- Industry: Astronomy
- Number of terms: 6727
- Number of blossaries: 0
- Company Profile:
Planetary Science Research Discoveries (PSRD) is an educational site sharing the latest research by NASA-sponsored scientists on meteorites, asteroids, planets, moons, and other materials in our Solar System. The website is supported by the Cosmochemistry Program of NASA's Science Mission ...
Твърда скала или минерални фрагменти транспортирани и депозирани от вятъра, водата, тежестта или лед; утаяват чрез химични реакции; или секретират от организми; натрупана като слоеве в насипно състояние, неконсолидираният форма.
Industry:Astronomy
Of the 24,000+ meteorites collected on Earth, only 30+ have been identified as meteorites from Mars. They are generally divided into three groups (all with relatively young ages slightly over 1 billion years old). The groups are the Shergottites, Nakhlites, and Chassignites. A Martian meteorite that does not fall into one of these groups is ALH 84001, a cumulate rock composed mostly of orthopyroxene, which is much older than all the others with an age of 4. 5 billion years. A NASA-sponsored research team reported in 1996 that ALH 84001 may contain evidence of past primitive life on Mars--an idea that remains a topic of great debate and continued investigation. (See Mars Meteorites compiled by Ron Baalke from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. )
Industry:Astronomy
A NASA robotic lander (named Curiosity) designed to determine the habitability of Mars. MSL is scheduled to launch in 2011 as part of NASA's long-term Mars Exploration Program. MSL science goals are to determine whether Mars ever had an environment capable of supporting microbial life, to characterize the geology and climate of Mars, and to prepare for human exploration. MSL science instruments include three cameras, four spectrometers, two radiation detectors, and an environmental sensor. MSL homepage.
Industry:Astronomy
The second in NASA's Discovery program of low-cost spacecraft with highly focused science goals, Mars Pathfinder landed successfully on Mars on July 4, 1997. Images, science results, and engineering data were released on the World Wide Web throughout, and beyond, the primary mission dates (July 4 - August 3, 1997. ) The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA, developed and managed the Mars Pathfinder mission for NASA's Office of Space Science, Washington, D. C. JPL is a division of the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).
Industry:Astronomy
Camera system onboard the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft. MOC consists of three cameras: A narrow angle system that provides grayscale high resolution views of the planet's surface (typically, 1. 5 to 12 meters/pixel), and red and blue wide angle cameras. Malin Space Science Systems.
Industry:Astronomy
U. S. Mission launched in 1996 to orbit Mars. Main instruments include cameras (MOC), a laser altimeter (MOLA), thermal emission spectrometer ( TES), and magnetometer. During the primary mission (through January 2001), the spacecraft circled the planet once every 118 minutes at an average altitude of 378 kilometers (235 miles). Four extended mission phases began February 1, 2001 and continued to November 2006 when the orbiter stopped communicating with Earth (due to solar panel problems). Mars Global Surveyor website.
Industry:Astronomy
U. S. Orbital mission to Mars, part of NASA's Mars Exploration Program, launched in April, 2001 and arrived at Mars in October, 2001. The mission's goals are to map chemical elements and minerals, look for water, and analyze the low-orbit radiation environment using three primary instruments: Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS), Gamma Ray Spectrometer (GRS), and Mars Radiation Environment Experiment (MARIE). During and after its science mission, the Odyssey orbiter will also support other missions in the Mars Exploration program. It is providing communications relay for U. S. And international landers, including the Mars Exploration Rovers launched in June and July, 2003. 2001 Mars Odyssey website.
Industry:Astronomy
The European Space Agency's first spacecraft to Mars, Mars Express launched in June 2003. The mission objectives are to search for subsurface water from orbit with a set of seven remote sensing instruments. The lander, Beagle 2, was released from the orbiter six days before Mars Express went into orbit around Mars, however, no signal was received from it despite repeated attempts at communication from a variety of spacecraft and Earth-based telescopes. Beagle 2 was declared lost on February 2004. The orbiter is operational and is expected to continue through 2014. Mars Express website.
Industry:Astronomy
U. S. Missions to Mars with twin rovers equipped with tools to study a diverse collection of rocks and soils that may hold clues to past water activity on Mars. MER-A, named "Spirit," launched on June 10, 2003 for a seven-month journey to a landing site in Gusev Crater and MER-B, named "Opportunity," launched on July 7, 2003 toward a landing site in Terra Meridiani.
Industry:Astronomy
The geologic history of Earth's Moon has been divided into five broad time periods, or systems. From oldest to youngest, these are pre-Nectarian, Nectarian, Imbrian, Eratosthenian, and Copernican. These systems are defined by the number of impact craters on the ground surface (more craters = older surface) correlated to the absolute ages determined for the lunar rock samples returned to Earth by the U. S. Apollo missions and unpiloted Soviet Luna missions. The Imbrian system extends from 3. 85 billion to 3. 2 billion years ago.
Industry:Astronomy
