The Junior Age

Menu

Category: Space News

Life On Mars? NASA’s Perseverance Rover Provides Strong Evidence

Mitali k

For decades, scientists have wondered whether life ever existed beyond Earth, and Mars has always been one of the biggest mysteries. Thanks to NASA’s Perseverance rover, which has been exploring the planet since 2021, we are now closer than ever to answering that question. The Junior Age has all the details you need to know about the rover’s latest and most exciting findings.

Could Life Have Existed on Mars? NASA’s Perseverance Rover Offers Clues:

Since touching down on the Red Planet in February 2021, NASA’s Perseverance rover has been on an extraordinary mission: exploring Jezero Crater, a region that was once home to an ancient lake and river. The goal is to uncover signs that life may have existed on Mars billions of years ago.

The Hunt for Clues on Mars

Perseverance has been busily collecting and analysing rocks using its suite of onboard instruments. One of the most exciting discoveries came from a dried-up riverbed, where the rover found rocks marked with unusual patterns like leopard spots.

These spots are not just pretty patterns; they could be chemical footprints of life. The rocks are roughly 3.5 billion years old, dating back to a time when Mars may have had liquid water on its surface.

Life On Mars? NASA’s Perseverance Rover Provides Strong Evidence
Platform VOX

What do the Leopard Spots Mean?

On Earth, similar markings appear when microbes interact with minerals in mud, forming new minerals like vivianite and greigite. According to Joel Hurowitz, the lead scientist on the project, these chemical reactions are often but not always driven by living organisms. These leopard spots could be the remnants of ancient Martian microbes, tiny organisms that lived long ago and are too small to see without a microscope.

There may also be non-living, natural processes that could produce similar markings. While the leopard spots are the strongest evidence yet pointing toward possible ancient life on Mars, scientists caution that it is not proof.

Life On Mars? NASA’s Perseverance Rover Provides Strong Evidence
Astronomy

To confirm whether life ever existed on Mars, researchers will need to examine the rocks in more detail back on Earth. NASA is already planning a future mission to bring Perseverance’s collected samples home for deeper study. Until then, the Red Planet continues to guard its ancient secrets, but the clues are stacking up.

Finding signs of past life on Mars would be a historic moment for science. It could reshape our understanding of life in the universe and inspire future generations of explorers. For now, these leopard-spotted rocks are tantalising evidence that Mars was once a planet with the conditions to support life.

Also, read about – Have Scientists Discovered Life Beyond Our Solar System?

And, do not miss out on space flash cards!

Vikram 3201: Aatmanirbhar Bharat’s First 32-Bit Microprocessor for Space Missions

Mitali k

India has officially entered the space-grade semiconductor race with the launch of Vikram 3201, the country’s first fully homegrown 32-bit microprocessor. Developed under the Atmanirbhar Bharat mission, this chip represents a significant leap forward in technology, designed to power rockets, satellites, and other applications.

Know All About Vikram 3201, India’s First Indigenous 32-Bit Microprocessor for Space:

Built in India, for India’s Missions

Vikram 3201 has been designed at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) and fabricated at the Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL), Chandigarh. In fact, what makes it historic is that every step, from blueprint to production, was completed in India, without external dependence.

This chip marks a milestone in semiconductor self-reliance. For decades, India relied on imported microprocessors for critical missions. Vikram 3201 signals a shift that India can now design and manufacture its own brains for space technology. It is not just about rockets; it is about building a future where India shapes the global semiconductor story.

Vikram 3201: Aatmanirbhar Bharat’s First 32-Bit Microprocessor for Space Missions

Why Is This Chip – Vikram 3201 So Special?

Unlike ordinary processors used in laptops or phones, Vikram 3201 is space-grade. That means it can survive extreme environments, from blazing heat to freezing cold, plus high levels of vibration and radiation during space travel. It operates between –55 °C and +125 °C, meeting military-level standards.

Also read, Aditya L-1: India’s Solar Mission Reaches Sun’s Orbit

From Vikram 1601 to Vikram 3201

This chip is an upgrade over ISRO’s earlier 16-bit Vikram 1601, which has been in use since 2009. With new features, Vikram 3201 brings more power and precision.

  • 64-bit floating-point operations for ultra-accurate rocket navigation
  • Support for the Ada programming language, known for reliability in critical systems
  • Built-in 1553B interfaces for smooth communication between spacecraft components

Tested and Trusted in Space

The processor isn’t just a theory on paper. It has already been flight-tested successfully aboard PSLV-C60’s POEM-4 mission, proving its reliability in orbit.

Vikram 32-Bit Microprocessor for Space Missions

Vikram 3201’s Uses Beyond Space

While designed for ISRO’s rockets and satellites, Vikram 3201 could also play a role in defence, automotive, and energy sectors, thanks to its rugged build and efficiency.

