A new view of the geology of the Red Planet is emerging from data gathered by the Mars Odyssey (MO) spacecraft which has been observing the Red Planet for a year. The probe is providing a new understanding about the composition of Mars’ surface rocks, geological history, radiation levels and potential landing sites for rovers. “In just one year, Mars Odyssey has fundamentally changed our understanding of the nature of the materials on and below the surface of Mars,” says Jeffrey Plaut, Odyssey’s project scientist.
March 13th, 2003
NASA’S Mars Odyssey Changes Views About Red Planet
NASA’s Mars Odyssey spacecraft has transformed the way scientists are looking at the red planet. “In just one year, Mars Odyssey has fundamentally changed our understanding of the nature of the materials on and below the surface of Mars,” said Dr. Jeffrey Plaut, Odyssey’s project scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).
February 16th, 2003
Ankle-deep on Mars
If the water-ice hidden just below the Martian surface were to melt, it would create a planet-wide sea ankle-deep, scientists have said. The latest findings from the Mars Odyssey spacecraft now in orbit around the Red Planet were released here at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). The spacecraft’s instruments have been trained on the Martian soil for nearly a year.
December 17th, 2002
Mars by Moonlight
Of course, Mars has no reasonable-sized moon to light the night or add romance to a lover’s stroll. Its two small companions hasten across the sky like fireflies and the surface below remains dark and cold, but there are degrees of cold, and the THEMIS Infra-Red (IR) Camera on NASA’s Mars Odyssey spacecraft is sensitive to the different wavelengths of IR light, from which we can measure the surface temperature both at night and day.
December 7th, 2002
NASA’s Revealing Odyssey
The latest observations from NASA’s Mars Odyssey spacecraft, highlighting water ice distribution and infrared images of the Red Planet’s surface, are being released this week at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco.
November 28th, 2002
New Exhibit Showcases Latest Mars Images Astronomy.com
Visitors to the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air & Space Museum in Washington, D.C., expect to see historic pieces from humankind’s quest to conquer the sky and the dark realm beyond. But a new exhibit brings visitors to the forefront of space exploration as it is happening now. The exhibit, which is on display indefinitely, features the latest images from the Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) aboard NASA’s 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft, which is now orbiting Mars. Controlled by a team at Arizona State University (ASU), THEMIS records daytime and nighttime images of the martian surface at visible and infrared wavelengths. This information provides insight about temperature changes on the surface, as well as the planet’s mineralogy and topography.
November 21st, 2002
Mars Odyssey has New Project Scientist
Dr. Jeffrey Plaut has been named project scientist for NASA’s 2001 Mars Odyssey mission, succeeding Dr. R. Stephen Saunders who has retired. Plaut had been the deputy project scientist for Odyssey. Plaut came to JPL in 1991 and has served on the Magellan mission to Venus and three space shuttle radar missions. He is currently the co-principal investigator on the 2003 Mars Express radar sounder and a team member on the 2005 Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter radar team.
November 18th, 2002
Smithsonian displays ASU Arizona State University
Visitors to the Smithsonian Institution
November 12th, 2002
Make a name for yourself on Mars
The young and young at heart can take part in Mars exploration, whether by naming two red planet rovers or sending their names along with them. The Planetary Society and NASA have teamed up to sponsor a contest for students to name two rovers expected to launch in the summer of 2003. The competition is open to children between the ages of 5 and 18 in kindergarten to the 12th grade in U.S. schools. The deadline for submissions is January 31, 2003.
November 12th, 2002
Mars Rover Takes Baby Steps
Like any travelers worth their frequent flyer miles, the twin rovers of the Mars Exploration Rover Mission must prepare for a long journey. Unlike airline passengers, however, the rovers won’t have an attentive flight crew to tend to their needs. Instead, the twins face a daunting 460 million kilometer (286 million mile) voyage to Mars. To ensure their readiness, scientists and engineers at JPL are testing the rovers by simulating conditions they’ll experience en route to and upon arrival at the red planet.