This Week @ NASA, August 9, 2013

So what can a planetary rover do with a year on Mars?

All NASA's Curiosity rover did was beam back over 190 gigabits of data, more than 36-thousand images and zap 75-thousand-plus laser shots at science targets … and oh by the way, it also completed the mission's main science goal by finding evidence that life was possible on Mars in the past.

The agency celebrated the one year anniversary of Curiosity's landing on Mars with live events from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory -- featuring rover team members.

ONE YEAR ON MARS! – HQ/JPL #1YearOnMars

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Canyon fly-through

Space science image of the week: Fly through part of the largest canyon on Mars
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Stepping into the Orion Crew Module

NASA astronauts Cady Coleman and Ricky Arnold step into the Orion crew module hatch during a series of spacesuit check tests conducted on June 13, 2013 at the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility at the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

At the foot of the Red Planet’s giant volcano

Hundreds of individual lava flows are seen frozen in time on the flanks of Olympus Mons, the largest volcano in the Solar System.

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Stepping into the Orion Crew Module

NASA astronauts Cady Coleman and Ricky Arnold step into the Orion crew module hatch during a series of spacesuit check tests conducted on June 13, 2013 at the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility at the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston. 

The Orion crew module will serve as both transport and a home to astronauts during future long-duration missions to an asteroid, Mars and other destinations throughout our solar system.

Image Credit: NASA

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NASA Selects Next Generation of Space Explorers, Hangout Today

NASA Selects Next Generation of Space Explorers, Hangout Today

06/17/2013 12:00 AM EDT

After an extensive year-and-a-half search, NASA has a new group of potential astronauts who will help the agency push the boundaries of exploration and travel to new destinations in the solar system, including an asteroid and Mars.

ExoMars 2016 set to complete construction

ExoMars 2016 set to complete construction

17-06-2013 04:05 PM CEST

ESA's mission to Mars in 2016 has entered the final stage of construction with the signature of a contract today with Thales Alenia Space at the Paris Air  Space Show.

NASA Selects Next Generation of Space Explorers; Google+ Hangout Today

NASA Selects Next Generation of Space Explorers; Google+ Hangout Today

06/17/2013 12:00 AM EDT

 

After an extensive year-and-a-half search, NASA has a new group of potential astronauts who will help the agency push the boundaries of exploration and travel to new destinations in the solar system, including an asteroid and Mars. Eight candidates have been selected to be NASA's newest astronaut trainees, hoping to be among those who are the first to launch from U.S. soil on commercial American spacecraft since the retirement of the space shuttle.

The 2013 astronaut candidate class comes from the second largest number of applications NASA has received -- more than 6,000. Half of the selectees are women, making this the highest percentage of female astronaut candidates ever selected for a class. The group will receive a wide array of technical training at space centers and remote locations around the globe to prepare for missions to low-Earth orbit, an asteroid and Mars.

NASA NASA Podcasts Update

Curiosity's Cameras

06/13/2013 12:00 PM EDT

Curiosity is at Point Lake on Mars and will snap pictures to send home. Find out more about the rover's 17 cameras, including why some shoot in color and others others take black-and-white images.

NASA NASA Podcasts Update

Dry Ice Moves on Mars

06/11/2013 12:00 PM EDT

Is frozen carbon dioxide a key to features in some Martian gullies? To find out, scientists grabbed a bag of dry ice and took a road trip.

Marks on Martian Dunes May Reveal Tracks of Dry Ice Sleds

Marks on Martian Dunes May Reveal Tracks of Dry Ice Sleds

06/11/2013 12:00 AM EDT

NASA research indicates hunks of frozen carbon dioxide -- dry ice -- may glide down some Martian sand dunes on cushions of gas similar to miniature hovercraft, plowing furrows as they go.

NASA to Host June 7 Mars Rover Opportunity Teleconference

NASA to Host June 7 Mars Rover Opportunity Teleconference

06/06/2013 12:00 AM EDT

NASA will hold a media teleconference at 9 a.m. PDT (noon EDT) on Friday, June 7, to provide an update about the long-lived Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity. The 10th anniversary of this rover's launch is next month.

