Seasonal 'spiders' emerge on Mars' surface by Brooks Hays Washington (UPI) Jul 16, 2018 In late winter on Mars, 'spiders' begin to emerge on the Martian surface. NASA's newest featured image, captured earlier this year by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, showcases the spindly geological formations. "Araneiform terrain" is the scientific term for the surface spiders. They appear as the sun returns to Mars' South Pole. As the warm solar rays heat the surface, carbon dioxide ice beneath the surface begins to sublimate, turning from a solid to a gas. When local pressure mounts inside the subsurface ice cap, pockets of gas can explode upwards, exploding dust in all directions and leaving a spider-like blast signature on the ground. The seasonal geological process is unique to Mars' South Pole and not found anywhere on Earth.
Airbus wins two ESA studies for Mars Sample Return mission Toulouse, France (SPX) Jul 09, 2018 Airbus has won two studies from the European Space Agency (ESA) to design a Sample Fetch Rover and an Earth Return Orbiter. These two elements will be critical parts of a mission to return samples of the planet Mars to Earth before the end of the next decade. NASA and ESA signed a letter of intent in April 2018 to pursue a Mars Sample Return mission. After launching to Mars in 2026, the Mars Sample Fetch Rover will retrieve Mars samples left by the Mars2020 rover. This NASA rover will leave 36 pen ... read more
|
|
The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us. |