http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/space_time/mars/ Planet Mars News. Read astronomy articles on how Mars could have once supported life, the Mars Rover and more. See images and read full-text articles on Mars exploration. en-us Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:05:01 EST Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:05:01 EST 60 http://www.sciencedaily.com/images/logosmall.gif http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/space_time/mars/ For more science articles, visit ScienceDaily. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091102110228.htm A new image from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter shows channels to the southeast of Hale crater on southern Mars. Taken by the orbiter's High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera, this view covers an area about 3 kilometers (2 miles) wide. Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091102110228.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091110070107.htm Winter images of NASA's Phoenix Lander showing the lander shrouded in dry-ice frost on Mars have been captured with the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment, or HiRISE camera, aboard NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091110070107.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091104122526.htm Is there such a thing as "weather" on Mars? There are some doubts, considering the planet's atmosphere is only 1 percent as dense as that of the Earth. Mars, however, definitely has clouds, drastically low temperatures and out-of-this-world dust storms. A professor of atmospheric sciences now hopes to analyze and forecast Martian weather. Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091104122526.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091102110050.htm Until Oct. 24, NASA's Mars Exploration Rover had gone more than six months without an episode of amnesia-like symptoms like those that appeared on four occasions earlier this year. In these amnesia events, Spirit fails to record data from the day's activities onto the type of computer memory -- non-volatile "flash" memory -- that can retain the data when the rover powers down for its energy-conserving periods of "sleep." Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091102110050.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091027195507.htm An armada of robots may one day fly above the mountain tops of Saturn's moon Titan, cross its vast dunes and sail in its liquid lakes. Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091027195507.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091029151322.htm Starting in 2010, an international crew of six will simulate a 520-day round-trip to Mars, including a 30-day stay on the martian surface. In reality, they will live and work in a sealed facility in Moscow, Russia, to investigate the psychological and medical aspects of a long-duration space mission. ESA is looking for European volunteers to take part. Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091029151322.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091016094030.htm Direct communication between Earth and Mars can be strongly disturbed and even blocked by the Sun for weeks at a time, cutting off any future human mission to the Red Planet. An European Space Agency engineer working with engineers in the UK may have found a solution using a new type of orbit combined with continuous-thrust ion propulsion. Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091016094030.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091004020806.htm NASA has made a series of critical strides toward the development of new nuclear reactors the size of a trash can that could power a human outpost on the moon or Mars. Three recent tests at different NASA centers and a national lab have successfully demonstrated key technologies required for compact fission-based nuclear power plants for human settlements on other worlds. Sun, 04 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091004020806.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091001101333.htm An innovative technique called L.I.F.E. imaging used successfully to detect bacteria in frozen Antarctic lakes could have exciting implications for demonstrating signs of life in the polar regions of Mars, according to a new article. Fri, 02 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091001101333.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090916092751.htm Wind speeds and directions were measured for the first time in the Mars polar region using the Phoenix lander’s Telltale instrument. Astronomers recorded Easterly winds of approximately 15-20 kilometres per hour during the martian mid-summer. When autumn approached, the winds increased and switched round to come predominantly from the West. While these winds appeared to be dominated by turbulence, the highest wind speeds recorded of up to nearly 60 kilometres per hour coincided with the passing of weather systems, when also the number of dust devils increased by an order of magnitude. Tue, 29 Sep 2009 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090916092751.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090924143506.htm NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has revealed frozen water hiding just below the surface of mid-latitude Mars. The spacecraft's observations were obtained from orbit after meteorites excavated fresh craters on the Red Planet. Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090924143506.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090922185937.htm New, three-dimensional imaging of Martian north-polar ice layers by a radar instrument on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter is consistent with theoretical models of Martian climate swings during the past few million years. Wed, 23 Sep 2009 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090922185937.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090918102022.htm The widespread idea that Mars is red due to rocks being rusted by the water that once flooded the red planet may not be correct. Recent laboratory studies show that red dust may be formed by ongoing grinding of surface rocks and liquid water need not have played any significant role in the formation process. The findings open up the debate about the history of water on Mars and whether it has ever been habitable. Mon, 21 Sep 2009 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090918102022.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090916092653.htm Networks of giant polygonal troughs etched across crater basins on Mars have been identified as desiccation cracks caused by evaporating lakes, providing further evidence of a warmer, wetter martian past. Wed, 16 Sep 2009 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090916092653.