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A unique gravity map of Mars has been unveiled by scientists at the Europlanet Science Congress 2024. This map reveals the presence of significant structures beneath Mars’ ancient ocean and highlights how mantle processes are influencing Olympus Mons, the largest volcano in the Solar System. The study draws on data from NASA’s InSIGHT (Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport) mission and small satellite deviations.

Reevaluating Martian Geology

The upcoming paper, “The global gravity field of Mars reveals an active interior,” led by Bart Root from Delft University of Technology and published in Universe Today, challenges established geological theories. It questions the concept of flexural isostasy, which traditionally describes how a planet’s lithosphere, comprising the crust and upper mantle, reacts to large-scale loading.

On Earth, such loading typically causes a downward bending of the lithosphere, with surrounding areas uplifted slightly. However, Mars’ Tharsis Montes, a vast volcanic region, contradicts this model. Instead of sinking, Tharsis Montes is notably elevated.

Mars’ Hidden Features

The researchers suggest that active processes within Mars’ mantle are pushing Tharsis Montes upward, according to a Science Alert report. They identified a large mass approximately 1,750 kilometres across and 1,100 kilometres deep, likely a mantle plume exerting enough force to counteract the downward pressure from the volcanic region’s mass.

Additionally, the study uncovered dense, mysterious structures beneath Mars’ northern polar plains. These anomalies, buried under a smooth sediment layer, are around 300–400 kg/m³ denser than their surroundings. While similar structures on Earth’s Moon are linked to impact basins, Mars’ northern hemisphere anomalies show no such surface traces.

Future Exploration Plans

To further investigate these enigmatic structures and Mars’ gravity, the researchers advocate for the Martian Quantum Gravity (MaQuls) mission. Dr. Lisa Wörner from the German Aerospace Center (DLR), who presented the mission at EPSC2024, explained that MaQuls would employ technology akin to that used in the GRAIL and GRACE missions. This mission could provide deeper insights into Mars’ subsurface features and ongoing mantle convection, improving our understanding of the planet’s dynamic processes.

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SpaceX Successfully Deploys 21 Starlink Satellites, Loses Falcon 9 Booster

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March 5, 2025

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SpaceX Successfully Deploys 21 Starlink Satellites, Loses Falcon 9 Booster

A Falcon 9 rocket carrying 21 Starlink satellites was launched by SpaceX from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on March 2. Liftoff took place at 9:24 p.m. ET on March 3, with the mission including 13 satellites equipped with direct-to-cell capabilities. The first stage of the rocket successfully landed on the droneship “Just Read the Instructions” stationed approximately 400 kilometres off Florida’s coast. However, the booster, designated B1086, was lost shortly after landing due to damage sustained by one of its landing legs.

Booster Loss After Landing

According to SpaceX, a fire at the aft end of the booster resulted in structural damage, leading to its collapse. The incident occurred after the rocket had completed its return to Earth and made contact with the landing platform. Data from this failure will be examined to improve the reliability of future Falcon 9 missions, as stated in SpaceX’s official mission description.

Mission Details and Starlink Expansion

The deployment of the 21 satellites took place approximately 65 minutes after launch, marking another step in the expansion of SpaceX’s Starlink constellation. More than 7,000 operational Starlink satellites are currently in orbit, contributing to global broadband coverage.

This launch marked the Falcon 9 booster’s fifth and final flight. The B1086 had previously been used for three Starlink missions, as well as the GOES-U and Maxar 3 missions. SpaceX has completed 26 Falcon 9 missions in 2025, with 19 dedicated to Starlink. The company continues to advance its satellite network despite the loss of the booster in this mission.

For details of the latest launches and news from Samsung, Xiaomi, Realme, OnePlus, Oppo and other companies at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, visit our MWC 2025 hub.

