The First Mars Rover of Sri Lanka By Kaveendri Rathnayake SEDS Sri Lanka, a student based national and international organization mainly focused on the exploration and development of space brought the glory to the motherland by its very recent project Taprobane 1.0 which participated in European Rover Challenge (ERC) 2019. European Rover Challenge (ERC) , The annual international Martian robots competition is one of the biggest robotics and space events in the world, co-organized by the European Space Foundation, Mars Society Polska, Starachowice Special Economic Zone and the Kielce University of Technology. As for the 6th consective year ERC 2019 commenced with 56 team from 16 countries all around the world representing 6 continents. For the first time in world history SEDS Sri Lanka participated in this competition introducing Taprobane 1.0 , the very first rover from Sri Lanka. This project was a united effort of SEDS members of government and private universities who a...

Kaveendri Shanika Rathnayake Europa, the smallest of Galilean Moons is one of the most remarkable bodies in the solar system. Scientists believe that this 1,940- mile-wide satellite harbors a huge ocean of liquid water beneath its icy shell. Also, in 2016 a study suggested that Europa produced 10 times more oxygen than hydrogen. Thus, the scientists have identified this icy world as one of the best spots in the solar system with the potential for life to evolve.  So exploring this icy moon in depth is essential for future investigations. To fulfil this target NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in partnership with the John Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory has planned a mission called 'Europa Clipper' to be launched in June 2023 or 2025. It will enter an orbit around Jupiter and make dozens of close approaches to Europa. Though mission's preferred launch option is the Space Launch System (SLS), due to financial issues NASA has proposed to launch Euro...