NASA Spacecraft Records Sounds of Space Rocks Hitting Mars
2022-09-26
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1Researchers say a spacecraft on Mars has recorded vibrations and sounds of space rocks hitting the planet.
2The activity was picked up by a seismometer, an instrument that measures ground noises and shaking linked to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and explosions.
3The seismometer sits on the surface of Mars.
4It is connected to the InSight lander, which is operated by the American space agency NASA.
5Scientists recently announced the instrument had discovered seismic waves from four different space rocks that crashed into Mars in 2020 and 2021.
6The first of the four confirmed meteoroids entered Mars' atmosphere on September 5, 2021, NASA said in a statement.
7Meteoroid is the term used for a space rock before it hits the ground.
8Once the rock or parts of it hit the surface, they are called meteorites.
9The first rock to enter the atmosphere exploded into at least three pieces.
10Each of the pieces left craters on the surface.
11Researchers then estimated where the craters were.
12NASA even released recordings of what the meteoroid strikes sounded like.
13Later, the team used NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter to confirm the crater positions.
14The orbiter's imaging instruments found three darkened spots on the surface.
15InSight's seismometer has already discovered numerous marsquakes on the Red Planet.
16A marsquake is a seismic event on Mars that is similar to earthquakes that happen on Earth.
17But NASA said this was the first time scientists were able to confirm that these kinds of seismic and sound waves were linked to space rock strikes.
18The discovery also marks the first time that such seismic activity from strikes, also called impacts, has been measured on Mars.
19Researchers recently published details on their findings in a paper in the publication Nature Geoscience.
20Ingrid Daubar is a specialist on Mars impacts at Brown University in Rhode Island.
21She was a co-writer of the paper.
22Daubar said in a statement, "After three years of InSight waiting to detect an impact, those craters looked beautiful."
23NASA said the team used earlier data to also confirm three other impacts.
24One happened in May 2020, another in February 2021 and a third in August 2021.
25Researchers have wondered why they have not detected more meteoroid strikes on Mars.
26After all, the planet sits next to the solar system's main asteroid belt, which produces a large number of flying space rocks.
27In addition, the Mars atmosphere is just one percent as thick as Earth's, meaning more meteoroids can pass through it without being destroyed.
28Daubar said that on Mars, "hundreds of impact craters are forming somewhere on the planet's surface every year."
29But NASA scientists say InSight lander's seismometer may have been missing impacts because of interfering noise from the Martian wind or seasonal changes in the atmosphere.
30The researchers believe the new findings could lead to many new impact discoveries based on InSight's existing data that goes back to 2018, when the lander arrived on Mars.
31Scientists say the study of seismic activity on Mars can help them better understand the materials contained below the planet's surface.
32"Impacts are the clocks of the solar system," said Raphael Garcia, a lead writer of the paper and a scientist at France's Higher Institute of Aeronautics and Space in Toulouse.
33"We need to know the impact rate today to estimate the age of different surfaces," he said in a statement.
34Garcia added that the same kind of instrument might also be used to make similar measurements on the moon.
35He said two French-built seismometers are expected to be included in a NASA lunar science mission that could launch in 2025.
36I'm Bryan Lynn.
1Researchers say a spacecraft on Mars has recorded vibrations and sounds of space rocks hitting the planet. 2The activity was picked up by a seismometer, an instrument that measures ground noises and shaking linked to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and explosions. 3The seismometer sits on the surface of Mars. It is connected to the InSight lander, which is operated by the American space agency NASA. 4Scientists recently announced the instrument had discovered seismic waves from four different space rocks that crashed into Mars in 2020 and 2021. 5The first of the four confirmed meteoroids entered Mars' atmosphere on September 5, 2021, NASA said in a statement. Meteoroid is the term used for a space rock before it hits the ground. Once the rock or parts of it hit the surface, they are called meteorites. 6The first rock to enter the atmosphere exploded into at least three pieces. Each of the pieces left craters on the surface. Researchers then estimated where the craters were. NASA even released recordings of what the meteoroid strikes sounded like. 7Later, the team used NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter to confirm the crater positions. The orbiter's imaging instruments found three darkened spots on the surface. 8InSight's seismometer has already discovered numerous marsquakes on the Red Planet. A marsquake is a seismic event on Mars that is similar to earthquakes that happen on Earth. 9But NASA said this was the first time scientists were able to confirm that these kinds of seismic and sound waves were linked to space rock strikes. The discovery also marks the first time that such seismic activity from strikes, also called impacts, has been measured on Mars. 10Researchers recently published details on their findings in a paper in the publication Nature Geoscience. 11Ingrid Daubar is a specialist on Mars impacts at Brown University in Rhode Island. She was a co-writer of the paper. Daubar said in a statement, "After three years of InSight waiting to detect an impact, those craters looked beautiful." 12NASA said the team used earlier data to also confirm three other impacts. One happened in May 2020, another in February 2021 and a third in August 2021. 13Researchers have wondered why they have not detected more meteoroid strikes on Mars. After all, the planet sits next to the solar system's main asteroid belt, which produces a large number of flying space rocks. In addition, the Mars atmosphere is just one percent as thick as Earth's, meaning more meteoroids can pass through it without being destroyed. 14Daubar said that on Mars, "hundreds of impact craters are forming somewhere on the planet's surface every year." 15But NASA scientists say InSight lander's seismometer may have been missing impacts because of interfering noise from the Martian wind or seasonal changes in the atmosphere. 16The researchers believe the new findings could lead to many new impact discoveries based on InSight's existing data that goes back to 2018, when the lander arrived on Mars. 17Scientists say the study of seismic activity on Mars can help them better understand the materials contained below the planet's surface. 18"Impacts are the clocks of the solar system," said Raphael Garcia, a lead writer of the paper and a scientist at France's Higher Institute of Aeronautics and Space in Toulouse. "We need to know the impact rate today to estimate the age of different surfaces," he said in a statement. 19Garcia added that the same kind of instrument might also be used to make similar measurements on the moon. He said two French-built seismometers are expected to be included in a NASA lunar science mission that could launch in 2025. 20I'm Bryan Lynn. 21Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from NASA, The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse. 22___________________________________________________________________ 23Words in This Story 24vibrate - v. to shake with small, quick movements 25crater - n. a big hole in the ground created by the force of an object 26detect - v. to find or discover 27asteroid belt - n. the area of interplanetary space between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter in which most asteroids are found 28_______________________________________________________________________ 29What do you think of this story? We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: 30Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.