eyes only With audio through a moderated chat room where people exchange ideas and ideas. Imagine a live podcast only if you have the option of adding listeners to join the conversation.

The presence of the host or moderator requires participants to raise their hands before the host is allowed to speak, which makes the exchange more streamlined and less confusing. If not, the latter can even mute them. The app is invitation-only, so platform users can enjoy it. Moreover, not everyone needs to speak if they dont want to. You can also leave quietly in case of a conversation or problem in the chat room.

Why are people talking about it?

Clubhouses, like any other social media, work on the principles of FOMO. However, by allowing users to play in the background during the day or during their daily lives, they are given the perk that they can engage and unengage as much as they like.

Also, within a year of its launch, Clubhouse has helped the platform, which has already won the support of celebrities such as Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Drake, Jared Leto, Kevin Hart, and Oprah Winfrey. Interact with fans on themes you are interested in.

On January 31st, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk made their debut at Clubhouse (and his only appearance so far) with GameStops trading fever, COVID-19 vaccine, Colonization of Mars, Dogecoin and We talked about Bitcoin, memes and monkey brains. User traffic spiraled upwards as the primary chat room reached 5,000 within minutes and a secondary overflow room was formed. Similarly, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg visited Clubhouse earlier this year to discuss technology and its future.

(There is Chat room Where a couple goes on a clubhouse date and lets listeners listen to their conversations, including mental health professionals who later pass their verdict. )

But according to report Along quartz, This app has reached a moment of glory even before the participation of well-known supporters. In 2020, a group of black creators at the clubhouse The Lion King.. The performances continued on the platform on December 26th, and the chat room earned Full House status every time it reached a maximum capacity of 5,000.Its public audition The event held in November was also a great success.

The event was organized by a group of black creators, including guitarist and music director Bomani X. The face is displayed on the app icon.According to the report, Clubhouse downloads almost doubled in the four days after staging. The Lion King Manufacture. Their efforts have greatly helped diversify the user base, where the platform was initially primarily tech enthusiasts.

How did India warm up to the clubhouse?

according to report Along India Express, Since Clubhouse entered the Android market in May 2021, the app has been downloaded by Android users more than 6 million times, more than 1 million times in India.

The founder said he would like to deploy language support in the app as part of the expansion plan in the country so that local users can continue to enjoy the benefits in their native language. India is a very diverse and dynamic country and we have been amazed at the incredible creativity since we entered the market. We decided to support our creators through our expansion. I am excited Creator First Program We look forward to seeing interesting creators from all over the country in India, they said. India Express.

However, the platform is already facing trolling, identity theft and fake profile issues domestically, India in the Malayalam film industry such as Nivin Pauly, Dulquer Salmaan, Prithviraj Sukumaran and Suresh Gopi. Celebrity is calling for a fake profile created in his name. They revealed that they were not Clubhouse subscribers.

*

The novelty that Clubhouse offers, leaving clues to the worlds offerings while away from the screen, in an era where people can spend more time as most people continue to work from home. Its probably not surprising to be able to resist. little by little.

The platform has undoubtedly triggered a cultural shift by encouraging major tech companies such as Twitter and Facebook to develop similar properties. The former is already testing the new space feature. Up to 10 users can have an unlimited conversation in Twitters audio chat room. The number of spectators.

Therefore, it may not be premature to say that the future is certainly audio.

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How Clubhouse Carried Up Cultural Discourse From The Lion King Productions To Audio Dates-Technology News, Firstpost

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Sperm cells can live on Mars for up to 200 years, making human reproduction viable, scientists claim.

It means that the only issue left is figuring out how humans would reproduce in Mars' microgravity.

Scientists previously assumed that space radiation would destroy human DNA, making reproduction impossible. Another issue was cancer induced by the radiation.

Japanese researchers exposed mouse sperm exposed to high amounts of cosmic radiation for nearly six years produced a big brood of healthy, ordinary "space pups."

(Photo : Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images)TOKYO - APRIL 23: Kaguya, the worlds first fatherless mammal, is seen at a lab at the Tokyo University of Agriculture on April 23, 2004 in Tokyo. Kaguya was created by Tomohiro Kono of the Tokyo University of Agriculture and a group of researchers chiefly from Japan and South Korea. They have succeeded in creating a mouse without using a sperm donor, but instead used genetic data from two eggs.

Their findings were published in Science Advances on Friday. The study titled "Evaluating the Long-Term Effect of Space Radiation on the Reproductive Normality of Mammalian Sperm Preserved on the International Space Station" noted no Mousezillas or rodent Hulks yet.

Researchers discovered that the mouse sperm preserved aboard the space station was still healthy after six years.

ALSO READ: Elon Musk on Mars Colonization: "Good Chance You'll Die"

They subjected it to X-rays on Earth and determined it did not affect fertility.

The sperm was freeze-dried and preserved on the International Space Station. It resulted in the birth of 168 healthy children after being returned to Earth and rehydrated.

Study author Professor Sayaka Wakayama of Japan's University of Yamanashi told AFP (via South China Morning Post) there was little difference between mice fertilized by space sperm and mice fertilized by sperm that had remained on Earth.

Professor Wakayama also told The Daily Mail: "Many genetically normal offspring were obtained. These discoveries are essential for mankind to progress into the space age."

