Tuesday, 29 September 2015

SCIENCE(NASA)

Science

Earth Mars Comparison .jpg
Earth and Mars
This composite image of Earth and Mars was created to allow viewers to gain a better understanding of the relative sizes of the two planets.


NASA's Mars Exploration Program's Science Theme
Mosaic of Mars
Mosaic of Mars

The Mars Exploration Program is a science-driven program that seeks to understand whether Mars was, is, or can be, a habitable world. To find out, we need to understand how geologic, climatic, and other processes have worked to shape Mars and its environment over time, as well as how they interact today.
Mars is similar to Earth in many ways, having many of the same "systems" that characterize our home world. Like Earth, Mars has an atmosphere, a hydrosphere, a cryosphere and a lithosphere. In other words, Mars has systems of air, water, ice, and geology that all interact to produce the Martian environment.
What we don't know yet is whether Mars ever developed or maintained a biosphere--an environment in which life could thrive.
To discover the possibilities for past or present life on Mars, NASA's Mars Exploration Program is currently following an exploration strategy known as "Seek Signs of Life." This science theme is built on the prior science theme of "Follow the Water," which guided missions such as 2001 Mars Odyssey, Mars Exploration Rovers, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, and the Mars Phoenix Lander.
Progressive discoveries related to evidence of past and present water in the geologic record make it possible to take the next steps toward finding evidence of life itself. The Mars Science Laboratory mission and its Curiosity rover mark a transition between the themes of "Follow the Water" and "Seek Signs of Life." In addition to landing in a place with past evidence of water, Curiosity is seeking evidence of organics, the chemical building blocks of life. Places with water and the chemistry needed for life potentially provide habitable conditions. Future Mars missions under the science theme "Seek Signs of Life" would likely be designed to search for life itself in places identified as potential past or present habitats.

MARS 3D IMAGES(NASA)

Uplifted Jumble of Ancient Bedrock

Uplifted Jumble of Ancient Bedrock
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter: Hi-RISE, NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona

