In 2003, NASA plans to launch a relative of the now-famous 1997 Mars Pathfinder rover. Using drop, bounce, and roll technology, this larger cousin is expected to reach the surface of the Red Planet in January, 2004 and begin the longest journey of scientific exploration ever undertaken across the surface of that alien world.
July 27th, 2000
NASA Goes Back to the Future with Plans for a Mars Rover in 2003: Possible Second Rover Being Studied
July 18th, 2000
Mars Global Surveyer
The ten most significant science achievements of MGS during its first year of mapping, ordered from the interior of the planet outward…
June 29th, 2000
Making a Splash on Mars
Last week when scientists revealed dramatic new pictures of flood-like gullies on Mars, the big surprise wasn’t that the Red Planet might harbor water. Researchers have known for years that water exists there. There are trace quantities of water vapor in Mars’ atmosphere and substantial amounts of water ice at the martian poles. There may even be enough frozen water beneath Mars’ surface to fill a large ocean if melted. What was amazing is that water may be present as a liquid very near the planet’s surface and occasionally on top of the surface when underground deposits burst forth for a brief flash flood.
June 22nd, 2000
NASA Announces Possible Evidence of Water on Mars
NASA announced today that scientists studying Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft images have recently observed features that suggest there may be current sources of liquid water at or near the martian surface.
May 22nd, 2000
NASA Releases 20,000 New Images from Mars Global Surveyor
More than 20,000 new images of the planet Mars taken by NASA’s Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft are now available in a web-based photo album — the single largest one-time release of images for any planet in the history of solar system exploration. The ‘picture postcard’ scenes in the new images reveal the Red Planet, often said to be the most Earth-like planet, as an alien, bizarre and puzzling world.
May 12th, 2000
Native American Students to use Mars “Soil” to Grow Spuds in Space
A 21st century, space-age simulated Mars soil and one of the world’s oldest food sources — the potato — have been joined in an experiment that will fly aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis when the STS-101 mission is launched later this month. The experiment, designed by Native American science students, will test how well the soil supports plant growth.
May 12th, 2000
NASA Identifies Two Options for 2003 Mars Missions; Decision in July
In 2003, NASA may launch either a Mars scientific orbiter mission or a large scientific rover which will land using an airbag cocoon like that on the successful 1997 Mars Pathfinder mission. The two concepts were selected from dozens of options that had been under study. NASA will make a decision on the options, including whether or not to proceed to launch, in early July.
March 22nd, 2000
NASA
James Oberg of UPI claims that NASA knew there was a problem with the Mars Polar Lander propulsion system prior to the Dec. 3 landing attempt and “withheld this conclusion from the public.” NASA categorically denies this charge.
March 21st, 2000
Marshall Engineers Undertake Real-Life
While audiences thrill to the high-tech Hollywood pizzazz of “Mission to Mars,” NASA engineer Steve Hall and a team of researchers at the Marshall Center are hard at work on a real-life repair kit to be used in space — one that will protect lives and vehicles as humans venture into the cosmos for longer periods of time.
February 1st, 2000
High School Students Wanted to Plan Life and Work on Mars
High school students, some of whom may live on Mars someday, have a chance to plan what living and working conditions will be on the Red Planet in an exciting competition coming up February 11-12-13, 2000. The Second Annual NASA JSC Mars Settlement Design Competition emulates the experience of working as a member of an aerospace company team, developing a design and operations proposal for a new Mars base. Analysts, planners, artists, writers, organizers, managers, and others with imagination and creativity will be needed by each student company.