"When the time comes to migrate to other planets, we will need to maintain the diversity of genetic resources, not only for humans but also for pets and domestic animals," he added.

Wakayama told AFP (via Phys.org) that he was inspired by Heinlein and Asimov's science fiction and once aspired to be an astronaut.

Though he decided to pursue a career in science, his fascination with space exploration never faded.

According to Wakayama and colleagues, people will need to maintain the diversity of genetic resources in the future, not just for humans but also for pets and domestic animals.

The researchers believe that stored germ cells will be transferred by spaceships rather than real animals due to cost and safety concerns.

Getting to other planets necessitates leaving Earth's protective atmosphere and magnetic field, which reaches 400 kilometers (250 miles) above the surface and includes the International Space Station.

Wakayama said freeze-drying sperm improves tolerance compared to fresh sperm since the latter does not include water inside its cell nuclei and cytoplasms.

According to the team's estimations, freeze-dried sperm might be preserved on board the orbital outpost for up to 200 years.

Their research said in the event of a tragedy on Earth, humanity may also seek to transmit its genetic resources to other planets.

The study pointed out that scientists need to investigate the consequences of space radiation on frozen female eggs, and fertilized embryos before humanity take the next step into the space era.

The study's findings were released just days after NASA's Ingenuity chopper concluded its seventh mission on Mars.

The Perseverance rover, transporting Ingenuity to Mars, is scouring the planet for indications of life. Business Insider's Kate Duffyexplained that perseverance is expected to traverse three miles across Mars in the coming months.

According to NASA, perseverance will use its journey to assist NASA better understand the geology of Jezero Crater and search the area for clues of ancient microscopic life.

RELATED ARTICLE: Nwa, First Sustainable City on Mars: Can This Capital City on Red Planet Accommodate 250,000 Residents?

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Humans Could Possibly Produce in Mars: Sperm May Survive on Red Planet for Up to 200 Years! - Science Times

For now, only billionaires can afford space tourism. Sounds cool, right? But experts alarm about the possible effect on our planet--Earth.

Space tourism could soon be a reality since various agencies make advanced technologies that could bring people outside of the Earth. This is currently noticeable on the plans of Blue Origin, SpaceX, NASA, and other giant space agencies.

(Photo : Photo by Bill Ingalls/NASA via Getty Images)In this handout provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with the Dragon spacecraft onboard, launches from pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on June 3, 2017 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Dragon is carrying almost 6,000 pounds of science research, crew supplies.

However, some critics and other experts claimed that this could have a massive negative impact on the planet. Although this is the case, they added that space tourism could great for research, especially since there is a high chance that Jeff Bezos, Richard Branson, and other wealthy tourists could reach the orbit first.

This is already done by Yusaku Maezawa, the Japanese billionaire that spends a huge amount of money on SpaceX back in 2018 for a private trip around the moon and back. However, Maezawa did not disclose the exact amount.

Since Elon Musk and other rich people could easily pay for a trip outside the Earth and back to the planet, space tourism could definitely grow once it begins. But, why is this a bad thing?

According to Mashable's latest report, SpaceX, Space Adventures, Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin, and other rising space agencies could make space tourism a possibility.

(Photo : Photo by Bill Ingalls/NASA via Getty Images)In this handout image provided by NASA, the Soyuz rocket with Expedition 33/34 crew members Soyuz Commander Oleg Novitskiy, Flight Engineer Kevin Ford of NASA, and Flight Engineer Evgeny Tarelkin of ROSCOSMOS onboard the TMA-06M spacecraft launches to the International Space Station October 23, 2012 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan.

Also Read:Elon Musk Tweets A Beautiful Photo of SpaceX's Enormous Starship Rocket Booster

With all the bad things happening around the world, especially the COVID-19 pandemic, which has another new variant, many people would pay to leave the planet.

However, experts said that this could greatly lead to huge environmental costs. They explained that all fuel used during rocket launches emit a lot of heat, which could agitate nitrogen in the atmosphere and lead to disruptive nitrogen oxides.

"Depending on where they're released in altitude, those nitrogen oxides can either contribute to the formation of ozone or depletion of ozone," said Eloise Marais, an associate professor of physical geography at University College London.

"[Nitrogen oxide] is important, sure, but there are also solid fuels that are burnt and those produce chlorine. Chlorine contributes to the destruction of the ozone layer and it's very, very efficient at doing that," she added.

Before the issue of space tourism appeared, various experts were concerned about the popular Mars Colonization plan of Elon Musk.

They said that people who will participate in the upcoming launch will have a low chance of survival on the Red Planet.

Popular Mechanics reported that one of the main reasons why humans won't last long on Mars is because of the planet's harsh conditions.

Aside from this, people would also have a hard time on the neighboring planet since scientists explained that they need to live underground if they want to survive.

For more news updates about space tourism and other related stories, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article:Rocket Lab to Design NASA's Mars Spacecraft: ESCAPADE Duo Using Photon Spacecraft Bus

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Space Tourism Bad For Earth? Experts Claim Sending Elon Musk and Other Billionaires To Outer Space Is Not Eco-Friendly - Tech Times

Bamboo is gaining a lot of popularity as a sustainable material in the world of architecture! Bamboo is being used to create beautiful and majestic structures, that are green and respect their surrounding environment. It is imperative to build homes, resorts, offices and etc that are in harmony with the natural environment around them. And weve curated a collection of impressive architectural structures built from bamboo, that prove sustainability, comfort, and luxury can be combined together! From a luxury resort to a community centre for female refugees these architectural designs truly represent the versatility and scope of bamboo!