Impact craters larger than a certain size have complex forms, including central peaks or other features that are a result from uplift of material. This uplift provides a mechanism for exposing deep, ancient bedrock.
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  • Panorama from Curiosity's Sol 1000 Location
    Panorama from Curiosity's Sol 1000 Location
  • Rock Spire in 'Spirit of St. Louis Crater' on Mars
    Rock Spire in 'Spirit of St. Louis Crater' on Mars
  • Approach to 'Cape Tribulation' Summit
    Approach to 'Cape Tribulation' Summit
  • High Viewpoint for 11-Year-Old Mars Mission
    High Viewpoint for 11-Year-Old Mars Mission
  • Mars 'Marathon Valley' Overlook, in Stereo
    Mars 'Marathon Valley' Overlook, in Stereo
  • pportunity's Approach to 'Marathon Valley'
    pportunity's Approach to 'Marathon Valley'
  • Curiosity View Ahead Through 'Artist's Drive'
    Curiosity View Ahead Through 'Artist's Drive'
  • Scene From 'Artist's Drive' on Mars
    Scene From 'Artist's Drive' on Mars
  • 'Lunokhod 2' Crater on Mars
    'Lunokhod 2' Crater on Mars
  • 'Pillinger Point' Overlooking Endeavour Crater on Mars
    'Pillinger Point' Overlooking Endeavour Crater on Mars
  • Opportunity's Tracks Near Crater Rim Ridgeline
    Opportunity's Tracks Near Crater Rim Ridgeline
  • Approaching a Target Deposit on Mars Crater Rim
    Approaching a Target Deposit on Mars Crater Rim
  • 'Mount Remarkable' and Surrounding Outcrops at Mars Rover's Waypoint
    'Mount Remarkable' and Surrounding Outcrops at Mars Rover's Waypoint
  • Panorama With Sandstone Outcrop Near 'The Kimberley' Waypoint
    Panorama With Sandstone Outcrop Near 'The Kimberley' Waypoint
  • Curiosity's View Past Dune at 'Dingo Gap'
    Curiosity's View Past Dune at 'Dingo Gap'
  • 'Murray Ridge' in Stereo from Mars Rover Opportunity
    'Murray Ridge' in Stereo from Mars Rover Opportunity
  • Opportunity's Northward View of 'Wdowiak Ridge'
    Opportunity's Northward View of 'Wdowiak Ridge'
  • Rover Tracks Along Crater's West Rim,
    Rover Tracks Along Crater's West Rim,
  • Panoramic View From West of 'Dingo Gap'
    Panoramic View From West of 'Dingo Gap'
  • Martian Landscape With Rock Rows and Mount Sharp
    Martian Landscape With Rock Rows and Mount Sharp
  • Rocky Mars Ground Where Curiosity Has Been Driving
    Rocky Mars Ground Where Curiosity Has Been Driving
  • Opportunity Overlooking Endeavour Crater
    Opportunity Overlooking Endeavour Crater
  • Opportunity Beside a Small, Young Crater
    Opportunity Beside a Small, Young Crater
  • Test Image of Earth Rocks by Mars Camera
    Test Image of Earth Rocks by Mars Camera
  • Mars Stereo View from 'John Klein' to Mount Sharp
    Mars Stereo View from 'John Klein' to Mount Sharp
  • Mars Stereo View from 'John Klein' to Mount Sharp, Raw
    Mars Stereo View from 'John Klein' to Mount Sharp, Raw
  • Curiosity's Eastward View After Sol 100 Drive, Stereo
    Curiosity's Eastward View After Sol 100 Drive, Stereo
  • 3D View of MAHLI Calibration Target
    3D View of MAHLI Calibration Target
  • View from Bradbury Landing Site
    View from Bradbury Landing Site
  • Martian Streambed Evidence Rock
    Martian Streambed Evidence Rock
  • Curiosity at Bradbury Landing Site
    Curiosity at Bradbury Landing Site
  • Parachute and Back Shell
    Parachute and Back Shell
  • Glenelg'
    Glenelg'
  • Landslide in Shalbatana Vallis
    Landslide in Shalbatana Vallis
  • Crater in Tantalus Fossae
    Crater in Tantalus Fossae
  • Crater in Meridiani Planum (2.3 N, 2.6W)
    Crater in Meridiani Planum (2.3 N, 2.6W)
  • Crater in Meridiani Planum (2.3 N, 356.6W)
    Crater in Meridiani Planum (2.3 N, 356.6W)
  • Western Candor
    Western Candor
  • Phlegethon Catena
    Phlegethon Catena
  • Mawrth Vallis Closeup
    Mawrth Vallis Closeup
  • Mawrth Vallis
    Mawrth Vallis
  • Channel in Lucus Planum
    Channel in Lucus Planum
  • Hebrus Valles
    Hebrus Valles
  • Eberswalde Delta
    Eberswalde Delta
  • Cydonia Labyrinthus
    Cydonia Labyrinthus
  • Coloe Fossae Region
    Coloe Fossae Region
  • Vent in the Cerberus Region
    Vent in the Cerberus Region
  • Athabasca Valles
    Athabasca Valles
  • Pits on Arsia Mons
    Pits on Arsia Mons
  • Aram Chaos
    Aram Chaos
  • Apollinaris Sulci Yardangs
    Apollinaris Sulci Yardangs
  • Sinuous ridge in the Aeolis Region
    Sinuous ridge in the Aeolis Region
  • Fan in the Aeolis Region
    Fan in the Aeolis Region
  • Jumbled Terrain in Ius Chasma
    Jumbled Terrain in Ius Chasma
  • Colorful Central Peak in an Unnamed Crater
    Colorful Central Peak in an Unnamed Crater
  • Gullies and Lobate Material in a Crater in Nereidum Montes
