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Small BodiesStories, updates, insights, and original analysis from The Planetary Society.
"Concern Increasing" for Opportunity
Yesterday evening the Mars Exploration Rover mission posted an update that states
Mars Exploration Rovers Update: Opportunity and Spirit Brave Global Dust Storm
It was to be a Martian summer to remember. Just one month ago, the Mars Exploration Rovers were set to embark on long-awaited adventures. At Meridiani Planum, Opportunity was preparing for its grand entrance into the magnificent Victoria Crater and on the other side of the planet Spirit was finally going to explore the top of Home Plate, an old, intriguing volcanic formation in the Gusev Crater area. Then a series of dust storms hit suddenly, it was a Martian summer to remember alright, but for far different, windswept reasons.
High tau for Spirit and Opportunity
Over the weekend I fiddled with the
Dust storm update: rovers still OK
The dust storm continues at Mars, but both rovers continue to be power-positive.
Mars Exploration Rovers update: Spirit and Opportunity are both still talking to Earth
Both Spirit and Opportunity are still suffering under incredibly dark skies, but, amazingly, they are both
Dawn Journal: More Than One Way to Leave the Launch Pad
There are two ways for a spacecraft to leave its launch pad: climbing on a blazing tower of powerful flames accompanied by a thunderous announcement of its departure or suspended securely and gently on the crane that hoisted it there in the first place.
The dust storm has brought gloom to Opportunity's skies, but everything is OK
Opportunity has ceased operations for a couple of days because the amount of sunlight available is low due to an unpredicted dust storm.
Dawn Journal: Awaiting Launch
The countdown is underway for Dawn's liftoff on July 8 at 4:04:49 pm EDT.
Dawn Journal: More Bad Weather
Just after the previous log was posted, further predictions of poor weather at Cape Canaveral and difficulties with a downrange launch vehicle tracking system required a launch postponement.
Mars Exploration Rovers Update: Spirit Detours in Silica Valley, Opportunity Returns to Duck Bay to Enter Victoria
The Mars Exploration Rovers (MERs) spent the month of June finishing work and clearing their agendas at their respective locales at Gusev Crater and Meridiani Planum in preparation for highly anticipated new assignments in July.
Bedtime for New Horizons
According to the mission website, the New Horizons spacecraft has drifted off to sleep, entering its
Dawn Journal: What to Expect After the Launch
Now only two weeks away from its planned launch, Dawn is eagerly awaiting the beginning of its cosmic adventure.
Mars Science Laboratory is going to be HUGE
Yesterday I deposited the baby with her grandmother and went to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory for a press junket to the opening of their new Mars Yard.
Spirit gets brushed off
There was great news last night from Mars Exploration Rover mission operations: Spirit seems to have enjoyed another
The original "Puddles on Mars" story has been retracted
Today, New Scientist and researcher Ron Levin retracted the
...and MESSENGER's flyby was successful!
The Applied Physics Lab issued a press release this evening stating that the MESSENGER mission's second flyby of Venus was successful.
Flyby of Venus Speeds MESSENGER Onward to Mercury
The MESSENGER spacecraft is zeroing in on Venus for the most significant gravity assist maneuver of its long journey to Mercury.
Mimas, Dione, Rhea
There's been quite a lot of Mars on this page for the last week; it's time to remind ourselves that there are other places besides Mars in the solar system.
Mars Exploration Rovers Update: Spirit Finds "Explosive" Evidence of Past Water, Opportunity Revs Up, Revisits Cape of Good Hope
The Mars Exploration Rovers sent home field reports this past month -- some 1,200 days into their missions -- that drew gasps of amazement from both the science and engineering teams.
Windows Onto the Abyss: Cave Skylights on Mars
Today's set of image releases from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter HiRISE team included this one, of a fairly bland-looking lava plain to the northeast of Arsia Mons. Bland, that is, except for a black spot in the center.