The Ulaman Eco-Retreat Resortmade mostly from bamboo is here to show you that sustainability can be well integrated into luxury. Designed by Inspiral Architects, this eco-resort is located in Balis Kaba-Kaba village. It has been constructed using materials found directly on the site and the immediate locality which helped the resort become completely carbon zero. Apart from bamboo, rammed earth has been used for the resorts ground-level walls. Rammed earth is a wonderful green alternative to concrete which is responsible for more than 8% of the construction industrys emissions which contributes to 30% of global greenhouse emissions.

You dont have to be an architect to want to build a bamboo structure of your own thank to the Zome building kit by Giant Grass! The studio has made a DIY kit that is basically a larger-than-life LEGO project which can live in your backyard or be scaled up to create a community space. The zome is a flexible space that can be used by children to hang out in the backyard, like a gazebo for you to entertain guests in, a greenhouse for seedlings, a creative space in the office, a quiet space for yoga at home, or a glamping tent it can be anything you want it to be. This DIY kit is perfect for those who want to live sustainability and enjoy working on projects which result in a productive reward. The kit comes with all accessories needed 350 precision-made bamboo strips, nuts, bolts, and an installation guide to make the 3m x 3m zome.

Warith Zaki and Amir Amzar plan to use the bamboo grown on Mars to actually build the first colony, named Seed of Life, on Mars. The conceptual colony design is actually a series or cluster of structures woven by autonomous robots from bamboos. The aim of the project is to create structures that do not rely on construction materials being shipped from Earth or to use 3D printing. After doing a lot of research on Mars colonization, we realized that half of the ideas would go about deploying fully synthetic materials made on earth to build shelters, while the other half is about using the locally available regolith, said Zaki and Amzar. Human civilization has yet to build anything on any other planet outside of Earth. That fact alone opens up infinite possibilities of what could or should be used. Sure, 3D printing seems to be a viable proposition, but with thousands of years worth of experience and techniques in shelter construction, why shouldnt we tap on other alternatives too?

Architect Rizvi Hassan utilised bamboo to build a community centre for Rohingya women living in a refugee camp. The women can bathe and receive counselling at the community centre. Featuring a circular courtyard, which is sheltered except for an open space in the middle, the centre is called Beyond Survival: A Safe Space for Rohingya Women and Girls. It is located in Camp 25, a refugee site in Teknaf, Bangladesh.

Hague is a student at the University of Westminster where she is pursuing her Masters in Architecture. Her design features shellac-coated bamboo to emphasize the use of biomimicry in different disciplines of design in her case it is providing eco-friendly architectural solutions inspired by nature. For the main structure, Hague drew inspiration from the Mimosa Pudica plant which closes its leaves when it senses danger and that is how she came up with collapsible beams featuring inflatable hinges. It gavethe greenhouse a unique origami effect (it actually looks like paper too!) and also enables the structure to be easily flat-packed for transportation/storage.

This bamboo sports hall in Chiang Mai, Thailand was built by Chiangmai Life Architects. It was modeled after the petals of a lotus flower, and has been built using only bamboo! The use of bamboo ensures a cool and pleasant environment in the sports hall at all times. The structure has a zero-carbon footprint!

Designed by o9 Design Studio, native bamboo and rattan clad were used to build the Chi-bu resort, on the outskirts of Saigon, Vietnam. The materials are all locally sourced, and traditional techniques were merged with cutting edge design philosophies to construct the resort. It consists of seven bungalows surrounded by a river and wild gardens! Its a relaxing haven!

Casa Covidais a unique home that blends these age-old construction practices with the marvels of modern technology like 3D printing to elevate sustainable architecture to a new level! Even today, earth-based houses are used by almost 30 percent of the worlds population because they are low-tech, affordable, and simple. These are not just tiny huts, they cover everything from hand-made earthen buildings to traditionally modern homes the binding factor is the use of rammed earth techniques as well as sustainable materials like bamboo or wood. These materials are local and easy to source what could be easier than to use the earth beneath ones own feet?

The Eibcheby Shomali Design takes the cabin game to a new level by incorporating the best of Balinese culture, modern architecture, and cozy interiors. The elevated structure weaves concrete and bamboo into its design. The team has used locally sourced building materials wood for the structure and a brick-stone combination for the foundation. The frame is then cemented by concrete which brings in a hint of modern minimalist architecture. The designers chose organic materials in order to create harmony with the environment so Eibche showcases a lot of bamboo poles, woven bamboo, coconut wood, and teak wood in both the interior as well as exterior.

These bamboo nest smart-towers were built for Parisbut in the future by Vincent Callebaut! These twirling towers are the perfect combination of architecture meets sustainability and nature!

For more impressive environment-friendly bamboo architectural designs, check out Part 1 of this post!

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Bamboo Architectural Designs that prove why this material is the future of modern, sustainable architecture: Part 2 - Yanko Design

The space agency announced its plans to visit the hottest planet in the solar system.

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June3, 20213 min read

While Elon Musk is focused on colonizing Mars, NASA has another target: Venus. The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration announced that it will return to the hottest planet in the solar system. The last mission to Earth's neighbor was in 1994, while the next explorations will take place at the end of this decade.

