Tag Archives: NASA

THEMIS: Goodbye Opportunity

THEMIS Image of the Day, April 2, 2019. This false-color VIS image shows part of Meridiani Planum. While this image does not show where the Opportunity MER rover explored, Meridiani Planum was Opportunity’s home since it arrived in January 2004. … Continue reading

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Curiosity update: Drilling on the horizon?

Sols 2363-64, April 1, 2019, update by MSL engineer Ashley Stroupe: Curiosity is getting close to the area in which we next want to drill. We are possibly as close as 2-3 drives (including today’s) away from our next drill … Continue reading

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HiRISE: Frost-covered dunes

Frost-covered dunes. Sprinkled with hopes and dreams, no less. This is a relatively new monitoring site that seems to have heavy carbon-dioxide snowfall. HiRISE Picture of the Day archive [More at links]

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NASA, Google join in simulating Mars exploration

A crewed mission to Mars might be a long way off, but researchers are busy preparing, nonetheless. One of the best ways to prepare is by training scientists and testing new technologies in some of the most Mars-like locations on … Continue reading

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THEMIS; Rutherford Crater in false color

THEMIS Image of the Day, April 1, 2019. Today’s VIS image shows part of the floor of Rutherford Crater. Blue tones in false color images are indicative of basaltic sand. Rutherford Crater is approximately 107 km (66 miles) in diameter. … Continue reading

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Curiosity: Rolling along behind the ridge

Sol 2361, March 29, 2019. Leaving a zigzag track (click the composite image above), Curiosity continues to roll northeastward behind Vera Rubin Ridge, roughly paralleling its direction. Sand dune “blow-overs” are visible to the left of the rover in the … Continue reading

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Mars 2020: Helicopter completes flight tests

Since the Wright brothers first took to the skies of Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, Dec. 17, 1903, first flights have been important milestones in the life of any vehicle designed for air travel… In late January 2019, all the … Continue reading

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HiRISE: Grjota Valles

Grjotá Valles. Grjotá Valles is one of Mars’ four Amazonian-aged, fissure-headed, catastrophic flood channels. It originates at the northwestern-most Cerberus Fossa and stretches several hundred kilometers eastward and southward. HiRISE Picture of the Day archive [More at links]

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THEMIS: Impact craters in Arabia Terra

THEMIS Image of the Day, March 29, 2019. This false-color VIS image shows parts of several craters located in Arabia Terra. Blue tones in false color images indicated the presence of basaltic sands. The THEMIS VIS camera contains 5 filters. … Continue reading

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Curiosity update: Lots to explore in Glen Torridon

Sols 2361-62, March 28, 2019, update by MSL scientist Abigail Fraeman: We are continuing to find interesting new things in Glen Torridon. One of my favorite new images was taken this weekend (Mars sol 2356) on target “Stonebriggs” (pictured). We’ve … Continue reading

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