A devil on Mars and defenders of Earth

Astronomers have for the first time used artificial intelligence to discover 50 new exoplanets—worlds that orbit other stars. The data came from NASA’s now-retired Kepler space telescope, which watched stars for small light dips to indicate planets were possibly transiting in front of those stars. Missions like Kepler produce false positives that must be sorted out manually by astronomers; AI could help speed up the process. Pictured: An artist’s impression of an exoplanet and its host star. Image credit: David A. Aguilar (CfA).

Final construction of NASA’s Lucy spacecraft has started at Lockheed Martin in Colorado, with NASA reporting the mission is officially in Phase D—the last stage before launch. Lucy is scheduled to lift off in October 2021 on a mission to visit 8 asteroids, 7 of which share an orbit with Jupiter.

The temperature probe known as the mole aboard NASA’s Mars InSight lander has worked its way further underground. The mole is underground for the first time since InSight landed on Mars in November 2018, thanks to efforts by NASA and German Aerospace Center engineers. InSight is currently using its robotic scoop to press down on the soil above the mole as it digs.

Want to be a flight director in NASA’s mission control in Houston? The agency is currently accepting applications through 10 September. Candidates must be U.S. citizens with a bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, or math, and have “time-critical decision-making experience in high-stress, high-risk environments.”

Northrop Grumman successfully test-fired a rocket booster for NASA’s Space Launch System, the giant vehicle that will blast humans to the Moon under the agency’s Artemis program. Booster tests for the first 3 Artemis flights have already happened; this one evaluated possible upgrades for later missions.

The possibility that an asteroid may someday impact the Earth is very real, and the international effort to prevent it requires work by space agencies, citizen scientists, and the public. The Planetary Society is working with our members around the world to spread awareness of the asteroid threat, find the near-Earth objects out there, and prepare the defenses that may someday save us all. You can help. Become a Planetary Defender today.
Pictured: Barringer Crater formed about 50,000 years ago when a 50-meter asteroid crashed into the Arizona desert. Image credit: EduPic.

Although the great leaps of space exploration tend to take place out there in the cosmos, much of the drama of space history took place here on Earth. Next week, join Planetary Society co-founder Lou Friedman for a voyage through his storied career in space exploration as he shares his newest book, Planetary Adventures: From Moscow to Mars. This live event will take place on Saturday, September 12 at 4:00 p.m. PDT / 7:00 p.m. EDT, and we’ll be taking your audience questions throughout. This event is free, but you’ll need to register as space is limited.

Is there life on Mars? This question has intrigued humans for generations. In this week’s Planetary Radio, planetary scientist Sarah Stewart Johnson will discuss her new book The Sirens of Mars, which takes you through the saga of the search for life on the Red Planet.