MARS SAMPLE RETURN HINGES ON BUDGET
Since 2021, the Mars rover called Perseverance has been exploring an ancient river delta on the red planet’s surface. At scientifically strategic spots, the rover has been extracting and preserving samples from the rocks it encounters. From the mission’s outset, the plan has been to return those samples to earth, where full-size labs of today and powerful tools not yet invented can examine their composition; and possibly conclude that Mars once had microbial or other forms of life. But the missions to bring the samples back are in jeopardy due to budget cuts to NASA this month. Everything pivots on there being the money—and the international will—to make the sample return missions happen.
THE CHRISTIAN FAITH HINGES ON THE RESURRECTION
All of Christianity pivots on Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. As Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:16–17, if Christ has not been raised, then every believer’s faith is worthless, and we all remain in our sins. Today’s passage from Mark gives a reliable eyewitness account of the event that our faith hinges upon and that we celebrate this Easter Sunday.
Questions
- What’s the most exciting space-related event you’ve heard of?
- When has something important in your life hinged upon one thing happening?
- What is your way to celebrate Easter?
