<p>Thought you knew all about Mars? Think again. Despite thousands of people poring through thousands of images from a flock of Mars orbiters over the decades, Dr. Pascal Lee and his associates found intriguing features in a region of complex terrain between Mars' Olympus Mons, the largest volcano in the solar system, and the western extent of Valles Marineris, the largest canyon. First, he spotted a relict glacier, covered with volcanic ash, and in a single day, realized he'd found a recently active volcano not previously identified--and how was this missed? Pascal will fill us in on the gritty details. This exciting discovery has wide-ranging implications, including the possibility of finding life nearby. Join us for this first-anywhere media reveal of the newest major feature on the Red Planet!</p> <p>Headline: SpaceX's Starship Test Flight</p><ul> <li>SpaceX conducted its third test flight of the Starship and Super Heavy launch system, successfully reaching orbital speed but losing both vehicles during re-entry</li> <li>The Starship reached orbital velocity and performed several test objectives, including a Starlink satellite dispenser demonstration and in-vehicle propellant transfer</li> <li>The test flight, while not perfect, represents a significant step forward for SpaceX's Mars ambitions, though there is still a long way to go before Starship is ready for crewed missions</li></ul> <p>Main Topic: Dr. Pascal Lee's Discovery of a Giant Volcano on Mars</p><ul> <li>Dr. Lee and his team discovered a previously unknown volcano on Mars, measuring 450 km (280 miles) in diameter and rising 9,000 meters above the surrounding terrain</li> <li>The volcano, located in the Noctis Labyrinthus region near Valles Marineris, has been hiding in plain sight since the Mariner 9 mission in 1971</li> <li>The discovery was made while studying a nearby glacier, which is likely related to the volcanic activity in the area</li> <li>The volcano's heavily eroded state suggests a long history of activity, with evidence of recent eruptions and the potential for ongoing activity</li> <li>The presence of a glacier and potential for residual heat make this site a compelling target in the search for extant life on Mars</li> <li>Dr. Lee proposes this location as an ideal site for future human exploration, offering access to both ancient and potentially modern life on Mars</li> <li>The discovery highlights the importance of volcanic regions on Mars for understanding the planet's geological history and potential for harboring life</li> <li>Dr. Lee and his team have submitted the name "Noctis Mons" for the newly discovered volcano, pending approval from the International Astronomical Union (IAU)</li></ul> <p><strong>Hosts:</strong> <a href="https://twit.tv/people/rod-pyle">Rod Pyle</a> and <a href="https://twit.tv/people/tariq-malik">Tariq Malik</a></p> <p><strong>Guest:</strong> <a href="http://www.pascallee.net/" target="_blank">Pascal Lee</a></p> <p>Download or subscribe to this show at <a href="https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space">https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space</a>.</p> <p>Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at <a href="https://twit.tv/clubtwit" rel="payment">https://twit.tv/clubtwit</a></p> <p><strong>Sponsor:</strong><ul> <li><a href="http://rocketmoney.com/twis" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">rocketmoney.com/twis</a></li> </ul></p>
Source: https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space/episodes/102
Published: 2024-03-15 14:44:30