This past Wednesday, NASA announced that sometime between 2028 and 2030 they will launch two missions that will visit Venus. This would be the first direct exploration of the planet in 34 years.

Related: This German Scientist Predicted That a Person Named 'Elon' Would Take Humanity to Mars

These expeditions are the latest projects in NASA's Discovery Program, a kind of internal incubator for planetary science missions.

A mission will be called VERITAS ('truth' in Latin), which is short for "Venus Emissivity, Radio Science, InSAR, Topography, and Spectroscopy." This spacecraft is planned to orbit the planet to map and study it from above. The main objective will be to understand how Venus evolved to reach surface temperatures of almost 500 degrees Celsiusand an atmosphere so dense that almost no known organism could withstand it.

The other is called DAVINCI +, short for "Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gases, Chemistry, and Imaging Plus." This mission will attempt to land on the surface to sample the atmosphere and to understand its chemical composition.

"These two sister missions both aim to understand how Venus became an inferno-like world capable of melting lead at the surface," said Bill Nelson, NASA administrator, at a press conference."They will offer the entire science community a chance to investigate a planet we havent been to in more than 30 years."

Related: This Mexican Will Work With NASA to Discover if We Are Alone in the Universe

During the press conference, NASA did not mention that any of the missions look for traces of alien life. However, the agency previously warned of the possibility of microbial life floating in the atmosphere of Venus. In addition, a controversial finding last year suggested that a gas associated with life may be present there.

The study prompted then-NASA administrator Jim Brindenstine to declare that "it is time to prioritize Venus," as quoted by The New York Times.

Indeed, the missions to Venus took precedence over two other proposals. One of them, called Trident, would fly over Neptune's largest moon. The other, named Io Volcanic Observer, would make 10 flybys of Jupiter's moon Io.

Related: Now You Can Take a Ride on Jeff Bezos's Rocket for $2.8 million

Currently, NASA's Discovery Program includes the Lucy and Psyche missions to explore Trojan asteroids near Jupiter and a metal-rich asteroid orbiting beyond Mars. The two missions it has active today are the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and the InSight module on Mars.

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NASA Will Return to Venus After More Than 30 years, and May Be on the Search for Extraterrestrial Life - Entrepreneur

Hello, and welcome back to our "Life in 2050" series. In our other installments, we explored how the world of warfare, economics, and life at homecould drastically change by mid-century. In the previous installment, we began to look at how space exploration and commercial space activities would be changing as well.

This includes the commercialization of Low Earth Orbit (LEO), orbital gateway stations, bases on the Moon, asteroid mining, and the industrialization of the Earth-Moon system. However, humanity's future in space reaches far beyond that and could include missions to Mars, the outer solar system, and telescopes observing the earliest moments of the universe.

Exploration will also be mirrored in terms of commercial exploitation and (perhaps) even the creation of settlementson other planets. Between the Moon, Mars, the main asteroid belt, and the moons of Jupiter and Saturn, there are many tantalizing locations where humans could establish self-sustaining cities that would allow for further expansion and exploration.

We may even find life in our own cosmic backyard and explore the closest stars to our Sun. With any luck, we may also obtain the first definitive evidence that there is life beyond our solar system, and perhaps see that it is looking back at us. All this and more is expected to become a reality by 2050 - or, at least, to be well on its way to becoming a reality.

Mars will be a major focal point for space agencies over the next three decades. In addition to increased robotic exploration, three major space agencies are planning to send astronauts to Mars between the 2030s and 2060s. NASA is expected to lead the way with its "Moon to Mars" program, which will build on Project Artemis, the Lunar Gateway, and other key components.

For instance, NASA will be using the Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion spacecraft to send astronauts back to the Moon starting in 2024. The core of the Gateway - the Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) and the Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO) - will also be launched by 2024 using a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.

Paired with a reusable lunar lander, this orbital habitat will allow for long-duration missions to the lunar surface. Between 2024 and 2028, NASA also intends to add the International Habitation Module (I-HAB), the European System Providing Refueling, Infrastructure and Telecommunications (ESPRIT), and possibly more modules to the Gateway.

But the greatest addition will be the Deep-Space Transport (DST), which is to be added to the Gateway by the early 2030s. The design of the DST calls for a reusable spacecraft that relies on Solar-Electric Propulsion (SEP) and has a crew module that can support astronauts for the six to nine-month journey to Mars (or is capable of being paired with the Orion spacecraft).

The DST will fly astronauts from lunar orbit to Mars, where they will rendezvous with a second station - like Lockheed Martin's Mars Base Camp concept. This station will also be paired with a reusable lander that will take the astronauts to and from the surface of Mars. If all goes as planned, NASA will have conducted the first human exploration missions to Mars before the 2030s are over.

Roscosmos and the Chinese National Space Agency (CNSA) have announced similar plans to send crews to Mars by way of the Moon. While not a lot of details have been forthcoming, Roscosmos has stated that such a mission would likely happen in the 2040-2045 timeframe.

China, meanwhile, emphasizes that it plans to send robotic missions to Mars well into the 2030s, followed by the first crewed missions between 2040 and 2060. Both space agencies conducted training exercises - the Mars500 simulations - between 2007 and 2011 to see how astronauts would contend with the long-term isolation that such missions would entail.

Elon Musk has also been quite vocal about his plans to send humans to Mars during the 2020s. It was for this purpose that he founded SpaceX in 2001 and has been working towards the realization of the Starship super-heavy flight system. Initially, this system was known as the Mars Colonial Transporter, which reflected its ultimate purpose.

Once the Starship is certified for commercial and human spaceflight, Musk plans to conduct regular launches to the Moon and Mars. Previously, Musk indicated that SpaceX was targetted a launch window for 2022, where two Starships would fly to Mars.

This mission would scout for water sources and land cargo, power, mining, and life support systems on the surface for future missions. The first crewed mission would take place by 2024, with two Starships transporting equipment and supplies, a propellant production plant, and a crew to begin work on a base.

Subsequent missions would follow every two years during a period of "opposition," when Earth and Mars are closest to each other, in terms of their orbit around the Sun. As with many past estimates by Musk, these timetables have proven a bit optimistic. However, Musk maintains that Starships could be making regular trips to Mars sometime this decade.

A more recent estimate indicates that the scout mission could take place by 2024 and a crewed mission by 2026. In January 2020, Musk indicated that SpaceX's long-term goal is to build 100 Starships a year for 10 years to create a fleet of 1000. This fleet would then haul 100 megatons of cargo to Mars or 100,000 people every two years.

After 20 years, Musk claims that it would be possible to create a sustainable city on Mars, which he hopes would reach a population of 1 million people by 2050. This city, and other proposed settlements, could lead to the rise of a Martian economy - with its own cryptocurrency ("Marscoin"), a tourism industry, and perhaps a mining industry.

With the necessary infrastructure - such as orbital stations and refueling depots - regular flights to and from Earth would be possible. All of this could eventually lead to the recognition of Mars as a "free planet," with its own representation at the United Nations, or an autonomous government.

While fully-reusable launch vehicles and spaceplanes will revolutionize transportation on Earth (allowing for suborbital intercontinental flights), interplanetary transportation could also be a reality by 2050. This will be facilitated by the rise of fusion rockets by the mid-2030s, which could cut the travel time to Mars down to just 90 days (1/3the time it takes using conventional thrusters).

Nuclear reactors were investigated and testedas a possible means of propulsion throughout the Cold War era. One example of results from this experimentation was the Nuclear Engine for Rocket Vehicle Application (NERVA), developed jointly by NASA and the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC). As part of Project Rover, NERVA was one of several concepts tested and validated between 1961 and 1973.

Unfortunately, the program was canceled in 1973 before any flight tests could take place, as part of the shift that began shortly after the end of the Apollo Era. In recent years, with the renewed interest in missions that go beyond LEO, space agencies around the world have taken a fresh look at these devices and are working on their own updated versions.

They also come in various forms, but the most common proposals fall under the general heading of either nuclear-thermal or nuclear-electricpropulsion (NEP/NEC). For the former, a slow-fission reactor is used to heat hydrogen fuel, and the resulting plasma is directed through nozzles to generate thrust.

In the case of the latter, the nuclear reactor generates electricity, which is then used to power an engine - most likely, a Hall-Effect thruster (aka. ion engine). This concept builds on NASA's successful implementation of Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP), which will see considerable use with NASA's proposed missions to Mars.

With a network of "rapid transit" between Earth, the Moon, and Mars, humanity will be able to expand the commercialization and industrialization of the Earth-Moon system to include Mars and its moons (Phobos and Deimos). While it's unlikely that Mars will be a major commercial center by 2050, it's entirely possible that the foundations of this possible future will be established by then.

Beyond Gateways in Earth orbit, settlements on the Moon, and a potential city on Mars, the commercial space industry and non-profit space organizations also have plans to createmassive colonies in space. These plans build on proposals made since the early 20th century, particularly the works of Gerard K. O'Neil, Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, Werhner von Braun, and others.

These include the O'Neil Cylinder, a long tube-shaped structure that rotates to simulate gravity for its inhabitants. Similarly, the Von Braun Wheel (aka. Stanford Torus) calls for a pinwheel-shaped station that spins to simulate gravity in one or more rings. Other elaborations on these concepts have been suggested as an alternative to settling on planets.

During the 2017,Planetary Science Vision 2050 Workshop, Ukrainian astrophysicist Valeriy Yakovlev explained why rotating habitats in space were preferable to settling (and terraforming) Mars:

"It is usually associated with the creation of colonies on the surface of Mars and planetary satellites. However, a radical obstacle to this is the unavailability of human beings to live in conditions of the reduced gravity of the Moon and Mars, being in their earthly bodies, at least in the next decades. The hope for [medical developments] will not cancel the physical degradation of the muscles, bones, and the whole organism.

"The rehabilitation in centrifuges is [a] less expedient solution compared with the ship-biosphere where it is possible to provide a substantially constant imitation of the normal gravity and protection from any harmful influences of the space environment. If the path of space exploration is to create a colony on Mars and furthermore the subsequent attempts to terraform the planet, it will lead to the unjustified loss of time and money and increase the known risks of human civilization."

Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon and Blue Origin, has also voiced his preference for building habitats in space rather than colonizing Mars and other bodies. In February of 2019, during a speech before the Yale Club, Bezos referenced O'Neil Cylinders and why he thought they were the way of the future:

"The solar system can support a trillion humans, and then we'd have 1,000 Mozarts and 1,000 Einsteins. Think how incredible and dynamic that civilization will be... I don't think we'll live on planets, by the way. I think we'll live in giant O'Neal-style space colonies. Gerard O'Neil, decades ago, came up with this idea."

