All
All
Stories, updates, insights, and original analysis from The Planetary Society.
Mars Exploration Rovers Update: Opportunity Suffers Unwanted Computer Reboots, Hunkers Down for Reformat
After setting the new off-Earth rover distance record in July, Opportunity roved on in August, driving south along the eastern edge of Endeavour Crater's western rim to Wdowiak Ridge on its journey to the next big destination, Marathon Valley.
Curiosity update, sols 697-726: Mars thwarts driving and drilling
The Mars gremlins really had it in for Curiosity this month. A computer glitch and slippery sand conspired to delay the rover's progress toward Mount Sharp. And shifting rocks proved unsafe for drilling. The rover will continue driving toward Mount Sharp, departing Bonanza King without drilling, skirting Hidden Valley along a plateau to its north.
Comet Flyby Missions for Mars Rovers
On October 19, the Mars rovers — like their orbiting cousins — will become comet flyby missions. Comet C/2013 A1 (Siding Spring) will pass within 140,000 km of Mars.
Curiosity wheel damage: The problem and solutions
Now that a Tiger Team has assessed the nature and causes of damage to Curiosity's wheels, I can finally answer your frequently-asked questions about what wheel damage means for the mission, and why it wasn't anticipated.
New Postcards from Mars
The latest snaphots from the
Field Report From Mars: Sol 3753 – August 15, 2014
Opportunity just completed its first drives upslope on its long journey toward the crest of the highest rim segment of Endeavour crater, “Cape Tribulation.” Larry Crumpler gives us an update on what to expect next from the little rover that could.
Mars orbiters plan for their October encounter with comet Siding Spring
Now that we have reasonable confidence that our Mars orbiters will be safe from the close passage of comet Siding Spring, we are free to be excited about the opportunity that the encounter represents. At a community workshop on August 11, representatives from Mars missions shared their plans for great comet science.
Mars Exploration Rovers Update: Opportunity Sets Historic Distance Record and Roves On
It's official: Opportunity has traveled farther and lived longer than any other vehicle on another planet, driving to a place in history with an out-of-this-world distinction no one even imagined when the robot field geologist left Earth 11 years ago.
Mars 2020 Instruments – A Plan for Sample Return
Van Kane gives us a tour of the instruments selected for the Mars 2020 rover.
Comet Siding Spring: Risk Assessment
On October 19, 2014, Comet Siding Spring is going to have an extremely close encounter with the planet Mars. The bottom line: it seems most likely that our Martian spacecraft will be absolutely fine.
Field Report From Mars: Sol 3737 – July 30, 2014
Larry Crumpler updates us on the Opportunity rover, which now holds the distance record for a rover on another planet and is about to climb up its highest crater rim segment yet.
[Updated]: NASA Selects 7 Science Instruments for its Next Mars Rover
Seven science instruments will help the Mars 2020 rover identify biosignatures and understand the history of the rocks it encounters on the surface of the red planet.
Planetary Society Selected as Mars 2020 Camera Partner
The Planetary Society has been selected as an education outreach partner on the just-selected NASA Mars 2020 Mastcam-Z instrument, led by Jim Bell, Planetary Society Board president and Arizona State University professor.
8th Mars Report: Martian habitability
Valerie Fox reports from the 8th International Conference on Mars on the habitability of the Red Planet.
8th Mars Report: Was Ancient Mars Warm and Wet or Cold and Icy?
One of the hot topics of the 8th International Conference on Mars was the nature of Mars' ancient past. Abigail Fraeman reports on our updated view of whether Mars was ever warm and wet.
Curiosity update, sols 671-696: Out of the landing ellipse, into ripples and pointy rocks
For the last four weeks, the name of the game for Curiosity has been driving. But these weeks of driving have been more challenging than they used to be.
One Day on Mars
A single day's observations take us from orbital overviews all the way down to ground truth.
Mars and Europa: Contrasts in Mission Planning
Several announcements for proposed missions to Mars and on the planning for a NASA return to Europa that highlight the contrasts in planning missions for these two high priority destinations.
Mars Exploration Rovers Update: Opportunity Nears End of Murray Ridge, Pillinger Point Christened
Opportunity got off to a bumpy start in June, but the Mars Exploration Rover (MER) mission pressed on, continuing the exploration of Murray Ridge at the western rim of Endeavour Crater.
Field Report From Mars: Sol 3705 – June 27, 2014
Opportunity has left the winter haven and is still driving south along the rim of Endeavour crater, currently exploring an outcrop a few meters from crater rim.