Mars' entire surface shaped by water - 25th June (BBC)
The whole of Mars' surface was shaped by liquid water around four billion years ago, say scientists. Signs of liquid water had been seen on southern Mars, but the latest findings reveal similar signals in craters in the north of the Red Planet. Read More.
Huge seas "once existed" on Mars - 8th June (BBC)
US scientists have found further evidence that huge seas existed long ago on Mars. A geological mapping project found sedimentary deposits in a region called Hellas Planitia which suggest a large sea once stood there. The 2,000 km-wide, 8km-deep Hellas basin is a giant impact crater - the largest such structure on Mars. Read More.
Minerals point to a wet, warm Mars - 3rd June (BBC)
The Red Planet harbours rocks rich in carbonate minerals, suggesting there was more water there in the past than previously thought, say scientists. Nasa's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit detected the carbonate-rich rocks in the Columbia Hills of Gusev Crater. This was in 2005, but Martian dust had partially blinded one of the rover's instruments, clouding the data. Read More
500-day "Martian exile" begins - 2nd June (BBC)
Would you volunteer to be locked away for 18 months in a sealed container with no windows and have only e-mail contact with the outside world?
Six men - three Russians, two Europeans and a Chinese man - have agreed to do just that in a project that will try to simulate a mission to the Red Planet.
Read More.
A Traveller's Guide to Mars 500.
Obama sets Mars as a goal for America - 15th April (BBC)
Barack Obama says it should be possible to send astronauts to orbit Mars by the mid-2030s and return them safely to the Earth. The US President made the claim in a major speech to staff and guests at the Kennedy Space Centre, Florida. Read More.
Up close and personal: Phobos - 16th March (ESA)
Mars Express has passed within 70km of the surface of Phobos, the innermost moon of Mars, returning some remarkable images.The high-resolution images show surface details just .4 m across, and will be used to help target the Russian Phobos-Grunt mission which is due for launch in 2011 and which is hoped will return a surface sample from Phobos to Earth for detailed examination. Read More.
Explore Mars Inc Launches - 25th Feb (Explore Mars / MSUK)
Explore Mars is a project oriented group that was created to promote science and technology innovation and education with a use for Mars Exploration. Through a series of technology innovation awards, scientific symposiums and workshops, Mars analog work, technology demonstrations, and other programs, we provide a platform for scientists and "citizen scientists" to engage in meaningful space exploration research and development in the private sector. Read More.
Mars is "Ultimate Destination" - Bolden 24th Feb (space.com)
NASA chief Charles Bolden told senators Wednesday that sending astronauts
to Mars is still the ultimate goal for U.S. human spaceflight, as he
defended the agency's new space plan against criticism in a heated budget
hearing.
Read More.
Explore
Mars Press Release
MSL Gets Ready - 17th Feb (BBC)
It weighs almost a tonne, has cost more than $2bn and, in 2013, it will be lowered on to the surface of Mars with a landing system that has never been tried before. The Mars Science Laboratory will "revolutionise investigations in science on other planets", says Doug McCuistion, director of Nasa's Mars exploration programme. Read More.
NASA accepts Spirit defeat - 26th Jan 2010 (BBC)
The US space agency (NASA) has admitted defeat in its battle to free the Spirit rover from its Martian sand trap. The vehicle became stuck in soft soil back in May last year and all the efforts to extricate it have failed. NASA says Spirit, which landed on the Red Planet just over six years ago, will now live out its remaining days as a static science station. Read More.
Anicent Lakebeds on Mars - 4th Jan 2010 (BBC)
New images of Mars suggest the Red Planet had large lakes on its surface as recently as three billion years ago.The evidence comes from Nasa's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) which spied a series of depressions linked by what look like drainage channels. Read More.
ALH84001 in new claim of life - 24th Nov 2009 (Spaceflight Now)
Compelling new data that chemical and fossil evidence of ancient microbial life on Mars was carried to Earth in a Martian meteorite is being elevated to a higher plane by the same NASA team which made the initial discovery 13 years ago. Read More.
Be a Martian, says NASA - 18th Nov 2009 (BBC)
The US space agency needs your help to explore Mars.
A Nasa website called "Be A Martian" allows users to play games while at the same time sorting through hundreds of thousands of images of the Red Planet. Read More.
ESA & NASA sign Mars exploration agreement - 8th Nov 2009 (BBC)
The US and European space agencies have signed the "letter of intent" that ties together their Mars programmes. The agreement, which was penned in Washington DC, gives the green light to scientists and engineers to begin the joint planning of Red Planet missions.
bbbNews Updates
cccc© 2010 The Mars Society UK. All Rights Reserved