These facilities would both benefit and aid from the creation of a thriving space construction and asteroid mining industry. By the midway mark of the 21st century, much of our mining and manufacturing could be taking place beyond Earth. By accessing the abundant resources of space, we could reduce the stress on our environment while also ushering in a period of post-scarcity.

A number of missions are scheduled to explore asteroids in the solar system in the next decades too. There's the Lucy probe, which is planned to launch on Oct. 16, 2021, on a twelve-year journey to study seven different asteroids. The first will be located in the main asteroid belt, followed by six of Jupiter's "Trojans" - asteroids that share the planet's orbit around the Sun.

These asteroids are among the oldest objects in the solar system and are composed of material left over from the protoplanetary disk. The mission is therefore named in honor of the hominid skeleton "Lucy" - the remains of the Australopithecus woman found in Ethiopia in 1974 - because the mission will be studying the "fossils of planet formation."

There's also the Psyche mission, which will launch in August of 2022 and arrive around the main belt asteroid of the same name (16 Psyche) by 2026. This metallic asteroid is thought to be the remains of a protoplanet's core that became exposed after a massive collision. The study of this asteroid is therefore expected to reveal information about early planet formation.

In addition, the study of this body could shed light on how planetary magnetic fields operate, which are key to planetary habitability. There has also been considerable discussion about how Psyche could prove to be a very lucrative prospect for asteroid mining, since it contains abundant amounts of iron, nickel, and precious metals, with an estimated value of $10 quintillion USD (that's 101018 dollars),

By 2050, with sufficient infrastructure established between the Earth-Moon system and Mars, asteroid prospectors are likely to begin looking to the main belt. While asteroid mining and industrial operations are not likely to be established in this region until the latter half of the century, it's a safe bet that the commercial space industry will be looking to expand there.

A number of missions are scheduled to take place between the 2030s and 2050 that will search for life in the outer solar system. These missions will focus on "Ocean Worlds," which refers to moons and planetoids in the solar system that are thought to have warm-water oceans beneath their icy surfaces.

Examples include three of Jupiter's Galilean moons, Europa, Ganymede, and possibly Callisto; Saturn's moons Titan, Enceladus, Dione, and possibly Mimas; Neptune's largest moon Triton, and maybe even Pluto. Uranus' moons Titania, Oberon, and Ariel are also thought to be promising in this regard.

Due to the powerful gravity of their parent planets, these moons are thought to experience tidal heating in their interiors. This is suspected to lead to hydrothermal activity, which allows for oceans to exist at their core-mantle boundaries. This same hydrothermal activity could also be providing the necessary energy and chemical elements for basic life forms.

In other cases, such as Uranus' satellites, it is the decay of radioactive elements in their rocky/metallic interiors that could be responsible. Assuming the presence of enough salt and ammonia, all of these moons are thought to be able to maintain surface oceans that could harbor life.

Currently, the majority of astrobiological research here in the solar system is focused on Mars, which is considered the most habitable place beyond Earth and likely once had liquid water flowing on its surface. However, there are many in the scientific community who believe that extraterrestrial life is more likely to be found inside the moons.

At present, NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) plan to dispatch robotic missions to explore some of these satellites. First, there's the European Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE), which will launch in June of 2022 and arrive around Jupiter by October of 2029. Once there, it will study Callisto, Ganymede, and Europa, with a focus on Ganymede.

This will be followed by NASA's Europa Clipper, an orbiter scheduled to launch by October 10,2024, and arrive around Europa by April 11, 2030. Once there, the Clipper mission will gather data on the moon's composition and evolution. Other objectives include examining plume activities to learn more about the interior and scouting possible locations for a future lander mission.

Known as the Europa Lander, this proposal calls for a follow-up mission that would launch separately in 2027. It would arrive by the early 2030s and examine Europa's surface ice and its plume activity (and maybe obtain samples), the purpose of which will be to look for biosignatures that came from Europa's interior.

Next up is the Dragonfly mission, a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) drone that will explore Titan for signs of possible life. This vehicle relies on four rotors and is powered by a radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) - aka. a nuclear battery. This will allow the Dragonfly to study Titan's surface and atmosphere to learn more about its mysterious environment.

This mission is currently being developed at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHUAPL) and will launch in June 2027, arriving at Titan by 2034 (and landing on the surface by 2036). Its objectives include the study of Titan's methane lakes, atmosphere, rich prebiotic surface environment, and organic chemistry (which could be indications of life).

NASA has also entertained the idea of conducting an astrobiology mission to Enceladus that would follow up on the Cassini mission's accomplishments. If realized, the Enceladus Life Finder (ELF) would examine the plumes emanating from the moon's southern polar region to look for biosignatures that would indicate the presence of life inside the moon.

In 2018, NASA signed an agreement with Breakthrough Initiatives (BI) to develop a mission concept known as Breakthrough Enceladus. The mission would launch sometime in the 2020s, arriving around Enceladus about a decade later. Alongside other mission concepts, the moons of Jupiter and Saturn would be a focal point in the search for extraterrestrial life throughout the 2030s.

