February 10th, 2017
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The Curiosity Mars rover’s Chemistry & Camera (ChemCam) is expected to be back in operation shortly, after running a set of planned diagnostics. Mastcam observations have been underway to look for any changes in the nearby sand. Mastcam also has multispectral observations of targets “Matagamon,” “Scarboro,” and “Flume Ridge.” Mastcam is on tap too […]
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The second half of the Curiosity Mars rover’s campaign to study the “Bagnold Dunes” is well underway. Now in Sol 1603, the robot is conducting Mastcam mosaics of the dunes, which will be repeated several times to watch for changes, reports Ryan Anderson, a planetary scientist at the USGS Astrogeology Science Center in Flagstaff, […]
Being the veteran Mars explorer it is, the Opportunity rover is wheeling toward a milestone-making investigation – inspecting a Martian gully up-close. Opportunity is less than a mile from the first Martian gully visited by a spacecraft from Earth. It will investigate the gully for evidence of water or dry sediment flow. In research to […]
NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover is in position to scan a next segment of the Bagnold Dunes. Last year, the robot made the first up-close study of active sand dunes anywhere other than Earth, at the Bagnold Dunes on the northwestern flank of Mars’ Mount Sharp. As reported in 2016, some of the wind-sculpted […]
New work in planetary defense not only shows how hard it is to knock out an asteroid with Earth’s name on it…but also what happens if such an object hits our planet. Back in February 2013, an asteroid with a diameter of roughly 60 feet (18 meters) detonated over the Russian town of Chelyabinsk. That […]
Now in Sol 1600 on Mars, the Curiosity rover has reached an exciting point in the traverse as the robot approaches the next segment of the Bagnold Dunes. That’s the word from Lauren Edgar, a research geologist at the USGS Astrogeology Science Center in Flagstaff, Arizona. “Curiosity’s weekend plan includes more contact science […]
NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover continued its planetary prowling, driving roughly 70 feet (21 meters) to the southwest back on Sol 1598. That drive yielded up-close imagery of “Ireson Hill” The robot has entered Sol 1599 with scientists implementing a plan that includes Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) operation and Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS) […]
The Secure World Foundation (SWF) has published an impressive handbook, intended to reach two categories of new actors in pioneering the space frontier: National governments engaged in developing national space policies and regulations, and Start-up companies, universities, and all other non-governmental entities beginning their first forays into space activities. Changing face of space In […]
Book Review: Incredible Stories From Space: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Missions Changing Our View of the Cosmos by Nancy Atkinson; Page Street Publishing Co.; 2016; Cost: $19.99 Nancy Atkinson is a veteran space journalist – and this book demonstrates her unique talent in crafting stories regarding robotic exploration – be it unlocking the […]
NASA’s Curiosity rover is now carrying out Sol 1597 duties. Last weekend, the rover drove roughly 85 feet (26 meters) to the southwest, as scientists prepare for another investigation of active sand dunes. “We’re still a few more drives away from the dunes, but looking forward to the next campaign,” reports Lauren Edgar, a […]
