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Stories, updates, insights, and original analysis from The Planetary Society.
Curiosity update, sols 540-8: New rules and longer drives
Curiosity has tested a new driving mode -- backwards -- and achieved their longest single-day drive in three months. And they've committed to driving to the spot formerly known as
Curiosity Update, sols 534-540: Over Dingo Gap, onto softer sand
After more than two months of very slow driving due to concern about the wheels and time spent choosing whether to enter
All's well in cruise phase for Mars-bound spacecraft MAVEN and Mars Orbiter Mission
A hundred days after launch, India's Mars Orbiter Mission is doing just fine, and so is NASA's MAVEN.
New Hills, Old Secrets
Exploring a set of newly named hills on Mars reveals tantalizing clues to the planet's story.
Mars Exploration Rovers Update: Opportunity Finds Mystery Rock, Mission Celebrates 10 Years
In the storied history of the Mars Exploration Rovers (MER) mission, January 2014 will likely be remembered as one of the most memorable months of all.
Looking Backward: Curiosity gazes upon the setting Earth
A few days ago, Curiosity looked westward after sunset and photographed Earth setting toward the mountainous rim of Gale crater.
ExoMars baby pictures: Spacecraft core module delivered to assembly site
The European Space Agency announced yesterday a significant milestone in the development of the next Mars mission: the core module of the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter has been delivered.
Curiosity update, sols 521-533: Assessing Dingo Gap
While continuing to perform regular wheel health assessments, Curiosity took a sharp right turn and headed for Dingo Gap. On sol 533, they performed a
Beautiful view into the valley beyond Dingo Gap, Curiosity sol 528
A beautiful Mastcam panorama from sol 528 shows a landscape so much more like Earth than anything we've explored on the Martian surface before.
Curiosity update: imaging the nonfunctioning REMS boom, closer to Dingo Gap
At long last, on sol 526, Curiosity imaged the part of the weather instrument that was damaged during landing, but no obvious damage is visible, to me anyway. On sol 527 they drove even closer to Dingo Gap, with plans to drive onto the dune in the sol 528 drive.
The Planetary Society Congratulates Opportunity's Team for 10 Years on Mars
The Planetary Society released an official statement today recognizing the unprecedented achievement of maintaining an operating rover on the surface of Mars for a decade.
Curiosity images "Dingo Gap," sols 519-521
Over the last few days, Curiosity made steady driving progress to the southwest. For several of those days, an intriguing feature has appeared on the horizon in her images. UPDATE: The Curiosity team has now decided to drive the rover toward the feature, which is now named
Russia's Ambitious Planetary Exploration Goals
Roscosmos has ambitious planetary exploration plans in the coming decades, including a series of solo lunar missions and joint missions to Mars with the European Space Agency.
Curiosity update, sols 488-520: Steady driving while watching the wheels
In the last month, Curiosity put 222 meters on the odometer in 12 short drives, while regularly assessing the wheels for damage. The rover performed touch-and-go analyses of rocks including Oneida and Kodak, and also took some ChemCam RMI mosaics of rocks near the base of Mount Sharp.
New Views of Martian Weather
The latest postcards from Mars Express feature cloudy skies.
Dry Ice Snowfall at the Poles of Mars
Paul Hayne takes a look at the mysterious polar caps of Mars, and what it would be like to ski there.
Winter 2013 Issue of The Planetary Report Now Available Online
The Winter 2013 issue of The Planetary Report is finally on press and will be mailing soon. However, the electronic version is available online for members to start reading now!
Book Review: This Is Mars
This is Mars is a stunning book that treats the HiRISE camera on Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter as an art photographer, exploring the variety of shapes and patterns created by wind, water, impacts, and gravity on the Martian surface.
Blast from the past: Spirit sunrise panorama at Troy
In honor of the 10th anniversary of Spirit's landing on Mars, here is a new view from near the end of that mission.



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