Here are today’s most important updates from the realm of Science and Space.
Days after its successful launch, the NVS-02 satellite has encountered a critical issue due to a faulty valve that supplies oxidizer to the Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM). This failure has prevented the satellite from executing orbit-raising manoeuvres, leaving it stranded in a geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) instead of reaching its intended near-circular orbit, which is essential for optimal navigation operations. Despite this setback, the satellite remains fully functional, with power generation, communication, and control systems operating normally. Engineers are now exploring alternative strategies to use the satellite in its current elliptical orbit. While a final decision is pending, ISRO may attempt to repurpose the mission to maximize its utility despite the propulsion failure.
I spy with my little lander, a Moon in the distance. Check out Blue Ghost's amazing view of Earth eclipsing the Moon as the lander travels on orbit. Our #GhostRiders can't wait to share more postcard worthy moments as we continue on our roadtrip. #BGM1 pic.twitter.com/OUGfHgSPLC
— Firefly Aerospace (@Firefly_Space) January 31, 2025
(Credit - X/@Firefly_Space)
Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lander has captured a mesmerizing view of Earth eclipsing the Moon while en route to its lunar destination. This remarkable video was made from pictures taken when the lander was orbiting Earth, showing a fleeting moment where the bright Earth obscured the distant Moon. Launched on January 15, 2025, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Nasa's Kennedy Space Center, Blue Ghost is currently undergoing systems checks in Earth's orbit before executing a critical engine burn that will set it on a trajectory toward the Moon. The mission, part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, aims to deliver ten scientific payloads to the lunar surface, including instruments designed to study the Moon's environment and geology.
Long believed to be inactive or vestigial, scientists now detected that the muscles behind the human ear are actually activated when people listen intently, according to a recent study. This muscle, known as the auricularis posterior, has been largely dormant in humans for centuries but shows signs of reactivation when individuals focus on challenging auditory tasks. As the difficulty level of the task increased, so, too did the activity of the superior auricular muscles, the study highlighted. The research results implied that muscle might be involved in enhancing auditory perception under specific conditions, possibly by subtly adjusting the ear's position to better capture sound.
Now that I've completed my climb out of Jezero Crater, I'm back to #SamplingMars!
— NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover (@NASAPersevere) January 29, 2025
My 26th sample, known as "Silver Mountain," has textures unlike anything we've seen before. I've sealed the rock core in a sample tube so it can be analyzed in labs on Earth in the future. pic.twitter.com/YqEPZnDnfR
(Credit - X/@NASAPersevere)
NASA's Perseverance rover has collected a rock sample with unusual textures from Mars' Jezero Crater. The sample, nicknamed "Silver Mountain," is the rover's 26th and is unlike any previously collected. The samples are collected using a coring drill and stored in titanium tubes. Jezero Crater is one of the ones believed to be having conditions some billions of years ago that may have been supportive of microbial life. The Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover searches for signs of ancient microbial life, to advance NASA's quest to explore the past habitability of Mars. NASA aims to bring the samples back to Earth between 2035 and 2039, with a decision on the retrieval method expected next year.
