Opportunity and Spirit successfully completed their primary three-month missions on Mars in April 2004. NASA has extended their missions in order to continue exploring Mars. Both rovers have found geological evidence of past wet environmental conditions on Mars that may have been hospitable to life. Because life as we know it requires water to survive, understanding the history of water on Mars can tell scientists a great deal about the potential for past or present life on the Red Planet.
Jun 07, 2007 | SCIENCE
MESSENGER Probes Venus' Atmosphere
(NASA) - On route to Mercury, the MESSENGER spacecraft is doing a flyby of Venus where, on June 5th, it sent out a laser beam to measure the location of Venus' cloud decks. "We are treating the Venus flyby as a full dress rehearsal for the first flyby of Mercury in January 2008," says Sean Solomon, PI of both the MESSENGER mission and NAI's Carnegie Institution of Washington Team.
Sep 07, 2006 | MISSIONS
NASA Rover Nears Martian Bowl Goal
(NASA - JPL) - Opportunity is nearing what may be the richest science trove of its mission.
Mar 15, 2005 | SCIENCE
The First Key Piece of Telomerase
(NSF) - Biochemists at UCLA have discovered the 3-D structure of a major piece of telomerase.
Aug 03, 2004 | MISSIONS
Launch is Flawless
(NASA) - NASA's Messenger spacecraft launched successfully from Cape Canaveral early this morning.
Aug 02, 2004 | MISSIONS
The Long and Winding Road
(NASA) - The launch of NASA's Messenger spacecraft has been delayed until tomorrow due to weather constraints.
Jul 16, 2004 | TECHNOLOGIES
Space Tech Captures Toxic Microorganisms
(ESA) - Technology developed to ensure clean air for astronauts is now helping people on Earth.
Jul 12, 2004 |
Messenger Media Opportunity Set for Wednesday
(NASA - KSC) - Messenger's cameras are preparing for Mercury.
Dec 11, 2003 | SCIENCE
NASA Scientists to Discuss Search for Extraterrestrial Life
(NASA - ARC) - A discussion about the search for extraterrestrial life will be held tomorrow as part of the American Geophysical Union's fall meeting.
Oct 28, 2002 | SCIENCE
Concerted Evolution
(Astrobiology Magazine) - Statistical analysis reveals that patterns in genes resemble good musical
structure. The patterns may reveal how genes evolved.
Aug 23, 2001 | SCIENCE
Advances in Our Understanding of Life
(NASA Astrobiology Institute) - Excerpts from testimony by astrobiologist Jack Farmer to the House Subcommiteee on Space and Aeronautics.
Jun 29, 2001 | SCIENCE
Mercury Accused of Dislodging Asteroid that Doomed Dinosaurs
(Space.com) - A shift in the orbit of Mercury may have perturbed the asteroid belt, nudging an asteroid toward Earth.
Mar 27, 2001 | SCIENCE, MISSIONS
Mars or Europa: Where does life exist?
(Space.com) - Leading experts discuss where and how best to conduct the hunt for life elsewhere in our solar system.
Mar 26, 2001 | MISSIONS
NASA and NIMA begin joint review of Mars Polar Lander search
(NASA) - The two agencies will examine the results of the search for the missing spacecraft.
Mar 12, 2001 | SCIENCE
Mars' Volcanoes May Have Melted Ice, Producing Water Necessary for Life on Red Planet
(University at Buffalo) - The heat and energy from the volcanoes together with the liquid water may have made conditions ideal for the evolution of life.
Jan 26, 2001 | SCIENCE, MISSIONS
Mars ocean hypothesis hits the shore
(NASA Astrobiology Institute) - Photographs of the Martian surface find no sign of a sea cliff along a possible ancient shoreline.
Dec 04, 2000 | SCIENCE, MISSIONS
Evidence of ancient lakes on Mars
(NASA) - If life once existed on Mars, sedimentary layers in the lake beds might be the place to look for fossils.
Nov 20, 2000 | MISSIONS, TECHNOLOGIES, EDUCATION
New Mars research facility to involve scientists, college students, teachers, kids
(NASA) - The facility will permit scientists, teachers, college students and even grade-school kids to participate in the exploration of another planet.
Nov 20, 2000 | SCIENCE, MISSIONS
More evidence found suggesting water on Mars
(Spaceflight Now/NASA) - Photos from the Mars Global Surveyor reveal gullies possibly carved by flowing water.
Aug 31, 2000 | SCIENCE, MISSIONS
Life thrives at edge of glaciers
(space.com) - The findings indicate that polar ice caps of Mars may be a prime location to look for life.
Nov 12, 1999 | MISSIONS, TECHNOLOGIES
Revised instruments announced for Mars Express
(SpaceViews) - The European Space agency (ESA) will upgrade instruments on the Mars Express mission to help fill the gap left by the loss of the Mars Climate Orbiter.
Nov 11, 1999 | MISSIONS, TECHNOLOGIES
Europe is sending probe to the moon
(SpaceViews) - ESA has approved SMART-1, a mission to test a variety of technologies, study the origin of the Moon, and look for further evidence of water ice there.