With any luck, these missions could lead to the discovery of compelling evidence of life beyond Earth. Or they might find enough evidence to suggest that more ambitious missions are needed, such as a deep-sea submarine for Europa, the Titan Mare Explorer (TME), and other concepts that are also being considered. By 2050, we may learn that life can thrive in all kinds of exotic environments.

By 2050, it's also possible that the first interstellar missions will be sent to explore the nearest star systems to our Sun. In all likelihood, the first mission to go would be Breakthrough Starshot, a program established by Breakthrough Initiatives for a gram-scale spacecraft (dubbed the StarChip) that would be towed by a large lightsail.

The smartphone-sized StarChip would be equipped with tiny sensors, a guidance and navigation system, tiny thrusters, and a radio antenna. It would then be accelerated by an Earth-based laser array to 20 percent the speed of light (37,282 mps; 60,000 km/s), allowing it to reach the Alpha Centauri (4.37 light-years away) system in just 20 years.

Astronomers have already confirmed the presence of two exoplanets around the system's trinary (Proxima Centauri), one of which (Proxima b) is considered potentially habitable. A recent study conducted by an international team affiliated with BI found that Alpha Centauri could also have a potentially habitable planet orbiting it (which is yet to be confirmed).

According to statements made in 2016 byBreakthrough Initiatives founder YuriMilner, Starshot could be ready to launch by 2036. This means that the people of Earth would be getting the first images and data from the mission by 2060. This data could include the first up-close look of a habitable planet beyond Earth, and who knows what else?

In November 2021, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) will finally be launched into space. This next-generation space observatory will have the highest infrared resolution and sensitivity of any space telescope to date. This will allow it to see farther out into space (and hence, back in time) to some of the earliest events in cosmic history.

In 2022, the ESA will launch Euclid, the successor to the Gaia Observatory - which will obtain data on two billion galaxies across 10 billion light-years of space. This will be used to create a 3D map of the local area of the universe to provide vital clues about the role of dark matter and dark energy in cosmic evolution.

These will be followed by the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope - or Roman Space Telescope (RST) for short - which is scheduled to launch sometime in 2025. With the same sensitivity as Hubble, but over 100 times the surveying power, the RST will identify tens of thousands of exoplanets and investigate many of the same cosmic mysteries as the JWST.

In 2026, the ESA will launch itsPlanetary Transits and Oscillations of stars (PLATO) observatory. Using a series of small, optically fast, wide-field telescopes, PLATO will search for exoplanets and characterize their atmospheres to determine if they could be habitable. Beyond these missions, there are other next-generation observatories being considered for the 2030s.

These include NASA's Origins Space Telescope (OST), the Habitable Exoplanet Imager (HabEx), which have a proposed launch date of 2035. There's also the Lynx X-ray Surveyor that could launch in 2036, followed by the Large Ultraviolet/Optical/Infrared Surveyor (LUVOIR) in 2039. These missions would take over from NASA's Great Observatoriessatellites and build on their accomplishments.

NASA and other space agencies are also working towards the realization ofin-space assembly (ISA) of space telescopes, where individual components will be sent to orbit and assembled there. There's also the concept of observatories made up of swarms of smaller telescope mirrors ("swarm telescopes") that would be capable of assembling themselves autonomously.

Of course, there are also many ground-based observatories that will be operational within the next decade. Examples include the Vera C Rubin Observatory - formerly known as the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) - which will gather its first light in 2022/2023. Using a three-mirror 27.5 ft (8.4 m) Simonyi Survey Telescope, this observatory will photograph the entire sky every few nights.

In addition to exploring the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy, Rubin will also take an inventory of objects in the solar system, map out the Milky Way, and monitor supernovae, fast radio bursts (FRBs), gamma-ray bursts, and other "transient events." It will also contribute immensely to the study of interstellar objects (like 'Oumuamua) a rapidly growing field.

Other soon-to-be-operational observatories include the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) and the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) in Chile, which are scheduled to be ready by 2025 and 2029 (respectively). There's also the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) in Hawaii, which is expected to gather its first images by 2027.

These observatories will be equipped with cutting-edge optics, interferometers, coronographs, and adaptive optics. The resulting sensitivity and resolution will allow for direct imaging studies of exoplanets, allowing astronomers to characterize their atmospheres and conclude whether or not they could support life (as we know it).

Before 2050, the ESO is likely to reconsider its plans for the Overwhelmingly Large Telescope (OWL), which will have an aperture measuring ~330 ft (100 m) and sensitivity beyond any existing telescope. In the realm of radio astronomy, existing projects and new arrays will expand the search for life and its origins in the cosmos.

In 2018, the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME) began observing the cosmos with its one-hundred, 65 ft (20 m) cylindrical parabolic reflector dishes. In 2020, China's Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) - the world's largest single-aperture radio telescope - also became fully operational for the first time.

These telescopes will prove instrumental in the coming years and decades as they investigate the cosmic mysteries associated with neutral hydrogen, fast-radio-bursts (FRBs), pulsars, and quasars. They will also be vital to the Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) network and the ongoing Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI).

Speaking of which, Breakthrough Listen will have finished its survey of the local universe by 2026. However, the analysis of the gathered data (which will be shared with the public in a series of data releases) is likely to last for much longer. What's more, follow-up studies will likely continue well into the 2030s and 2040s wherever Listen finds identifies potential technosignatures.

