Mars Rover Sets Off-World Driving Record

Source - NASA Science News for July 28, 2014

NASA's Opportunity Mars rover, which landed on the Red Planet in 2004, now holds the off-Earth driving record of 25+ miles, and is not far from completing a full extraterrestrial marathon.

The complete article can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2014/28jul_oppy/

A Mars Rover's Improbable Anniversary

Source - NASA Science News for July 1, 2013

When Opportunity left Earth in 2003, many observers expected the rover to survive no more than a few months on the hostile surface of Mars. 10 years later, Opportunity is still going strong and could be poised to make its biggest discoveries yet at a place named Solander Point.

The complete article can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2013/01jul_oppy/

Curiosity Drills into Mars

Source - NASA Science News for Feb. 9, 2013

In a milestone accomplishment, NASA's Curiosity rover has drilled into a rock on Mars and gathered material from its interior. This is the first time any robot has drilled into a rock to collect a sample on Mars.

The complete article can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2013/09feb_borehole/

A Hint of Hawaii in the Sands of Mars

Source - NASA Science News for Oct. 31, 2012

New results from NASA's Mars rover Curiosity show that the mineralogy of some Martian soil is similar to soils of volcanic origin in Hawaii.

The complete article can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/31oct_hawaii/

Curiosity Finds Old Streambed on Mars

Source - NASA Science News for Sept. 27, 2012

Curiosity has found evidence that a stream once ran vigorously across the area on Mars where the rover is now driving.

The complete article can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/27sep_streambed/

Here is a quote from that article:

 "From the size of gravels it carried, we can interpret the water was moving about 3 feet per second, with a depth somewhere between ankle and hip deep," said Curiosity science co-investigator William Dietrich of the University of California, Berkeley. "Plenty of papers have been written about channels on Mars with many different hypotheses about the flows in them. This is the first time we're actually seeing water-transported gravel on Mars. This is a transition from speculation about the size of streambed material to direct observation of it."

Why Curiosity Matters

Source - NASA Science News for Sept. 21, 2012

A former rock-n-roller turned NASA engineer explains why he thinks Curiosity--both the Mars rover and the human desire to learn new things--matters to ordinary people on Earth.

The full story can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/21sep_curiositymatters/

A companion video is posted below and can also be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sT6FOIfVOI



License: Standard YouTube License

Mystery Spheres on Mars

Source - NASA Science News for Sept. 14, 2012

NASA's Mars rover Opportunity, still active after all these years, has just discovered a dense accumulation of puzzling little spheroids in a rock outcrop on the Red Planet.

The full story can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/14sep_mysteryspheres/

Curiosity Begins Driving at Bradbury Landing

Source - NASA Science News for August 22, 2012

Curiosity has made its first tire tracks on Mars. On August 22nd, the massive rover began driving from its landing site, which scientists have named for the late author Ray Bradbury.

The full story can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/22aug_bradbury/

Where on Mars will Curiosity go first?

Source - NASA Science News for August 17, 2012

Curiosity is safe on Mars and ready to roll. In today's story from Science@NASA, project scientist John Grotzinger discusses where the rover might go first.

The full story can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/17aug_curiosity2/

A companion video is posted below and can also be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSHDByiYXvg


 

Amazing Image of Curiosity Parachuting to Mars

Source - NASA Science News for August 6, 2012

With split-second timing, NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has captured an amazing snapshot of Curiosity parachuting to the surface of Mars.

The full story can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/06aug_parachute/

NASA Lands Car-Size Rover Beside Martian Mountain

Source - NASA Science News for August 6, 2012

NASA's most advanced Mars rover Curiosity has landed on the Red Planet. The one-ton rover, hanging by ropes from a rocket backpack, touched down onto Mars Sunday to end a 36-week flight and begin a two-year investigation.

The full story can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/06aug_success/

Curiosity's First Daredevil Stunt: Solar Flares

Source - NASA Science News for August 2, 2012

When Curiosity enters the Martian atmosphere on August 6th, setting in motion "the seven minutes of terror" that people are buzzing about, the rover will actually be performing the mission's second daredevil stunt. The first was completed in July.

The full story can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/02aug_rad2/

Strange but True: Curiosity's Sky Crane

Source - NASA Science News for July 31, 2012

How do you deposit a massive SUV-sized nuclear-powered rover to the surface of an alien planet without making an SUV-sized crater? NASA's solution for Curiosity will be attempted for the first time on August 5/6 when they gently lower the rover to the red sands of Mars using a Sky Crane.

The full story can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/30jul_skycrane

Mars Landing Sky Show

Source - NASA Science News for July 29, 2012

On the same night Curiosity lands on Mars, a "Martian Triangle" will appear in sunset skies of Earth. The first-magnitude apparition on August 5th gives space fans something to do while they wait for news from the Red Planet.

The full story can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/29jul_marslanding/

A companion video is posted below and can also be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrxCA1leQyY

Mars in a Minute: How Hard Is It to Land Curiosity on Mars?

Source - JPLnews: June 07, 2012

Landing the Curiosity rover on Mars is the most difficult and nail-biting part of the whole mission. See just how hard it is to land on Mars in this 60-second video.

Curiosity Nears Daring Landing on Mars

Source - NASA Science News for July 16, 2012

As Curiosity nears Mars for a daring landing on August 5/6, NASA has released a suite of video games and virtual experiences for members of the general public who wish to follow the massive rover across the sands of the Red Planet.

The full story can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/16jul_daring/

Mars Rover Aims for Landing Closer to Prime Science Site

Source - NASA Science News for June 11, 2012

NASA has narrowed the landing zone for Mars rover Curiosity, which is due to reach the Red Planet in August. The rover will touch down closer to its science target, but also closer to the foot of a mountain slope that poses a landing hazard.

The full story can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/11jun_landingsite/

Radiation Storm Hits Mars Rover, Curiosity OK

Source - NASA Science News for Feb. 24, 2012

En route to the Red Planet, Mars rover Curiosity has experienced the strongest solar radiation storm since 2005. Researchers say this is part of Curiosity's job as a 'stunt double' for human astronauts.

The full story can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/24feb_stuntdouble/

A companion video is posted below and can also be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E99YYNN9EGQ

"Slam Dunk" Sign of Past Water on Mars

Source - NASA Science News for Dec. 8, 2011

As NASA's newest Mars rover Curiosity heads for the Red Planet, veteran rover Opportunity continues to make discoveries. Opportunity's latest find, an apparent vein of the mineral gypsum, is a "slam dunk" sign of past water on Mars, say researchers.

FULL STORY at http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2011/08dec_slamdunk/

Mars Rover Curiosity Takes Off

Source - NASA Science News for Nov. 26, 2011

NASA's biggest and most capable Mars rover ever left Earth this morning in a picture perfect launch from Cape Canaveral. The new rover, named "Curiosity", is due to reach the Red Planet in August 2012.

FULL STORY at http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2011/26nov_msllaunch/

To learn more about Curiosity's landing site on Mars, check out the video "The Strange Attraction of Gale Crater": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNqeftciRFA