More water ice on Mars

More evidence of water and ice on Mars makes Mars direct enthusiasts eager. Planetary Science Institute scientists studied Mars Odyssey, Viking Orbiter, Mars Global Surveyor, and Mars Orbiter images to find the ice and evidence of water in the Arabia Terra region in the northern hemisphere, and the Hellas Basin in the southern hemisphere. NASA delenda est

Washington Post critiques Mars Lab

JPL wants to send nearly a ton of rover to Mars. The nuclear powered Mars Science Laboratory would be huge compared to all other roving platforms to date sent to Mars. Plus, NASA is using a whole new landing technology, and generally not building on the Spirittype rover technology. Sad.

Washington Post staff writer Joel Achenbach describes the new landing sequence as a spacecraft dropped by parachute followed by: "At 65 feet above the surface -- the descent slowed almost to a hover by retrorockets -- the spacecraft will lower the rover from its belly using cables. When the rover touches down, explosive charges will cut the cables, and the spacecraft will fly off and crash about 200 meters away. And the rover will send a signal to Earth saying it has landed safely. If history repeats itself, the JPL engineers will have turned purple by that point. Adam Steltzner, one of the inventors of the sky crane system, remembers being unable to breathe during one of the earlier rover landings." NASA delenda est

Mars axial tilt changed

Scientists at the Planetary Science Institute in Arizona say that their studies of water on Mars indicate a higher axial tilt within the last few million years, possibly as much as 60 degrees from its current tilt. NASA delenda est.

JPL drives Mars lander Spirit 12 inches

Jet Propulsion Lab scientists got Mars rover Spirit rolling again last week. Science Daily reports, from a JPL press release, "Spirit drove about 1 foot Saturday, during the 1,806th Martian day, or sol, of what was originally planned as a 90-day mission." NASA delenda est.

Alan Bean do the Moon for Mars

Alan Bean, one of the astronauts who had the privilege to visit the Moon about 40 years ago, says going back to the Moon should be about going on to Mars. Which does make one wonder, why not just go to Mars Direct? NASA delenda est.