- Branche: Astronomy
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Planetary Science Research Discoveries (PSRD) is an educational site sharing the latest research by NASA-sponsored scientists on meteorites, asteroids, planets, moons, and other materials in our Solar System. The website is supported by the Cosmochemistry Program of NASA's Science Mission ...
U. S. Discovery-class mission launched on February 17, 1996. Primary scientific objectives were to return data on the bulk properties, composition, mineralogy, morphology, internal mass distribution, and magnetic field of 433 Eros as the spacecraft orbited the asteroid from February 14, 2000 to February 12, 2001. On February 12, 2001, the NEAR-Shoemaker spacecraft touched down on 433 Eros. Earlier in the mission, on June 27, 1997, NEAR-Shoemaker flew within 1200 km of the C-class asteroid 253 Mathilde, and it flew by the Earth on January 23, 1998. NEAR website.
Industry:Astronomy
Of the 24,000+ meteorites collected on Earth, only 30+ have been identified as meteorites from Mars. They are generally divided into three groups (all with relatively young ages slightly over 1 billion years old). The groups are the Shergottites, Nakhlites, and Chassignites. A Martian meteorite that does not fall into one of these groups is ALH 84001, a cumulate rock composed mostly of orthopyroxene, which is much older than all the others with an age of 4. 5 billion years. A NASA-sponsored research team reported in 1996 that ALH 84001 may contain evidence of past primitive life on Mars--an idea that remains a topic of great debate and continued investigation. (See Mars Meteorites compiled by Ron Baalke from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. )
Industry:Astronomy
A NASA robotic lander (named Curiosity) designed to determine the habitability of Mars. MSL is scheduled to launch in 2011 as part of NASA's long-term Mars Exploration Program. MSL science goals are to determine whether Mars ever had an environment capable of supporting microbial life, to characterize the geology and climate of Mars, and to prepare for human exploration. MSL science instruments include three cameras, four spectrometers, two radiation detectors, and an environmental sensor. MSL homepage.
Industry:Astronomy
NASA orbital mission to Mars launched August, 2005. During its two-year primary science mission, which began in November, 2006, MRO will conduct science investigations with a suite of instruments tasked for three purposes: global mapping, regional surveying, and high-resolution targeting of specific spots on the surface. Goals include studying the history of water on Mars, analyzing minerals, tracing how much dust and water are distributed in the atmosphere, and monitoring daily global weather.
Industry:Astronomy
Instrument onboard the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft that has been obtaining topographic data since March 1999. MOLA transmits focused infrared laser pulses toward Mars at a rate of ten times per second and measures the round-trip reflection time to determine the range of the MGS spacecraft to the Martian surface. Scientists use the range measurements to construct precise topographic profiles and maps of Mars in unsurpassed detail.
Industry:Astronomy
The second in NASA's Discovery program of low-cost spacecraft with highly focused science goals, Mars Pathfinder landed successfully on Mars on July 4, 1997. Images, science results, and engineering data were released on the World Wide Web throughout, and beyond, the primary mission dates (July 4 - August 3, 1997. ) The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA, developed and managed the Mars Pathfinder mission for NASA's Office of Space Science, Washington, D. C. JPL is a division of the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).
Industry:Astronomy
Camera system onboard the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft. MOC consists of three cameras: A narrow angle system that provides grayscale high resolution views of the planet's surface (typically, 1. 5 to 12 meters/pixel), and red and blue wide angle cameras. Malin Space Science Systems.
Industry:Astronomy
U. S. Mission launched in 1996 to orbit Mars. Main instruments include cameras (MOC), a laser altimeter (MOLA), thermal emission spectrometer ( TES), and magnetometer. During the primary mission (through January 2001), the spacecraft circled the planet once every 118 minutes at an average altitude of 378 kilometers (235 miles). Four extended mission phases began February 1, 2001 and continued to November 2006 when the orbiter stopped communicating with Earth (due to solar panel problems). Mars Global Surveyor website.
Industry:Astronomy
U. S. Orbital mission to Mars, part of NASA's Mars Exploration Program, launched in April, 2001 and arrived at Mars in October, 2001. The mission's goals are to map chemical elements and minerals, look for water, and analyze the low-orbit radiation environment using three primary instruments: Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS), Gamma Ray Spectrometer (GRS), and Mars Radiation Environment Experiment (MARIE). During and after its science mission, the Odyssey orbiter will also support other missions in the Mars Exploration program. It is providing communications relay for U. S. And international landers, including the Mars Exploration Rovers launched in June and July, 2003. 2001 Mars Odyssey website.
Industry:Astronomy
The European Space Agency's first spacecraft to Mars, Mars Express launched in June 2003. The mission objectives are to search for subsurface water from orbit with a set of seven remote sensing instruments. The lander, Beagle 2, was released from the orbiter six days before Mars Express went into orbit around Mars, however, no signal was received from it despite repeated attempts at communication from a variety of spacecraft and Earth-based telescopes. Beagle 2 was declared lost on February 2004. The orbiter is operational and is expected to continue through 2014. Mars Express website.
Industry:Astronomy
