The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has just begun its science mission, and one of the first targets is Victoria Crater, where the rover Opportunity has just arrived after nearly 1000 sols on Mars.

The photos, using the largest interplanetary telescope ever lofted, are truly amazing.

See comments for links to original imagery. picked by Fanatic 2 years ago

"Another soil sample of the exact same composition as the last one..." "Still no water..." It's out of its mind with boredom. Another wonderful satirical story from The Onion. picked by Fanatic 2 years ago

The Spirit rover is celebrating its 1000th day on Mars--the original mission was planned for only 90 days--and the JPL mission team has released a 360-degree view of Spirit's wintering grounds, made from nearly 1500 individual images with no compression. It is the highest-resolution photograph of the surface ever taken. picked by Fanatic 2 years ago

Organic compounds contain carbon and hydrogen and form the building blocks of all life on Earth. By analyzing organic material and minerals in the Martian meteorite Allan Hills 84001, scientists have shown for the first time that building blocks of life formed on Mars early in its history. Previously, scientists have thought that organic material in ALH 84001 was brought to Mars by meteorite impac... read full post picked by AutumnLotus 10 months ago

Nasa is to launch a spacecraft on a nine-month journey to Mars, where it will dig below the surface for clues to the existence of past or present life. picked by pjanaway 1 year ago

A lake that might once have been habitable may have filled a crater for a long time on early Mars, new spacecraft images reveal. NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter captured the images that suggest the debris-strewn Holden Crater once held a calm body of water that could have harbored life. picked by AutumnLotus 7 months ago

New software is helping NASA find safe places for the Spirit rover to ride out future Martian winters - - and also plan where Spirit and its companion rover, Opportunity, will explore in the future. picked by Mershaullk 10 months ago

NASA scientists have discovered what might form some of the weirdest landscapes on Mars, winding channels carved into the Martian surface that scientists have dubbed "spiders," "lace" and "lizard skin." The unusual landscape features form in an area of Mars' south pole called cryptic terrain because it once defied explanation. More pictures picked by AutumnLotus 10 months ago

During the three-and-a-half years that NASA has been on Mars, its rovers Spirit and Opportunity for the first time spotted a large-scale dust storm. The storm was so powerful that it has darkened the skies, putting NASA's rovers in danger they have never faced before. picked by maxriter 1 year ago

For the first time, satellite imagery reveals thick Martian salt deposits scattered across the planet's southern surface, which one planetary scientist claims could be sites of ancient life. The mats of sodium chloride — the same taste-enhancing mineral found on your kitchen table — serve as more evidence of Mars' watery past, and researchers think the briney pools that made them could... read full post picked by AutumnLotus 7 months ago

In the next few decades NASA plans to send a man (or several) to Mars. While they're still not sure of price (from $20bn to $450bn), it will take seven months to arrive in a ship powered by "an advanced cryogenic fuel propulsion system". picked by TheStep 11 months ago

The most productive and longest-lived mission to Mars has likely ended, NASA says. For nearly ten years, the orbiter mapped the surface of Mars, and it played a big role in selecting the landing sites for the successful Mars Rover missions. A problem with a solar panel joint led to its demise. picked by Fanatic 2 years ago

NASA has finally stated that the Mars Global Surveyor was dead due to a faulty solar panel. picked by groggie 2 years ago

Life on mars, captured on film by the mars rover!!!

Video version of AutumnLotus' post here for those of you who don't feel like reading. picked by ash0283 9 months ago

NASA has selected a Mars robotic mission that will provide information about the Red Planet's atmosphere, climate history and potential habitability in greater detail than ever before.

I posted this because it has MAVEN. picked by AutumnLotus 4 weeks ago

The Red Planet was too salty to sustain life for much of its history, according to the latest evidence gathered by rovers on the Martian surface. picked by mahler87 8 months ago

Ancient bacteria are able to survive nearly half a million years in harsh, frozen conditions, researchers said on Monday in a study that adds to arguments that permafrost environments on Mars could harbor life. picked by AutumnLotus 1 year ago

The longstanding mystery of how oceans once formed on Mars could be solved by fire and brimstone. Specifically, researchers now suggest that ancient volcanoes could have released brimstone — now more commonly known as sulfur — that warmed up the red planet enough for liquid water oceans in the early days of Mars. These findings might also shed insight on the young Earth, including the ... read full post picked by AutumnLotus 10 months ago

What it would be like to fly over Mars? Combining terrain data from the orbiting Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft with information about the robotic Spirit rover currently rolling across Mars has resulted in a digital movie that shows what a flight over the Columbia Hills might look like. picked by sandossu 5 months ago

Days before its tenth anniversary in Mars orbit, the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft ran into problems. They got a weak signal three days later, and nothing since. Plans are to take a photograph of it with another Mars Orbiter today or tomorrow. picked by Fanatic 2 years ago