Weekly - NASA finds massive underground ocean on Mars and more
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NASA finds massive underground ocean on Mars
Last week, scientists analysing the data collected by NASA’s Insight lander in the past, discovered a massive ocean of underground water on Mars. They believe the water stored underground is enough to cover the entire planet’s surface 2km deep. However, this new discovery does not mean that the water is easily accessible. It is located 11-20 km below the surface.
SSLV now ready for commercialisation after final developmental flight
Last week, ISRO successfully completed its 3rd and final developmental flight of its Small Satellite Launch Vehicle or SSLV. The rocket is designed to be able to lift up to 500kgs of payload into a Low Earth Orbit of 500km. It is cheaper, can accommodate multiple satellites and doesn’t need too much preparation before launch. ISRO has announced that the SSLV is now ready for commercial applications in the future.
Webb just made the theory of expansion more complex
The universe we know is always expanding. The rate of expansion of the universe has however been debated for a long time. When scientists try to observe the cosmic microwave background or the leftover radiation from the past, they get a different value from that obtained by observing distant supernovae. Recently, however, when the data from the James Webb telescope collected from distant galaxies and other phenomena were studied, the values didn’t relate to either. This has caused a great amount of confusion in the scientific world. Experts will now be looking to new theories to explain this mysterious finding.