Category Archives: Reports

Mars courier: Bringing the samples to Earth

The first round-trip to the Red Planet will see a European orbiter bringing martian samples back to Earth. ESA is opening the door to industry to build the spacecraft that will deliver the precious rocks, dust and gas from Mars … Continue reading

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HiRISE: Layers in Tikhonravov

Layers in Tikhonravov. The objective of this observation is to examine layers outside of a crater within the 344-kilometer diameter Tikhonravov Crater. Tikhonravov is believed to have once held a giant lake and was named after Mikhail Tikhonravov, a Russian … Continue reading

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THEMIS: Graben in Elysium Fossae

THEMIS Image of the Day, July 29, 2019. Today’s VIS image shows a section of one of the graben that comprise Elysium Fossae. Graben are formed during tectonic activity, where blocks of material slide down between paired faults. Graben are … Continue reading

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Curiosity update: Goin’ up

Sols 2478-80, July 27, 2019, update by MSL scientist Abigail Fraeman: Over the last few weeks Curiosity has collected hundreds of spectacular images, like the one above, that document the layers and textures of rocks exposed in the “Visionarium.” (And … Continue reading

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Mars 2020 rover does biceps curls

The robotic arm on NASA’s Mars 2020 rover does not have deltoids, triceps or biceps, but it can still curl heavy weights with the best. In this time-lapse video, taken July 19, 2019, in the clean room of the Spacecraft … Continue reading

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Curiosity: Parked on the slope

Sol 2476, July 25, 2019. With Curiosity parked on the steep slope of the Southern Outcrop, the Navcam shot a composite that shows the terrain to the south. Click the image to enlarge it. Sol 2476 raw images (from all … Continue reading

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HiRISE: Flow, moving

Flow, moving. The objective of this observation is to examine a flow that goes through a crater in Nilosyrtis Mensae. It was probably larger in the past and has since been reduced in volume. HiRISE Picture of the Day archive. … Continue reading

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Curiosity update: Records measured in degrees

Sol 2477, July 25, 2019, update by MSL scientist Susanne Schwenzer: Europeans, Californians… and many others on the team watched their thermometers rise to record highs today, reaching 36°C in this blogger’s hometown “Milton Keynes.” Thinking about planning, where we … Continue reading

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THEMIS: Terra Cimmeria channel

THEMIS Image of the Day, July 26, 2019. This VIS image shows an unnamed channel in Terra Cimmeria. The channel is located immediately outside of the rim of Knobel Crater. Explore more THEMIS Images of the Day by geological subject.

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Curiosity update: The Southern Escarpment almost within reach

Sol 2476, July 24, 2019, update by MSL engineer Ashley Stroupe: This morning Curiosity found herself parked at the base of the southern escarpment of the Visionarium. She’s at a significant tilt of 21 degrees; you can see the slope … Continue reading

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