Crumbd

NASA is sending a helicopter to Mars to get a bird’s-eye view of the planet

When NASA launches its next rover to Mars, the vehicle will have a small helicopter along for the ride. NASA announced today that it will be sending a small autonomous flying chopper — aptly named the Mars Helicopter — with the upcoming Mars 2020 rover. The helicopter will attempt to fly through the Martian air to see if vehicles can even levitate on Mars, where the atmosphere is 100 times thinner than that of Earth.........

Australian brewers developing space beer bottle to take the party off-planet

Australian brewers are working on a new stout and a bottle to drink it from, both designed specifically for space. The bottle will keep the liquid contained within and offers the familiar experience of enjoying a cold beer back home, for astronauts in microgravity.........

Oxford scientists discover a staggering 100 never-before-seen species off the Bermuda coast 

The newly discovered oceanic zone was discovered by Oxford scientists on a research mission to Bermuda carried out by Nekton, an ocean exploration charity. There are over 100,000 underwater mountains in seas across the globe yet less than 50 have been biologically sampled in detail. Seawater blocks radio waves, it is not possible to get satellite images of ocean floors. This means that around 95 percent of oceans is still unexplored!........

Lunar meteorite suggests an abundance of water beneath Moon's surface

Moganite, the mineral in question was found in a lunar meteorite found in northwestern Africa, notes a report by Space.com. A team of Japanese scientists have confirmed its presence. This could mean that the Moon could have reservoirs of water in the form of ice just below its surface. Moganite is a crystal of silicon dioxide and is similar to quartz. On Earth, it forms under specific circumstances in alkaline fluids, notes the report. This is the first time that moganite has been detected in lunar rocks.........

Isro develops desi atomic clock, to be used in navigation satellites

In a significant development, Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) has developed an atomic clock that will be used in navigation satellites to measure precise location data. The space agency currently imports atomic clocks from European aerospace manufacturer Astrium for its navigation satellites.........

NASA built a compact nuclear reactor to aid future space exploration

NASA has completed the building and testing of a compact nuclear fission reactor that can be packed into a spaceship for future space exploration and travel. It is called Kilopower Reactor Using Stirling Technology (KRUSTY). One reactor can produce enough power to run several average houses for up to 10 years.........