ISLAMABAD: Astronomers state they have obtained proof of lightning activity on Mars representing a revolutionary breakthrough in the study of the Martian atmosphere.
International news sources report that NASA’s Perseverance rover, which touched down on Mars in 2021 to investigate evidence of life has been studying the Jezero Crater area for the last four years.
The observed lightning event was identified via sound and electromagnetic data captured by the rover’s SuperCam device equipped with microphones and sophisticated sensors.
Researchers suggest that confirming these results might require deploying devices able to detect atmospheric electrical activity and cameras with greater sensitivity on upcoming Mars expeditions.
A French research group listened to the audio of the rover in Mars, which was more than two Martian years long (equal to 1,374 Earth days), for 28 hours.
Their results show that these are gaseous electrical discharges being associated with dust storms and Martian wind events most of the times, which in turn implies that lightning on Mars may happen under certain atmospheric conditions.
Why China’s spacecraft return delayed to reach Earth?
China has announced that its Shenzhou-20 spacecraft collided with a small piece of space debris floating in orbit, which delayed its return to Earth.
The Chinese space agency has said that the impact of the debris caused very small cracks in the vehicle’s return capsule. According to the initial plan, the three astronauts Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui, and Wang Jie were to return to Earth on November 5, but these astronauts returned to Earth on November 14. Experts say the incident reflects the growing threat of space debris and could pave the way for international initiatives to enhance cooperation in space traffic management and debris monitoring. Finally, the three astronauts returned safely to Earth on November 14 aboard the Shenzhou-21 capsule.
The incident highlights the fact that, as space activities are increasing rapidly, the dangers of space debris also highlight the need for international cooperation.