There are also plans for a successor to the Very Large Array (VLA) in New Mexico. Known as the Next-Generation Very Large Array (ngVLA), it will consist of two-hundred and forty-four, 59 ft (18 m) radio dishes spread over an area of about 5,505 mi (8,860 km), with an additional nineteen, 20 ft (6 m) dishes that make up a short-spacing array at the center.

Similarly, the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) will have completed construction by 2030. This massive radio telescope will be made up of radio telescopes located in Australia and South Africa that will be capable of gathering radio data from a section of the sky that measures 1 square km (~1 million m; 10.76 million ft).

These observatories will pick up where the venerable Arecibo Observatory and VLA left off, conducting research related to the SETI, and investigating cosmic mysteries like star system formation, gravitational waves, black holes, and the distribution of the chemical building blocks of life throughout the cosmos.

Between now and the middle of this century, some very exciting things will (or are expected) to happen in space. Space agencies, partnered with private space consortiums, will create vital infrastructure between Earth and the Moon and extend the reach of human exploration all the way to Mars.

The private space sector will grow to commercialize Low Earth Orbit, the Earth-Moon System, and create the foundations of a lunar (and maybe even Martian) economy. From this foundation, humanity will be able to become a truly "interplanetary species" and will begin planning ventures to the outer Solar System.

Humanity will also return to the Moon after forty years, and not as a single nation. More and more space agencies will place boots on the lunar surface by 2050 and establish bases that will allow them to stay. Mars will follow, with China, Russia, the ESA, and India all putting boots on the Red Planet before the 2050s are over.

Next-generation space telescopes and ground-based observatories will peer farther into space (and back in time) than ever before. Astronomers and cosmologists will update their theories on how galaxies and the large-scale structure of the cosmos evolved, and perhaps discover how life in our universe emerged.

Tens of thousands of new exoplanets for study, the ability to characterize exoplanet environments, the first confirmed habitable planets, and possibly the first evidence of life beyond Earth. While it may be too much to hope for, it's possible that these search efforts will even discover the first evidence of intelligent life beyond Earth.

In fact, you could say that space is where the most exciting changes will be happening in the next three decades.

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Life in 2050: A Glimpse at Space in the Future - Part II - Interesting Engineering

(Photo : NASA)

NASA is curious about Mars -- and we can't blame them.

Mars is a somewhat monotonous place; it is not that colorful. Throughout the entire planet, the area's sky, land, and overall atmosphere have an ongoing color scheme of reds and browns.

But in the early parts of 2021, the planet suddenly had a surprising set of breathtaking iridescent clouds -- and NASA's Curiosity Rover captured it beautifully.

The curious robot snapped multiple photos of the breathtaking Mars clouds, and successfully sent them back to Earth. The images exemplify soft, shimmering wisps entangled with the grey Martian skies, completely illuminating warm, bright light with help from the sun's reflection.

In a NASA statement, Mark Lemmon, one of NASA's atmospheric scientists at the Space Science Institution found in Boulder, Colorado,saidthat he always marveled about the colors of the sky; reds, greens, blues, and purples. He added that it amazed him to see the rare, colorful, and bright clouds on Mars.

Marsrarely gets any clouds because the planet does not contain that much water in its atmosphere, and the planet's air only has 1% density compared to the Earth's atmosphere, which makes colonizing it all the more difficult.

Clouds on Mars only occur near the planet's equator during the coldest season of its year.

This happens whenever Mars' orbit takes it further away from the sun. It is a phenomenon known asAphelion, and it will happen next in July 2021.

Read Also:NASA Looking at Nuclear-Powered Rockets to Shorten Travel Time to Mars

Business Insiderstated that scientists now believe that the clouds on Mars are composed of frozen carbon dioxide, typically referred to as dry ice. Researchers came up with the conclusion soon after they successfully analyzed Curiosity Rover's images.

They were able to identify it with the help of how the sunset's light reflected off the crystals within the clouds, giving an excellent hint at how far from the ground the clouds were.

Curiosity also got the chance to capture several photos of"Mother of Pearl"clouds.

Curiosity Rover is a technological marvel exploring Mars' crater near the equator with about 96 miles in width. As a result, it gets to witness rare moments such as the appearance of clouds on Mars as the planet slowly approached Aphelion.

According toBusiness Insider, two Earth years ago, roughly equating to one Martian year, similar iridescent clouds showed up a few months earlier than scientists predicted.

With this lapse, NASA came more prepared this year. Starting in January 2021,NASA Curiosity Roverwas already ready to take photos as soon as the early clouds returned to Mars. The beautiful clouds on Mars continued to sway over Curiosity throughout March.

Whenever Curiosity is not running around looking for skies to take photos of, the tech marvel is mainly preoccupied with studying the ground of Mars. Curiosity first landed in Mars' Gale Crater back in 2012.

During Curiosity Rover's first two years on the planet, it found out the Gale Crater used to be a lake filled with various chemicals.

In no time, Curiosity Rover got a new order from NASA: to climb the 3-mile worth of mountain located at the crater's center known as Mount Sharp.

Related Article:Elon Musk' Mars City:' Humans to Fly Out Before 2030, Mars Base Alpha' Self-Sustaining'-What Is Missing?

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NASA Curiosity Rover Presents the Earth with Rare, Breathtaking Photos of Iridescent Clouds on Mars - Tech Times