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09/19/2008
- VIDEO Mars
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Sep. 19, 2008
Mars
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In this segment, we'll get the big picture on science on the planet Mars. From orbiting observatories to roving rovers to the ditch-digging Phoenix -- what have planetary scientists learned about Mars, and what remains to be discovered? The most recent visitor to the Red Planet is NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander, which launched in August 2007 as the first mission in NASA's Scout Program. Phoenix is designed to study the history of water and habitability potential in the Martian arctic's ice-rich soil. So far, the lander has identified water ice in soil samples, and has detected the chemical perchlorate in the soil, a sign of the presence of liquid water in the past. The Phoenix Mars Lander joins the twin rovers of the Mars Exploration Rover project, Spirit and Opportunity, which have been in operation since 2004. Now running years past their planned lifetime on Mars, the rovers are still exploring the surface. Rover Opportunity recently exited the Victoria Crater after several months on the crater floor. Several orbiting observatories, including Mars Odyssey, Mars Express, and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter are examining the different aspects of the planet from above. The orbiting platforms have studied the planet's atmosphere, mapped its surface, and are also supporting the ground-based exploration missions. We're broadcasting this week from Tucson, Arizona, home base for NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander, as guests of Arizona Public Media. |
Produced by Christopher Intagliata, Associate Senior Producer
Guests
-
Peter Smith
Principal Investigator
NASA's Phoenix Mars Mission
Senior Research Scientist, Lunar and Planetary
Laboratory
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona -
Alfred McEwen
Principal Investigator, High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE)
for Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
Professor of Planetary Sciences
Lunar and Planetary Laboratory
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona -
Steven Squyres
Principal Investigator, NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Mission
Professor of Astronomy
Cornell University
Ithaca, New York -
William Hartmann
Senior Scientist
Planetary Science Institute
Space artist and popular science author
Tucson, Arizona
RELATED READING
A Traveler's Guide to Mars
by William K. Hartmann
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