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090903170218.htm Thousands of newly released images from more than 1,500 telescopic observations by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter show a wide range of gullies, dunes, craters, geological layering and other features on the Red Planet. Fri, 04 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090903170218.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090814202826.htm The high-resolution camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has returned a dramatic oblique view of the Martian crater that a rover explored for two years. Sat, 15 Aug 2009 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090814202826.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090810085308.htm Mars may not be as dormant as scientists once thought. The 2004 discovery of methane means that either there is life on Mars, or that volcanic activity continues to generate heat below the martian surface. ESA plans to find out which it is. Either outcome is big news for a planet once thought to be biologically and geologically inactive. Thu, 13 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090810085308.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090810175658.htm NASA's Mars Rover Opportunity is investigating a metallic meteorite the size of a large watermelon that is providing researchers more details about the Red Planet's environmental history. The rock, dubbed "Block Island," is larger than any other known meteorite on Mars. Tue, 11 Aug 2009 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090810175658.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090804094442.htm NASA's Opportunity rover has eyed an odd-shaped, dark rock, about 0.6 meters (2 feet) across on the surface of Mars, which may be a meteorite. Thu, 06 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090804094442.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090804123242.htm Scientists have combined a trio of shots taken seconds apart through different colored filters to create a special-effects portrait of a moving dust devil on Mars. Wed, 05 Aug 2009 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090804123242.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090714103528.htm Researchers have confirmed that the type of mineralogical composition on the surface of Mars influences the measuring of its temperature. The study will be used to interpret the data from the soil temperature sensor of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory vehicle, whose launch is envisaged for 2011. Tue, 21 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090714103528.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090622171516.htm A new orbit at an earlier time of day is increasing the sensitivity and efficiency of ASU's THEMIS multi-band camera on NASA's Mars Odyssey spacecraft. Fri, 10 Jul 2009 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090622171516.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090702140841.htm New details have emerged about the history of water on Mars, gleaned from the 2008 NASA Phoenix Mars Mission. Scientists found patterns in the ground near the lander, multi-sided shapes about three to ten meters in size. The shapes are created when the surface contracts and the ice cracks. Sand fills in the cracks before the ice expands and buckles the surface to make the distinctive patterns. Fri, 03 Jul 2009 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090702140841.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090630181121.htm For the first time, direct evidence of lightning has been detected on Mars, say researchers who found signs of electrical discharges during dust storms on the Red Planet. Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090630181121.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090624152952.htm With the whoosh of compressed gas and the whir of unspooling wire, a team of scientists and engineers tested a new instrument prototype that might be used to detect groundwater deep inside Mars. Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090624152952.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090623234811.htm NASA's long-lived Mars Odyssey spacecraft has completed an eight-month adjustment of its orbit, positioning itself to look down at the day side of the planet in mid-afternoon instead of late afternoon. This change gains sensitivity for infrared mapping of Martian minerals by the orbiter's Thermal Emission Imaging System camera. Orbit design for Odyssey's first seven years of observing Mars used a compromise between what worked best for the infrared mapping and for another onboard instrument. Wed, 24 Jun 2009 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090623234811.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090617171821.htm Scientists have discovered the first definitive evidence of shorelines on Mars, an indication of a deep, ancient lake there and a finding with implications for the discovery of past life on the Red Planet. Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090617171821.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090608071952.htm Scientists have developed a new cleaning protocol for space hardware, such as the scoops of Mars rovers, which could be used on future "search for life" missions on other planets. Wed, 10 Jun 2009 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090608071952.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090602112255.htm Mercury is scorching hot, with daytime temperatures of more than 800 degrees Fahrenheit. Its hard for the planet to hold on to its atmosphere, which is extremely thin, and invisible to the human eye. However, it can be seen by special instruments attached to telescopes and spacecraft like MESSENGER. Tue, 02 Jun 2009 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090602112255.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090602082638.htm Scientists have modeled freezing conditions on Mars to test whether liquid water could have been present to form the surface features of the Martian landscape. They report that fluids loaded with dissolved minerals containing elements such as silicon, iron, magnesium, potassium and aluminum, can remain in a liquid state at temperatures well below freezing. Tue, 02 Jun 2009 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090602082638.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090601085930.htm Large bombardments of meteoroids approximately four billion years ago could have helped to make the early Earth and Mars more habitable for life by modifying their atmospheres, suggests a new article. Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090601085930.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090521161526.htm After thoroughly investigating Victoria Crater on Mars for two years, the instruments aboard the Rover Opportunity reveal more evidence of our neighboring red planet's windy, wet and wild past. Fri, 22 May 2009 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090521161526.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090519152821.htm NASA's rover project team is using the Spirit rover and other spacecraft at Mars to begin developing the best maneuvers for extracting Spirit from the soft Martian ground where it has become embedded. Wed, 20 May 2009 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090519152821.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090416125214.htm Solar energy and winds, collisions with asteroids and comets, and changing magnetic fields have all altered the environment of Mars, a planet that may have been able to support life during its history. Tue, 21 Apr 2009 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090416125214.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090421120906.htm Questions such as "How to search for weird alien life?" and "Would Earth microbes survive if delivered to the surface of Mars?" are addressed in articles that are part of the collection of reports presented in the current issue of Astrobiology. Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090421120906.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090416092716.htm Heading into a period of the Martian year prone to major dust storms, the team operating NASA's twin Mars rovers is taking advantage of eye-in-the-sky weather reports. On April 21, Mars will be at the closest point to the sun in the planet's 23-month, elliptical orbit. One month later, the planet's equinox will mark the start of summer in Mars' southern hemisphere. This atmospheric-warming combination makes the coming weeks the most likely time of the Martian year for dust storms severe enough to minimize activities of the rovers. Thu, 16 Apr 2009 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090416092716.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090416092919.htm The team operating NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit is examining data received from Spirit in recent days to diagnose why the rover apparently rebooted its computer at least twice over the April 11-12 weekend. Thu, 16 Apr 2009 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090416092919.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090319232438.htm Salty, liquid water has been detected on a leg of the Mars Phoenix Lander and therefore could be present at other locations on the planet, according to analysis by a group of mission scientists. This is the first time liquid water has been detected and photographed outside the Earth. Fri, 20 Mar 2009 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090319232438.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090319090418.htm On a plain that stretches for miles in every direction, the panoramic camera on NASA's Mars rover Opportunity has caught a first glimpse on the horizon of the uplifted rim of the big crater that has been Opportunity's long-term destination for six months. Fri, 20 Mar 2009 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090319090418.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090308113308.htm Loose soil piled against the northern edge of a low plateau called "Home Plate" has blocked NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit from taking the shortest route toward its southward destinations for the upcoming Martian summer and following winter. Mon, 09 Mar 2009 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090308113308.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090304114246.htm The Martian volcano Olympus Mons is about three times the height of Mount Everest, but it's the small details that astronomers are looking at in thinking about whether the Red Planet ever had -- or still supports -- life. Thu, 05 Mar 2009 11:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090304114246.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090305090142.htm The team operating NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter plans a procedure next week to address a long-known, potential vulnerability of accumulated memory corruption. Thu, 05 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090305090142.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090302111834.htm With Mars disappearing in its metaphorical rearview mirror, NASA's Dawn spacecraft's next stop is the asteroid belt and the giant asteroid Vesta. Dawn got as close as 549 kilometers (341 miles) to the Red Planet during its Tuesday, Feb. 17, flyby. Wed, 04 Mar 2009 05:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090302111834.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090302115742.htm Planetary geologists have located a gully system on Mars that appears to have been carved by melt water that originated in nearby snow and ice deposits. The gullies, which were determined to be about 1.25 million years old, may represent the most recent period when water flowed on the planet. Mon, 02 Mar 2009 14:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090302115742.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090225111112.htm NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter unexpectedly rebooted its computer Monday morning, Feb. 23, and put itself into a limited-activity mode that is an automated safety response. Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090225111112.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090212112829.htm Data from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter suggest the discovery of ancient springs in the Vernal Crater, sites where life forms may have evolved on Mars, according to a report in Astrobiology. Sat, 21 Feb 2009 17:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090212112829.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090217101249.htm The gravity of Mars will change the Dawn spacecraft's path about the sun, helping send the probe toward its 2011 encounter with the asteroid Vesta. Thu, 19 Feb 2009 20:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090217101249.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090217101110.htm A small but important uptick in electrical output from the solar panels on NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit this month indicates a beneficial Martian wind has blown away some of the dust that has accumulated on the panels. Thu, 19 Feb 2009 17:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090217101110.htm