Tag Archives: NASA

Curiosity update: Drill no go — time for Plan B

Posted on May 24, 2019 by rburnham

Sols 2416-18, May 24, 2019, update by MSL scientist Catherine O’Connell-Cooper: At the start of today’s planning, the Geology theme group (GEO) had a major decision to make, whether to drill here at “Broad Cairn” or not. Unfortunately, APXS data … Continue reading →

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Mars 2020 drops in on Death Valley

Posted on May 24, 2019 by rburnham

On a test flight in Death Valley, California, an Airbus helicopter carried an engineering model of the Lander Vision System (LVS) that will help guide NASA’s next Mars mission to a safe touchdown on the Red Planet. During the flight … Continue reading →

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HiRISE: In the land of Terra Sabaea

Posted on May 24, 2019 by rburnham

In the land of Terra Sabaea. The rationale for this observation is to look at the fluvial features and diverse composition of the terrain. Terra Sabaea is fairly large and parts of it are found in five quadrangle regions of … Continue reading →

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Mars 2020 gets a dose of space — on Earth

Posted on May 24, 2019 by rburnham

NASA’s Mars 2020 spacecraft has completed acoustic and thermal vacuum (TVAC) testing at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. The acoustic test of the spacecraft that will carry the Mars 2020 rover to a soft touchdown in Jezero Crater … Continue reading →

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THEMIS: Northern polar ice cap edge

Posted on May 24, 2019 by rburnham

THEMIS Image of the Day, May 24, 2019. Today’s false color image shows part of the margin of the north polar cap and the surrounding plains. This image was collected during the northern summer season. The THEMIS VIS camera contains … Continue reading →

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Curiosity update: Cairn today, drill tomorrow?

Posted on May 23, 2019 by rburnham

Sol 2415, May 23, 2019, update by MSL scientist Fred Calef: After a short six meter drive to “Hallaig,” the science team began the investigation of a new potential drill target named “Broad Cairn,” a flat spot on a bright … Continue reading →

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HiRISE: Collapsed material on the floor of Orson Welles Crater

Posted on May 23, 2019 by rburnham

Collapsed material on the floor of Orson Welles Crater. This observation captures collapsed blocks of material on floor of Orson Welles Crater. Layers and the clay minerals found in this 125-kilometer crater are evidence that it once contained a lake. … Continue reading →

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Curiosity: Next drill target?

Posted on May 23, 2019 by rburnham

Sol 2414, May 22, 2019. After a 6-meter (19-foot) drive to the north-northeast, the forward Hazcam (right) shows the scene as Curiosity squares up to a small flat outcrop dubbed Broad Cairn, possibly a new drill target. Above is the … Continue reading →

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Latest weather at Gale Crater and Elysium Planitia

Posted on May 23, 2019 by rburnham

Daily Elysium charts and data (temperature, wind speed, atmospheric pressure) here.

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THEMIS: Arabia Terra crater in false color

Posted on May 23, 2019 by rburnham

THEMIS Image of the Day, May 23, 2019. Today’s false color image shows part of an unnamed crater in Arabia Terra. The THEMIS VIS camera contains 5 filters. The data from different filters can be combined in multiple ways to … Continue reading →

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