S27E35: Red Planet Revelation: Mars Hides an Ancient Volcanic Behemoth

The Space, Astronomy & Science Podcast.
SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 36

*Mars Unveils a Colossal Volcanic Secret
Astronomers have discovered a massive ancient volcano on Mars, hidden beneath an ice sheet in the planet's Tharsus volcanic province. This behemoth, which has eluded detection by orbiting spacecraft since 1971, could offer new insights into the Red Planet's geologic past and potential for life. The structure, tentatively named Noctus Volcano, stands over 29,600 feet tall and spans about 280 miles across. Its discovery near the labyrinthine Noctus Labyrinthus and the colossal Valles Marineris suggests a long history of volcanic activity and hints at the presence of glacial ice beneath its surface.

*Europe's New Radar Mission to Monitor Climate Change
The European Space Agency is gearing up for ROSAL, a cutting-edge Earth observation mission set to scrutinize the planet's oceans, land, and ice. With the largest deployable planar antenna array ever built, ROSAL will complement existing Copernicus Sentinel missions by using L-band radar to penetrate vegetation and ice, providing invaluable data for climate change research, agriculture, and geohazard monitoring.

*International Space Station's Revolving Door
It's been a bustling period aboard the ISS with multiple crew rotations. Axiom Space's third private mission has concluded, paving the way for their fourth venture and future space station modules. The arrival of NASA's SpaceX Crew-8 promises six months of groundbreaking experiments, including 3D organoid growth to study diseases. Meanwhile, SpaceX Crew-7's departure marks the end of a mission filled with over 250 experiments, ranging from immune cell behavior in microgravity to artificial retina production.

*AI Robot Chemist Could Pave the Way for Martian Oxygen Production
Scientists have developed an AI-powered robot chemist capable of extracting oxygen from Martian meteorites. This breakthrough suggests that future Mars missions might sustain human life and fuel rockets using the Red Planet's own resources. The AI robot's ability to identify and react chemicals to produce oxygen could revolutionize space exploration logistics and support long-term colonization efforts.

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(00:00) Introduction and rundown of upcoming stories
(03:15) The unveiling of Mars's Noctus Volcano and its implications
(08:40) Details on ESA's new ROSAL Earth observation mission
(14:25) The latest crew changes and experiments aboard the ISS
(19:30) An AI robot chemist's potential to produce oxygen on Mars
(24:45) Other stories making news in science this week
(28:30) Closing remarks and podcast support information