    Gullies and Lobate Material in a Crater in Nereidum Montes
  • Dunes and Ripples in Valles Marineris
    Dunes and Ripples in Valles Marineris
  • Uplifted Jumble of Ancient Bedrock
    Uplifted Jumble of Ancient Bedrock
  • Layers of Water-Deposited Sediment
    Layers of Water-Deposited Sediment
  • Small Floral-Shaped Volcano on Cerberus Fossae
    Small Floral-Shaped Volcano on Cerberus Fossae
  • Gullies with Varied Shapes on a Crater Wall
    Gullies with Varied Shapes on a Crater Wall
  • Small Mounds in Chryse Planitia
    Small Mounds in Chryse Planitia
  • Light-Toned Layered Rock Outcrop in Ladon Valles
    Light-Toned Layered Rock Outcrop in Ladon Valles
  • Meanders and Tributaries in Ridge Form in the Zephyria Region
    Meanders and Tributaries in Ridge Form in the Zephyria Region
  • Lobate Flow Features in the Northwest Hellas Rim
    Lobate Flow Features in the Northwest Hellas Rim
  • Layered Yardangs
    Layered Yardangs
  • Diverse Layers and Mineralogy Near Mawrth Vallis
    Diverse Layers and Mineralogy Near Mawrth Vallis
  • Crater with Surrounding Bench in Sinus Meridiani
    Crater with Surrounding Bench in Sinus Meridiani
  • The Eastern Floor of Aram Chaos
    The Eastern Floor of Aram Chaos
  • Bright and Dark Terrain in Noctis Labyrinthus
    Bright and Dark Terrain in Noctis Labyrinthus
  • Lava Coating, Flood-Carved Kasei Valles
    Lava Coating, Flood-Carved Kasei Valles
  • Mars Sand Dune Changes
    Mars Sand Dune Changes
  • Dune Composition
    Dune Composition
  • Lava Flow Oozing Into a Crater
    Lava Flow Oozing Into a Crater
  • Remnant of Unconformable Deposit in Electris
    Remnant of Unconformable Deposit in Electris
  • Crater with Gullies on a Central Structure
    Crater with Gullies on a Central Structure
  • Faults in Ius Chasma
    Faults in Ius Chasma
  • What is This Stuff?
    What is This Stuff?
  • Many Gullies in a Fresh Impact Crater
    Many Gullies in a Fresh Impact Crater
  • Fluvial Fan on a Crater Floor
    Fluvial Fan on a Crater Floor
  • Another Well-Preserved Impact Crater
    Another Well-Preserved Impact Crater
  • Double Layer Ejecta in an Arabia Region Crater
    Double Layer Ejecta in an Arabia Region Crater
  • Utopia Planitia Scallops, Polygons, and Boulders
    Utopia Planitia Scallops, Polygons, and Boulders
  • Tilted and Layered Bedrock Blocks in a Large Crater inside Becquerel Crater
    Tilted and Layered Bedrock Blocks in a Large Crater inside Becquerel Crater
  • Dunes on Ridges
    Dunes on Ridges
  • Of Elephants and Floods of Lava
    Of Elephants and Floods of Lava
  • Mineral Veins
    Mineral Veins
  • Layers in a Central Mound in Gale Crater
    Layers in a Central Mound in Gale Crater
  • Fish-eye View of Curiosity Rover and its Rocket-Powered Descent Vehicle
    Fish-eye View of Curiosity Rover and its Rocket-Powered Descent Vehicle
  • Mars Science Laboratory Mission's Curiosity Rover
    Mars Science Laboratory Mission's Curiosity Rover
  • Yogi in Super Resolution from Super Panorama
    Yogi in Super Resolution from Super Panorama
  • Pathfinder Landing Site - "Big Crater"
    Pathfinder Landing Site - "Big Crater"
  • Sand Dunes of Nili Patera
    Sand Dunes of Nili Patera
  • The Twin Peaks
    The Twin Peaks
  • Odyssey over Martian Sunrise
    Odyssey over Martian Sunrise
  • Spirit Looks Back
    Spirit Looks Back
  • On Its Own
    On Its Own
  • Spirit's Shadow, Sol 153
    Spirit's Shadow, Sol 153
  • Sweeping View of the "Columbia Hills" and Gusev Crater
    Sweeping View of the "Columbia Hills" and Gusev Crater
  • Eyeing the Drive Ahead After 'Bonneville'
    Eyeing the Drive Ahead After 'Bonneville'
  • Record Drive Day, Opportunity Sol 383
    Record Drive Day, Opportunity Sol 383
  • Opportunity's View, Sol 958
    Opportunity's View, Sol 958
  • "Berries" on the Ground
    "Berries" on the Ground
  •  One View, Two Craters
    One View, Two Craters
  • Martian Surface as Seen by Phoenix
    Martian Surface as Seen by Phoenix
  • Phoenix Trenches
    Phoenix Trenches
  • Ready to Enter 'Endurance'
    Ready to Enter 'Endurance'
  • 'Victoria Crater' from 'Duck Bay'
    'Victoria Crater' from 'Duck Bay'
  • Spirit's Surroundings on Sol 337
    Spirit's Surroundings on Sol 337
  • Making Tracks on Mars
    Making Tracks on Mars
  • Spirit's View on Sol 147
    Spirit's View on Sol 147
  • Spirit Heads Toward History
    Spirit Heads Toward History
  • 'McMurdo' Panorama from Spirit's 'Winter Haven'
    'McMurdo' Panorama from Spirit's 'Winter Haven'
  • 'Endurance' All Around
    'Endurance' All Around
  • Burns Cliff
    Burns Cliff
  •  Looking at 'Endurance' on Sol 108
    Looking at 'Endurance' on Sol 108
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