A major scientific discovery was announced by NASA at a Sept. 28 news conference. From its vantage point high above the Martian surface, NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) spacecraft has found the strongest evidence yet, that under certain circumstances, liquid water has been found on Mars. Researchers say an imaging spectrometer on MRO detected signatures of hydrated minerals on slopes where downhill streaks, known as Recurring Slope Lineae (RSL) are seen. In the past, RSL flows have been described as possibly related to liquid water. But the new findings of hydrated minerals is key evidence. Hydrated salts can lower the freezing point of liquid brine – and produce liquid water. Also, Life beyond Earth in the next decade?, “The Martian” screening event, Cargo ship departs space station, New cargo ship delivers to space station, Rare double celestial treat and Espacio a Tierra.

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Water flowing on Mars today

John Grunsfeld, NASA Associate Administrator for Science:
“When we explore we make discoveries – and that’s really the human element. Discovery is why we do the science.”

A major scientific discovery was announced by NASA at a Sept. 28 news conference. From its vantage point high above the Martian surface, NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) spacecraft has found the strongest evidence yet …

Jim Green, NASA Director of Planetary Science:
“… That under certain circumstances, liquid water has been found on Mars.”

Researchers say an imaging spectrometer on MRO detected signatures of hydrated minerals on slopes where downhill streaks, known as recurring slope lineae (RSL) are seen.

Michael Meyer, Lead Scientist, Mars Exploration Program:
“These are dark streaks that form in late spring, grow through the summer and then disappear by fall.”

In the past, RSL flows have been described as possibly related to liquid water. But the new findings of hydrated minerals is key evidence. Hydrated salts can lower the freezing point of liquid brine – and produce liquid water.

John Grunsfeld, NASA Associate Administrator for Science:
“The existence of liquid water, even if it’s super salty, briny water gives the possibility that if there’s life on Mars, that we have a way to describe how it might survive.”

Life beyond Earth in the next decade?

NASA Chief Scientist Ellen Stofan testified during a Sept. 29 hearing before the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, about astrobiology and the prospects for finding life beyond Earth in the next decade. With NASA’s fleet of robotic spacecraft, space-based observatories and technology being developed, it is very possible that we could indeed discover some form of life, in the next 10 to 20 years, somewhere else in our solar system.

“The Martian” screening event

A special VIP screening event of the 21^st Century Fox movie, “The Martian” took place Oct. 29 at National Geographic’s Grosvenor Auditorium, in Washington, D.C. Real NASA data was used to make the movie – a fictional story about a stranded astronaut’s fight to survive on Mars in the 2030s. The event featured remarks by NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden and other dignitaries, and a panel discussion with agency officials and some of the film’s cast members, about how accurately the movie reflects the challenges NASA faces, as we prepare for real human exploration of the Red Planet in the 2030s.

Cargo ship departs space station

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s unpiloted HTV-5 cargo craft left the International Space Station on Sept. 28, five weeks after delivering about five tons of supplies and experiments to the station. That delivery included materials for the Twins Study, a suite of investigations being conducted on the station with NASA astronaut Mark Kelly and on Earth, at the same time with his identical twin Mark Kelly; a retired astronaut.

New cargo ship delivers to space station

A few days later, a Russian Progress resupply ship launched to the space station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. About six-hours later, the Progress automatically docked to the Zvezda Service Module – delivering more than three tons of food, fuel and supplies for the station crew.

Rare double celestial treat

The Sept. 27 supermoon – visible in the U.S. and much of the world, was the first in more than 30 years to occur at the same time as a lunar eclipse. NASA television aired live coverage of the event during which Earth’s shadow dimmed the “larger-than-life” face of the moon for more than an hour. This rare double-celestial treat doesn’t happen again until 2033.

Espacio a Tierra

In recognition of National Hispanic Heritage Month, NASA’s weekly web series, “Space to Ground” will be available in Spanish through Oct. 12. “Espacio a Tierra”, like the English-language version, will update viewers about activities aboard the International Space Station. The effort is part of NASA’s Commitment to Action for the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

And that’s what’s up this week @NASA.