The Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft (discussed in the November 8, 1996 Scout Report) reached Mars orbit on September 11, 1997 in preparation for mapping the planet. This site is highlighted by real time updates, flight status reports, telemetry information, and an annotated QuickTime movie, as well as several images of Mars taken from MGS. After orbit insertion, a period of "aerobraking,"...

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Jet Propulsion Laboratory currently provides over 40 movies and animations that depict the Mars Global Surveyor (discussed in the November 8, 1996 Scout Report) during the aerobraking phase of its flight. The MGS was launched in November 1996 to study the surface, atmosphere, and magnetic properties of Mars. Animations are available in QuickTime...

In an embarrassing setback to NASA, the Mars Climate Orbiter is believed lost. In the early hours of September 23, the orbiter fired its main engine to go in orbit around Mars and passed behind the planet, losing radio contact as planned. However, due to what was most likely a navigation error, the spacecraft did not resume contact and may have flown too close to the atmosphere and broken apart or...

Following the hugely successful Mars Pathfinder mission (described in the July 4, 1997 Scout Report), this latest journey to Mars is actually two separate missions, each focusing on the climate of the Red Planet. The first mission, the Mars Climate Orbiter, was launched on December 11. The second, launched on January 3, represents the first landing on the polar regions of Mars. The Mars Polar...

The rock that rocked the world is the subject of many new sites this week. Follow the debate about life on Mars by visiting the CNN special site devoted to the discovery. In addition to articles, audio, and video, this page provides links to many official and non-official sites about this discovery, Mars, and even meteorites in general (including Meteorite Central, which accepts advertisements for...

This NOVA website presents key questions that the NASA rovers are attempting to answer during their mission to Mars. Users can discover why liquid water is a necessity for life as we know it. By exploring the interactive modules, students can learn the anatomy of a rover and how a parachute is designed for the Mars Rover Mission. The site offers an hour-long movie about the Mars landscape and the...

As part of a series of design and performance summaries of several different NASA spacecraft, this 78-page report addresses the communications systems of the Mars Odyssey, which is orbiting the red planet. Beginning with an overview of Odyssey's mission objectives and phases, the report then delves into specifics of X-Band and UHF telecommunication. Odyssey is equipped with technology that allows...

This Passport to Knowledge website presents fun, educational materials on NASA's Mars Exploration Rovers (MER) mission. Users can find information on Mars, the MER mission, and the research team. The website features many hands-on activities designed for the home or school including Rocket Science 101 and Solar System Distance Activity. Students can find interactive puzzles, concentration games,...

Passport to Knowledge created this website to present the cutting edge research and new discoveries made possible by the Mars Exploration Rovers. Students can find general information and a history of the exploration of the Red Planet. The site features biographies and interviews with many of the exploration researchers. Educators can discover many fun, hands-on activities that can be added to...

Phoenix Mars Mission http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu/ Phoenix Mars Lander Spotted from Space http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/080527-phoenix-mars-update.html NASA: 'Extreme programming' controls Mars Lander robot http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9094138&intsrc=hm_list iTunesU adds Phoenix Mars Mission...