Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter was only 97 million kilometers away from Mars at 2005-Aug-28 10:22:04 UTC
The $720 million MRO mission is designed to use a powerful camera system and other equipment to study Martian features ranging from the top of the atmosphere to underground layering, as well as study the history and distribution of water on Mars.
MRO will support future Mars missions by characterizing both robotic and human landing sites and provide a high-data-rate communications relay.
http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/050827_mro_update.html
Full Version: This is a count down thread!
In less than a decade, six robotic spacecraft, one lander, two rovers, and three orbiters have explored the atmosphere, surface, and interior of the planet Mars. Among the highlights of over 40 years of Mars exploration are the Mars Exploration Rovers.
Building upon these and earlier findings, NASA is returning to the planet with the recently launched Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. In 2007, a lander will examine subsurface ice in the northern polar region, and in 2009 a large rover carrying a payload of laboratory instruments will search for ancient habitable environments. This lecture focuses on our emerging understanding of Mars and NASA strategies for future exploration.
This is the best site about Mars exploration on the net,check it out.
http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/
Building upon these and earlier findings, NASA is returning to the planet with the recently launched Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. In 2007, a lander will examine subsurface ice in the northern polar region, and in 2009 a large rover carrying a payload of laboratory instruments will search for ancient habitable environments. This lecture focuses on our emerging understanding of Mars and NASA strategies for future exploration.
This is the best site about Mars exploration on the net,check it out.
http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/
The dust devils are doing a remarkable job at keeping the rovers dust free, but there needs to be a better way.
Because the atmosphere on Mars is so thin and conditions are extremely dry, dust particles become charged, making them stick more readily to surfaces.
"You can't just wipe charged dust off a surface with a brush," Clements said. "
It's a big problem."
Astronauts inadvertently carried dust into the lunar module where it affected air quality in the spacecraft. This is a health risk because lunar dust contains sharp particles that resemble silica or glass that can cause silicosis, a serious lung disease.
Well now they might have the answer to that.
http://www.spacedaily.com/news/mars-dust-05b.html
Because the atmosphere on Mars is so thin and conditions are extremely dry, dust particles become charged, making them stick more readily to surfaces.
"You can't just wipe charged dust off a surface with a brush," Clements said. "
It's a big problem."
Astronauts inadvertently carried dust into the lunar module where it affected air quality in the spacecraft. This is a health risk because lunar dust contains sharp particles that resemble silica or glass that can cause silicosis, a serious lung disease.
Well now they might have the answer to that.
http://www.spacedaily.com/news/mars-dust-05b.html
This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.