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Primordial Helium-3 May Be Locked in Earth’s Core, Study Finds

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March 5, 2025

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Primordial Helium-3 May Be Locked in Earth’s Core, Study Finds

Helium-3, a rare isotope formed during the early solar system, may be locked within Earth’s solid core, as indicated by recent research. This discovery could provide insights into how quickly the planet was formed. Unlike helium-4, which is commonly produced through radioactive decay, helium-3 originates from the primordial gas cloud that shaped the solar system. While traces of this isotope have been detected in volcanic hotspots and mid-ocean ridges, the mechanism behind its retention for billions of years remains uncertain. Given helium’s volatile nature, most of it was expected to escape Earth’s mantle due to tectonic activity or the giant impact that led to the formation of the Moon.

Helium and Iron Interaction at Core Conditions

According to the study published in Physical Review Letters, researchers at the University of Tokyo led by Kei Hirose examined whether helium could mix with iron under conditions mimicking Earth’s core. Using a diamond-tipped anvil, the team subjected iron and helium to extreme pressures ranging from 50,000 to 550,000 times the atmospheric pressure at Earth’s surface. As per reports, the samples were heated to temperatures between 727 and 2,727 degrees Celsius before being depressurised and analysed at cryogenic temperatures to prevent helium escape. Findings indicated that solid iron could incorporate up to 3.3 percent helium, suggesting the isotope may remain trapped in the core over long periods.

Potential Impact on Earth’s Formation Timeline

Peter Olson, a geophysicist at the University of New Mexico, told that these results confirm helium’s compatibility with Earth’s solid core. However, he noted that only 4 percent of the core is solid, with the majority existing in a liquid state. Further research is needed to determine whether helium-3 could be similarly retained in the liquid portion. Olson also highlighted the significance of this discovery in dating Earth’s formation. If helium-3 was incorporated into the core, it suggests the planet formed rapidly within a few million years. A slower formation process spanning 100 million years would likely have resulted in minimal helium retention.

For details of the latest launches and news from Samsung, Xiaomi, Realme, OnePlus, Oppo and other companies at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, visit our MWC 2025 hub.


SpaceX Delays Starship Flight 8 Launch After Technical Glitches



Google Pixel 9a Surfaces on US FCC Website With Support for Satellite Connectivity

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SpaceX Delays Starship Flight 8 Launch After Technical Glitches

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March 5, 2025

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SpaceX Delays Starship Flight 8 Launch After Technical Glitches

The scheduled test flight of SpaceX’s Starship Flight 8, which was expected to take off from the company’s Starbase facility in Texas on March 3, has been postponed due to last-minute technical issues. The launch was planned within a window starting at 6:30 p.m. ET with a mission to test various aspects of the rocket’s performance, including booster recovery and satellite deployment. SpaceX has not yet announced a new launch date, but updates are expected soon. The flight was set to be the eighth major test for Starship, which is designed to be the most powerful rocket ever built.

Starship’s Mission and Test Objectives

As per reports, the flight plan, Starship was expected to launch atop its Super Heavy booster, which was intended to return to the launch pad and be caught by the “chopstick” arms of the tower. The upper stage of the rocket was set to release four mock versions of SpaceX’s Starlink satellites on a suborbital trajectory before splashing down in the Indian Ocean approximately 66 minutes after liftoff. A similar test conducted on January 16 with Flight 7 saw the successful recovery of the booster, but the upper stage failed due to a propellant leak, leading to an explosion before it could complete its mission.

NASA’s Interest and Future Developments

NASA has selected Starship as the lunar lander for the Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon in the coming years. The vehicle is also being developed for deep-space missions, including potential crewed journeys to Mars. Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, has indicated that future iterations of Starship may be even larger than the current model, which stands at 123 metres. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is expected to grant approval for up to 25 Starship launches in 2025, marking a significant step toward the rocket’s operational use.

For details of the latest launches and news from Samsung, Xiaomi, Realme, OnePlus, Oppo and other companies at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, visit our MWC 2025 hub.


Jio Platforms, AMD, Cisco and Nokia Announce Open Telecom AI Platform at MWC 2025



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