Week In Images

Week In Images

07-06-2013 12:02 PM CEST

Our week through the lens:
03-07 June 2013

Mars Express: Searching for life

Mars Express: Searching for life

06-06-2013 12:55 PM CEST

On 2 June 2003 dawned a new era for the European Space Agency. 

From Baikonur Mars Express was the first planetary probe of the European Space Agency, sent a Russian Soyuz rocket on their trip to our neighboring red planet. 

On 25 December of the same year, they swung into orbit around Mars. Since then she has traveled more than 12.000mal him and her seven scientific instruments provide a reliable stream of data that can be our neighboring planets appear in a new light.

European Space Agency Flickr Update

Ariane 5 flight VA213 lifts off with ATV-4

06-06-2013 11:13 AM CEST

On Wednesday 5 June 2013, Ariane 5 VA213 with the ESA's fourth Automated Transfer Vehicle, Albert Einstein, lifted off from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana.

Credits: ESA/CNES/Arianespace/Optique Video du CSG

Ariane 5 flight VA213 lifts off with ATV-4

06-06-2013 11:13 AM CEST

On Wednesday 5 June 2013, Ariane 5 VA213 with the ESA's fourth Automated Transfer Vehicle, Albert Einstein, lifted off from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana.

Credits: ESA/CNES/Arianespace/Optique Video du CSG

Ariane 5 flight VA213 lifts off with ATV-4

06-06-2013 11:13 AM CEST

On Wednesday 5 June 2013, Ariane 5 VA213 with the ESA's fourth Automated Transfer Vehicle, Albert Einstein, lifted off from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana.

Credits: ESA/CNES/Arianespace/Optique Video du CSG

Kasei Valles perspective view

06-06-2013 11:08 AM CEST

Looking in the direction of flowing water from the northern flanks of Kasai Valles towards 100 km-wide Sharonov crater in the top centre, and with Sacra Mensa to the lower right.

Credits: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin (G. Neukum)

Kasei Valles mosaic

06-06-2013 11:08 AM CEST

This mosaic, which features the spectacular Kasei Valles, comprises 67 images taken with the High Resolution Stereo Camera on ESA's Mars Express. The mosaic spans 987 km north–south (19–36°N) and 1550 km east–west (280–310°E).

Credits: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin (G. Neukum)

Liftoff of Ariane 5 VA213 with ATV-4

06-06-2013 07:44 AM CEST

On Wednesday 5 June 2013, Ariane 5 VA213 with the ESA's fourth Automated Transfer Vehicle, Albert Einstein, lifted off from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana.

For more images, please click here.

Credits : ESA–S. Corvaja, 2013

Liftoff of Ariane 5 VA213 with ATV-4

06-06-2013 07:44 AM CEST

On Wednesday 5 June 2013, Ariane 5 VA213 with the ESA's fourth Automated Transfer Vehicle, Albert Einstein, lifted off from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana.

For more images, please click here.

Credits : ESA–S. Corvaja, 2013

Liftoff of Ariane 5 VA213 with ATV-4

06-06-2013 07:44 AM CEST

On Wednesday 5 June 2013, Ariane 5 VA213 with the ESA's fourth Automated Transfer Vehicle, Albert Einstein, lifted off from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana.

For more images, please click here.

Credits : ESA–S. Corvaja, 2013

Liftoff of Ariane 5 VA213 with ATV-4

06-06-2013 02:04 AM CEST

On Wednesday 5 June 2013, Ariane 5 VA213 with the ESA's fourth Automated Transfer Vehicle, Albert Einstein, lifted off from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana.

For more images, please click here.

Credits : ESA–M. Pedoussaut, 2013

Liftoff of Ariane 5 VA213 with ATV-4

06-06-2013 01:10 AM CEST

On Wednesday 5 June 2013, Ariane 5 VA213 with the ESA's fourth Automated Transfer Vehicle, Albert Einstein, lifted off from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana.

