Move cursor over image to scroll side to side
 |
|
 |
 |
Current & Future Missions |  |
 |
CURRENT MISSIONS:
2001 Mars Odyssey
Still in orbit around Mars, NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft has collected more than 130,000 images and continues to report to Earth about Martian geology, climate, and mineralogy.
Still in orbit around Mars, NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft has collected more than 130,000 images and continues to report to Earth about Martian geology, climate, and mineralogy.
Spirit and Opportunity Rovers
In January 2004, two robotic geologists named Spirit and Opportunity landed on opposite sides of the red planet. These explorers have trekked for miles across the Martian surface, conducting field geology and making atmospheric observations.
In January 2004, two robotic geologists named Spirit and Opportunity landed on opposite sides of the red planet. These explorers have trekked for miles across the Martian surface, conducting field geology and making atmospheric observations.
Mars Express
Main objective of this orbiting spacecraft is to search for sub-surface water.
Main objective of this orbiting spacecraft is to search for sub-surface water.
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
Carries the most powerful camera ever flown on a planetary exploration mission for homing in on details of Martian terrain with extraordinary clarity.
Carries the most powerful camera ever flown on a planetary exploration mission for homing in on details of Martian terrain with extraordinary clarity.
FUTURE MISSIONS:
Mars Science Laboratory
Planned launch date: Fall, 2011
Twice as long and three times as heavy as the Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity, the Mars Science Laboratory will collect Martian soil and rock samples and analyze them for organic compounds and environmental conditions that could have supported microbial life.
Planned launch date: Fall, 2011
Twice as long and three times as heavy as the Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity, the Mars Science Laboratory will collect Martian soil and rock samples and analyze them for organic compounds and environmental conditions that could have supported microbial life.
Valles Marineris, Mars
People have been known to fall to their knees and weep at the sight of Arizona's Grand Canyon. One wonders what the first traveler to the Mariner Valley will do when gazing into this canyon. At almost four miles deep and so wide that in some places you would have to strain to see the other side, this gigantic tectonic crack would span the U.S. from New York to California—a quarter of the way around the planet—so that sunrise at one end happens six or so hours before sunrise at the other. Water once ran through large segments of this expanse. In this image the traveler views an icy mist filling the valley as the suns sets over the north rim.
Tributaries of the Valley
Take a tour through the Mariner Valley
 |
hide caption | |
 |