Mars
50 years ago, NASA sent 2 spacecraft to search for life on Mars – the Viking missions’ findings are still discussed today
50 years ago, NASA sent 2 spacecraft to search for life on Mars – the Viking missions’ findings are still discussed today Viking missions sent by NASA 50 years ago searched for life on Mars using two twin orbiters and landers, which successfully landed on the Martian surface in July 1976. The Viking landers conducted […]
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NASA Announces CHAPEA Crew for Year-Long Mars Mission Simulation
NASA Announces CHAPEA Crew for Year-Long Mars Mission Simulation NASA has announced the CHAPEA (Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog) crew for a year-long Mars mission simulation, which will provide foundational data to inform human exploration of the Moon, Mars, and beyond. The four-person crew, consisting of Ross Elder, Ellen Ellis, Matthew Montgomery, and James […]
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NASA Marsquake Data Reveals Lumpy Nature of Red Planet’s Interior
NASA Marsquake Data Reveals Lumpy Nature of Red Planet’s Interior NASA’s InSight lander has revealed that Mars’ interior is composed of giant lumps of rocky material, scattered throughout the planet’s mantle, which were formed by massive impacts 4.5 billion years ago. The discovery was made possible by the InSight lander’s seismometer, which recorded over 1,300 […]
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Linking Local Lithologies to a Larger Landscape
Linking Local Lithologies to a Larger Landscape The NASA Mars Perseverance rover is exploring a boundary visible from orbit that divides bright, fractured outcrop from darker, smoother regolith on Mars. The rover has encountered several olivine-bearing rocks while traversing the rim of Jezero crater, which may provide clues to their origins and help understand Mars’ […]
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Advances in NASA Imaging Changed How World Sees Mars
Advances in NASA Imaging Changed How World Sees Mars NASA’s Mariner 4 mission in 1965 captured the first-ever close-up image of Mars, leading to a steady stream of advances in camera technology. The Viking 1 orbiter in 1980 captured stunning images of Valles Marineris, the “Grand Canyon of Mars,” and paved the way for future […]
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NASA Mars Orbiter Learns New Moves After Nearly 20 Years in Space
NASA Mars Orbiter Learns New Moves After Nearly 20 Years in Space NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) has been performing new maneuvers to squeeze more science out of its nearly 20-year operations, including large rolls that enable it to look deeper underground. The MRO’s SHARAD instrument can now have a deeper view of the Martian […]
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Curiosity Blog, Sols 4580-4581: Something in the Air…
Curiosity Blog, Sols 4580-4581: Something in the Air… Curiosity Rover’s latest activities (Sols 4580-4581): The rover conducted a series of scientific experiments, including APXS measurements and ChemCam observations, to analyze the Martian atmosphere and rocks. The rover used its Left Navigation Camera to capture images of rock targets with potential cross-cutting veins, such as “Hornitos” […]
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Is Mars really red? A physicist explains the planet’s reddish hue and why it looks different to some telescopes
Is Mars really red? A physicist explains the planet’s reddish hue and why it looks different to some telescopes Mars’ reddish hue comes from iron oxide in rocks and dust covering its surface, not just blood as ancient cultures believed. The planet’s color can vary depending on the location, with most of Mars appearing rusty […]
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Sols 4561-4562: Prepping to Drill at Altadena
Sols 4561-4562: Prepping to Drill at Altadena The Curiosity rover is preparing to drill at Altadena, a location chosen for its potential chemistry and geological features. The rover will conduct a “preload test” to determine if the drilling process will be successful and if the target rock has the desired chemistry. Due to power constraints, […]
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Searching for Ancient Rocks in the ‘Forlandet’ Flats
Searching for Ancient Rocks in the ‘Forlandet’ Flats The NASA Perseverance rover has entered the “Forlandet” quadrangle, a flat terrain area outside Jezero Crater on Mars, where it will search for ancient rocks that could be among the oldest ever observed. The science team hopes to find rocks with olivine and carbonate formations, which could […]
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