For more images, please click here.

Credits : ESA–S. Corvaja, 2013

Liftoff of Ariane 5 VA213 with ATV-4

06-06-2013 01:10 AM CEST

On Wednesday 5 June 2013, Ariane 5 VA213 with the ESA's fourth Automated Transfer Vehicle, Albert Einstein, lifted off from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana.

For more images, please click here.

Credits : ESA–S. Corvaja, 2013

Liftoff of Ariane 5 VA213 with ATV-4

06-06-2013 01:10 AM CEST

On Wednesday 5 June 2013, Ariane 5 VA213 with the ESA's fourth Automated Transfer Vehicle, Albert Einstein, lifted off from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana.

For more images, please click here.

Credits : ESA–S. Corvaja, 2013

Liftoff of Ariane 5 VA213 with ATV-4

06-06-2013 01:10 AM CEST

On Wednesday 5 June 2013, Ariane 5 VA213 with the ESA's fourth Automated Transfer Vehicle, Albert Einstein, lifted off from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana.

For more images, please click here.

Credits : ESA–S. Corvaja, 2013

Liftoff for ATV-4

06-06-2013 12:02 AM CEST

Ariane 5 VA213 carrying ATV Albert Einstein lifted off from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana at 21.42 GMT 5 June 2013.

Credits: ESA/Arianespace

Liftoff for ATV-4

06-06-2013 12:02 AM CEST

Ariane 5 VA213 carrying ATV Albert Einstein lifted off from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana at 21.42 GMT 5 June 2013.

Credits: ESA/Arianespace

Liftoff for ATV-4

06-06-2013 12:02 AM CEST

Ariane 5 VA213 carrying ATV Albert Einstein lifted off from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana at 21.42 GMT 5 June 2013.

Credits: ESA/Arianespace

The floodwaters of Mars

The floodwaters of Mars

06-06-2013 11:00 AM CEST

Dramatic flood events carved this impressive channel system on Mars covering 1.55 million square kilometres, shown here in a stunning new mosaic from ESA's Mars Express.

European Space Agency YouTube Update

Mars Express Full Orbit Video 2.0

05-06-2013 07:24 PM CEST

In celebration of the 10th anniversary of Mars Express: a new and enhanced Full Orbit Video generated by multiple images acquired by the VMC camera - the Mars Webcam - on board ESA's Mars Express This version is a special 'MEX birthday preview'. 

We'll post a somewhat extended version late next week, to coincide with the next expected VMC image set arriving from Mars (for news, follow the VMC blog http://blogs.esa.int/vmc) 

Thanks to the Mars Express Science operations teams for generating a fabulous, unique-in-our-Solar-System view of the Red planet. And happy Birthday, Mars Express!

NASA to Host June 5 Teleconference on Curiosity Mars Rover

NASA to Host June 5 Teleconference on Curiosity Mars Rover

06/03/2013 12:00 AM EDT

NASA will hold a media teleconference at 11:30 a.m. PDT (2:30 p.m. EDT), Wednesday, June 5, to provide an update about the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission and activities of the Curiosity rover.

European Space Agency Flickr Update

Mars north polar ice cap

03-06-2013 10:24 AM CEST

The north polar ice cap of Mars, presented as a mosaic of 57 separate images from the High Resolution Stereo Camera on ESA's Mars Express. The ice cap spans approximately 1000 km and is seen here in polar stereographic projection.

The images were taken throughout the entire mission, when Mars Express was at its closest to Mars along its orbit, at about 300-500 km altitude.

The mosaic was published as space science image of the week on the occasion of the tenth anniversary since the mission launched on 2 June 2003.

Ten years at Mars: new global views plot the Red Planet’s history

Ten years at Mars: new global views plot the Red Planet's history

03-06-2013 11:00 AM CEST

New global maps of Mars released on the 10th anniversary of the launch of ESA's Mars Express trace the history of water and volcanic activity on the Red Planet, and identify sites of special interest for the next generation of Mars explorers.