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NEWS ABOUT: Mars rover

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Mars Missions Slow in April, Thanks to Sun's Position

Interference means rovers pretty much get the month off

(AP) - It's the Martian version of spring break: Curiosity and Opportunity , along with their spacecraft friends circling overhead, will take it easy this month because of the sun's interference. For much of April, the sun blocks the line of sight between Earth and Mars. This celestial alignment—called a... More »

NASA: Yep, Mars Could Have Supported Life

Soil sample dug up by Curiosity proves it

(Newser) - NASA scientists examining their first sample of Martian rock dug out by the rover Curiosity found some remarkable things in there: sulfur, nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and carbon. In other words, ingredients that show the planet once could have supported life. Lead scientist Michael Mayer sums it up thusly:
  • "
... More »

Latest Search for Alien Life Taking Place on Earth

NASA turns to geologists for help

(Newser) - NASA's latest partner in the search for alien life: a group of about 50 geologists who are hunting for evidence of ancient life here on Earth. The University of Wisconsin's Astrobiology Research Consortium last month started a five-year, $7 million project funded by a NASA grant. It'll... More »

Mars Rover Drills Into Planet for First Time

Curiosity's successful test paves way for bigger projects

(Newser) - NASA's Mars rover has busted out a new tool to pry into the planet's secrets. Curiosity used a drill at the top of one of its arms to make a small hole in Martian rock, reports LiveScience . It was just a test, the first of its kind, but... More »

Curiosity Rover Snaps Pic of 'Martian Flower'?

NASA Rep says it 'appears to be part of the rock'

(Newser) - So, can flowers grow at -65 Fahrenheit? That was apparently the belief of one website reader after the Curiosity rover sent back a photo of a hard-to-identify, light-colored object on Mars, Space.com reports. Noting its reflection of sunlight, "translucent appearance," and "irregular confirmation (like pistils),"... More »

Rover's Mars Find: Carbon or Contamination?

Nothing definitive yet, scientists say

(Newser) - Don't get too excited about life on Mars just yet: Though NASA's Curiosity rover did find a simple carbon compound on the planet, the team has yet to determine whether the compound actually came from Mars or was transported there on Curiosity itself. And the scoop of soil... More »

Mars Scoop May Not Be So 'Earth-Shaking' After All

But it will be 'interesting,' spokesman promises

(Newser) - An NPR story about NASA's Mars mission generated lots of attention today because of a big tease from a lead scientist looking at soil samples taken by the Curiosity rover:
  • "This data is gonna be one for the history books. It's looking really good."
But NASA'... More »

Mars Radiation? Astronauts Could Handle It

Curiosity rover shows Mars radiation near space station levels

(Newser) - One of the bigger sticking points in the quest to send humans to Mars has been the potentially deadly radiation levels they would experience. But new information gathered by the Curiosity rover shows that radiation levels on Mars are much milder than feared—about the same as those in low... More »

Martian Soil Is a Lot Like ... Hawaii's?

Curiosity scans soil sample

(Newser) - Aloha, Mars! The Curiosity rover has scanned a sample of Martian soil, and the ground composition on the Red Planet isn't all that unlike Hawaii's, reports the BBC . It's not a huge surprise to NASA scientists, who theorized that the soil would be comprised of "materials... More »

Rover's Latest Find: Rock Type Not Seen Before on Mars

Although it's not that unusual on Earth

(Newser) - Curiosity has identified a type of rock that no rover had previously spotted on Mars. It has the same chemical composition as rocks relatively common on Earth, found in rift zones like Hawaii's volcanoes, Wired reports. They develop in high-pressure conditions, often near water, though it's unclear if... More »

Mars Rover Finds 'Bright Object'

Curiosity makes first scoop of planet's surface

(Newser) - The Curiosity rover has conducted its first scoop of Mars' surface—and found an unidentified "bright object," the AP reports. The rover won't make another scoop until NASA officials can deduce what the thing is. It could just be a piece of the rover itself. Curiosity has... More »

Mars Rover Checks In on Foursquare

'Curiosity' hopes to be the planet's mayor soon

(Newser) - Well, now NASA's rover on Mars is just showing off. Curiosity checked in on Foursquare today from the red planet, reports TechCrunch . "One check-in closer to being Mayor of Mars," reads the post from Gale Crater . The rover already is offering tips (bring moisturizer and oxygen), and... More »

Curiosity Makes Weird Weather Find on Red Planet

Warm days could point to possibility of life there

(Newser) - The Mars rover Curiosity has enjoyed surprisingly warm weather lately, a find that could arouse more speculation about the possibility of life on the Red Planet, Space.com reports. In this case, warm means up to 43 Fahrenheit—which is unexpected because it's still winter at the Gale Center,... More »

Mars Rover Finds Signs of Ancient Streambed

Hip-deep water, habitable for life, may have flown across the planet

(Newser) - One of the Mars Rover's main goals on its current mission was to find a site on the planet that could have supported life. Ding, ding, ding. NASA says the rover Curiosity actually landed on what looks to be an ancient streambed, reports the Washington Post . Rounded pebbles and... More »

This Eclipse Is From Mars

Curiosity Rover keeps clicking away

(Newser) - NASA's Mars Rover has been busy snapping photos of partial eclipses of the sun. The phenomenon isn't all that unusual on the planet, explains AP , but because Curiosity just happened to be in the neighborhood, it couldn't resist. The images should help scientists get a better sense... More »

Curiosity Snaps Mars Solar Eclipse

Partial eclipse was brief, tiny

(Newser) - The latest celestial images from Curiosity, NASA's Mars rover, show a partial solar eclipse as Martian moon Phobos crosses the sun. The eclipse isn't quite as impressive as one on Earth would be, Space.com explains, because Phobos is just 14 miles across, so it only covers a... More »

Curiosity's Tracks Seen From Space

Rover takes first sniff of Martian air

(Newser) - After a month on Mars, the Curiosity rover is still going through checks, and racking up near-perfect scores. It has driven more than 350 feet from its landing site, leaving tracks that have been photographed from space by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, reports CBS . Curiosity "continues to surprise us... More »

Will.i.am Debuting New Song on Mars

Curiosity broadcasting live to red planet

(Newser) - The biggest musical event in Martian history is set to take place today when rapper Will.i.am premieres his new song on the red planet. "Reach For The Stars," described as a composition about the Black Eyed Peas co-founder's "passion for science, technology, and space... More »

NASA Has New Video of Mars Rover Landing

Agency stitches together high-res frames

(AP) - Viewers can now relive the drama of the Curiosity rover's landing on Mars with a new video detailing the final moments of touchdown. NASA posted the video today on its website , embedded with audio from mission control. It starts with the heat shield falling away. The ground grows larger... More »

Mars Rover Curiosity Drives for First Time

15-foot test trip was a success

(Newser) - The Mars rover Curiosity is officially cruising. NASA completed its first test drive of the space vehicle today. The rover traveled 15 feet, turned right, and then reversed a short distance, reports AP . "We're very excited to have this kind of milestone behind us," says one NASA... More »

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