Water on Mars - Articles - Zimbio

Mars Global Surveyor - Mission Highlights

Mon, 16 Sep 2008 09:38:12 GMT

posted by expertblogs

The Mars Global Surveyor circled the red planet for 9 years and 52 days. Longer than any other Mars missions to date. The MGS produced a total of 250,000 images of Mars and contributed some of the most relevant discoveries that served as building blocks of current and future missions. This include:

Before and after images of 2 gullies in Mars that shows new deposits. This is evidence the liquid water still flows on Mars from time to time.

The Infrared spectrometer found traces of Hematite - A mineral that forms only in the presence of water. This discovery led NASA to look for hematite rich areas where the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity will land

The Mars Orbiter Altimeter (MOLA) has produced a highly accurate topography of Mars. It mapped canyon, valleys, mountains and the polar caps. During its 9 year term the MGS witnessed new boulder tracks, varying amounts of carbon dioxide in the south polar caps, and newly formed craters.

The Magnetometer found out that Mars does not have a global magnetic field, like Earth does, but a localized magnetic field that are concentrated on particular areas of the crust.

On August 11, 2006 The Mars Global Surveyor captured an image of Mars’ moon Deimos to celebrate its discovery on August 11, 1877. The MGS also discovered that Phobos, the other moon of Mars, is covered by fine powdery material. Probably caused by Millions of years of meteoroid impacts.

The Mars Global Surveyor was able to find 20 new crater formations that was not present on the pictures taken 6 years back. This helped scientists in their study of aging the Martian surface through the use of crater formations and densities.

The surveyor found ridges that suggests persistent flow of water on the Martian surface during its ancient times.

The Mars Global Surveyor discovered repeated weather patterns. Dust storms appear to repeat in the same location within a week or two of the time they were witnessed the previous year. Dust devils were also found to appear anytime in the beginning of spring until the Martian autumn.

The Mars Global Surveyor has greatly contributed to our quest to understanding our nearest neighbor. The red planet has characteristics that are comparable to Earth and these findings suggest that Mars could have had an atmosphere just like Earth before. Signs of life are everywhere and I could imagine Mars having the vegetation and life that we have here on Earth right now.

Understanding how Mars’ climate and surface became as it is today may also help us avoid the same fate for our dear planet Earth.

Mars Global Surveyor Pictures

Mon, 16 Sep 2008 20:12:31 GMT

posted by expertblogs

The Mars Global Surveyor took thousands of picture of Mars. These pictures were used to identify landing sites for the rovers Opportunity and Spirit. The Mars Global Surveyor is the most successful orbiter by far and provided great details of the Martian surface, weather patterns, atmosphere, water trails etc…

Here are some of the many pictures that the Mars Global Surveyor took.

CHANNELS & VALLEYS

Called Rippley Channel, probably because of its rippled shape.

Inverted Channels

Collapse Features

Ascreaus Mons Summit

Arnus Vallis

DUST STORMS

Closing Window

Dust-Raising

Noachis Dust Storm

Syria/Claritas Dust storm

North Pole Dust storm

Autumn Dust Storm

CRATERS

Impact crater in Arabia Terra

Northern Pancake

Syrtis Platin

Acidalia Plain

Gullied Crater

MOONS of MARS

Deimos

Phobos

Boulders on Phobos

GULLIES

New deposits seen on this gully

Gully in autumn

Crater with gullies

SAND DUNES

Sandy Dunes

Dunes of Wirtz

Archangels Dunes

Autumn Dunes

Defrosty Dunes

Pictures Courtesy of: NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems

Future Mars Rover mission Earthbound a little while longer

Fri, 1 Mar 2008 06:05:00 GMT

posted by daryllorette
NASA's next-gen Mars Rover mission has suffered yet another setback: Development problems and increasing costs are threatening to delay the landing of a nuclear-powered rover on Mars next...

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Welcome to our wikizine called "Water on Mars"

Tue, 23 May 2007 22:11:40 GMT

posted by The_Zimbio_Team
Wikizines are interactive magazines that anyone can create or edit - and this one is called "Water on Mars". Here you can find fresh voices and respond in real time. Some members write articles about recent news and trends related to the wikizine's topic, others recount relevant personal stories or share their favorite pictures and video clips. Got an interesting idea or story to share with other members of this wikizine? Well, then put on your journalist's cap and add your own article!

Top Secret Mars Landing - 1962 Leaked Video

Sat, 30 Sep 2007 07:45:00 GMT

posted by skywatcher
One of the top secret mission of secret space USA and Soviet Space Program. The Mars Landing Mission . Astonishing document that must be watch very carefully.