Quick Facts at a Glance

  • Name: Vikram 3201
  • Type: 32-bit indigenous space microprocessor
  • Developed by: ISRO’s VSSC and SCL Chandigarh (under Atmanirbhar Bharat mission)
  • Key Features: 64-bit floating-point math, Ada language support, space-grade durability
  • Tested on: PSLV-C60 (POEM-4 mission)
  • Applications: Space missions, defence, automotive, energy

Get to know everything about Space. Buy the All About Space Information Cards

Shubhanshu Shukla Becomes India’s Longest-Staying Astronaut in Space

Mitali k

Shubhanshu Shukla is an Indian astronaut who made history by spending more time in space than any other Indian before him. He broke a 41-year-old record set by Rakesh Sharma, India’s first astronaut. Shubhanshu Shukla spent 18 eventful days aboard the International Space Station (“ISS”). He was the first Indian to visit the ISS and only the second Indian to go to space after Rakesh Sharma.

Also read, Aditya L-1: India’s Solar Mission Reaches Sun’s Orbit

As of July 15, 2025, Shubhanshu Shukla was reported to be returning to Earth. His journey back from the ISS began on July 14. Shubhanshu Shukla was the mission pilot for the Axiom Mission 4, a special spaceflight organized by NASA, SpaceX, and India’s space agency ISRO. During his stay, he conducted important scientific experiments, focusing especially on understanding muscle weakness in space and how to prevent it. He also collaborated with astronauts from other countries, demonstrating how space exploration brings nations together. 

connectedtoindia.com

In his farewell address from the ISS, Shubhanshu Shukla spoke about India’s growing journey in space exploration:  “It has been an incredible journey. Even though it is coming to an end, for you and me there is a long way to go. The journey of our human space mission is long and difficult. But if we are determined, even the stars are attainable“. He also referenced India’s first astronaut, Rakesh Sharma, famously quoting the 1924 Urdu song “Saare jahan se achcha”, saying, “India looked better than the rest of the world”.

Subscribe To The Junior Age Click here.

Fun Facts

Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla created history by becoming the 634th astronaut to reach space.

Get Know everything about Space, Buy This All About Space Information Cards

What a Ride! Indian in Space after 41-Year Gap

Mitali k

Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla has created history by becoming the first Indian ever to set foot on the International Space Station.

After multiple delays and postponements, the Axiom-4 mission carrying India’s Shubhanshu Shukla was successfully launched on June 25 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Axiom-4 mission took astronauts to the International Space Station (“ISS”). Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who’s piloting the mission, has become only the second Indian to travel to space.

Get Know everything about Space, Buy This All About Space Information Cards

nasa.gov

About The Mission

The astronauts flew in a spacecraft called Dragon. It was made by a company named SpaceX. A rocket called Falcon-9 helped the Dragon go up into space. The Axiom-4 mission marks the fourth private astronaut mission to the ISS. The commercial space mission operated by a Houston-based private company Axiom Space is a collaboration  between NASA, ISRO, ESA and Space.  The astronauts reached the ISS after a flight of about 28 hours.

This mission is the first time India will be part of the ISS and is considered a step towards India’s upcoming Gaganyaan space program.

About the Astronauts 

The crew for the mission includes three astronauts who have never been to the ISS before: Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, Poland’s Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. The fourth and final member of the team is Peggy Whitson of the US, a former NASA astronaut.

“Namaskar to all my countrymen. What a ride! After 41 years, we are back in space and what a ride it has been”. These were the first words of the Axiom-4 mission’s designated pilot and the first Indian to travel to space in 41 years, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla. 

nasa.gov

What will the astronauts do in space?

The astronauts will carry out 69 experiments; seven of them will be done by Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla. Some of the experiments include studying how plants and algae grow in space and learning how muscles heal.The astronauts will stay in space for 14 days. 

Also read, Aditya L-1: India’s Solar Mission Reaches Sun’s Orbit

Did You Know? 

The first Indian astronaut, Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, travelled to space in 1984 aboard a Russian Soyuz.

The four astronauts had been in a four-week quarantine since May 25, the longest in any modern space mission.Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla was among four Indian air force officers shortlisted last year to travel on the country’s first-ever human space flight, scheduled for 2027.

Subscribe To The Junior Age Click here.

Have Scientists Discovered Life Beyond Our Solar System?

Mitali k

For the first time, scientists have found the strongest signs that there might be life on a planet outside our solar system. There is a planet far, far away—124 light-years from Earth—called K2-18b, which is twice the size of the Earth. Scientists from the University of Cambridge looked at this exoplanet using the super-powerful James Webb Space Telescope and they just found something really exciting!

Also read, Aditya L-1: India’s Solar Mission Reaches Sun’s Orbit

theguardian.com

They have found possible evidence that this faraway planet orbiting another star may be home to life. The telescope spotted special chemicals on this exoplanet that are only made by living things here on Earth.

Subscribe To The Junior Age Click here.

This means that either there is life on K2-18b or that these special chemicals were produced in another way that we do not know about. But, before we get too excited, scientists say we need more proof. A study detailing the findings was published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.

Get Know everything about Space, Buy This All About Space Information Cards

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. 4