Martian Mileage Guide

Location	Viking 1	Viking 2	Mars Pathfinder	"Face"	Olympus Mons	"Inca City"	Mars 2	Mars 3	Mars 6	Mars Polar Lander	Deep Space 2 probes
Viking 1		4,205 mi	520 mi	1,385 mi	2,910 mi	3,870 mi	4,335 mi	4,430 mi	1,920 mi	4,595 mi	4,765 mi
Viking 2	6,725 km		4,290 mi	3,275 mi	2,920 mi	5,265 mi	4,135 mi	3,985 mi	5,695 mi	4,510 mi	4,355 mi
Mars Pathfinder	835 km	6,860 km		1,100 mi	3,405 mi	3,775 mi	3,875 mi	4,735 mi	1,635 mi	4,540 mi	4,680 mi
"Face"	2,215 km	5,275 km	1,770 km		3,720 mi	4,645 mi	3,890 mi	5,810 mi	2,465 mi	5,370 mi	5,425 mi
Olympus Mons	4,655 km	4,705 km	5,485 km	5,990 km		3,930 mi	5,625 mi	2,495 mi	4,205 mi	3,760 mi	3,850 mi
"Inca City"	6,195 km	8,420 km	6,040 km	7,430 km	6,285 km		1,822 mi	1,735 mi	2,200 mi	765 mi	905 mi
Mars 2	6,935 km	6,620 km	6,200 km	6,225 km	9,005 km	2,915 km		3,125 mi	2,539 mi	1,870 mi	1,780 mi
Mars 3	7,085 km	6,375 km	7,575 km	9,296 km	3,995 km	2,775 km	5,010 km		3,660 mi	1,285 mi	1,355 mi
Mars 6	3,070 km	9,110 km	2,615 km	3,945 km	6,725 km	3,520 km	4,060 km	5,860 km		2.960 mi	3,075 mi
Mars Polar Lander	7,350 km	7,215 km	7,265 km	8,590 km	6,015 km	1,225 km	2,995 km	2,055 km	4,730 km		185 mi
Deep Space 2 probes	7,620 km	6,970 km	7,490 km	8,680 km	6,155 km	1,450 km	2,845 km	2,165 km	4,920 km	295 km

Images from the Viking Landers

I found this link from the NASA website under the Viking Mission to Mars page. This link has some great images and information from the mission. The page is titled "The Martian Landscape".

http://history.nasa.gov/SP-425/cover.htm

Pebbles and Soild: 2020 Mission

Possible soil and pebble samples from Mars will be collected from NASA's next Mars rover. NASA is creating the groundwork of a sample return mission in 2020. They believe this will be the best possiblity of finding out if there really was life on Mars. Scientist belive that the life that could be found on Mars would be unique compared to any other place in the solar system. They are trying to find a new place to land other than where Opprotunity landed. They want to place that has clays, which may have been formed by water interacting with rocks.

Caves made by Volcanoes and Meteors

Meteor impacts and volcanoes have been thought to make caves under the surface of Mars. Orbiting spacecrafts have located lava tubes, like those near Earth's volcanoes. And with meteor impacts that melted the ice, caves may form around the impact zone. The caves offer protection for potential Martain Life by filtering soflar and cosmic radiation on the Martian surface. Cave researchers from New Mexico Institue of Technology say that evidence of life may be found near or in these caves.

Dust storm

This website has some great pictures and video of springtime dust storms on Mars.

Two Hubble telescope images of Mars, taken about a month apart, reveal a state-sized dust storm churning near the edge of the northern polar cap. The polar storm is probably a consequence of large temperature differences between the polar ice and the dark regions to the south, which are heated by the springtime sun.

http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/1996/34

Martian Clouds

Although not as pronounced as on Earth clouds are common features on Mars. The Martian atmosphere has only a trace of water vapor; however, the temperature and pressure is such that the atmosphere is usually close to saturation and produces clouds. Even from Earth based telescopes, clouds have been observed by transient brightening on the surface of Mars. Numerous cloud patterns have been seen from the Marineer and Viking spacecraft and have been classified into various categories.

Check out the website for pictures!

http://www.solarviews.com/eng/marscld.htm

Life from Mars theory

There has been a theory if life from Mars could have arrived on Earth. A rock attached to an unmanned Russian craft was sent to space to find if meterorites could carry primitive life from one planet to another. The slab of rock was sent to Sandwick was sent to Vienna to be sculpted into the right shape. It was the size of a bowler hat and attached to the side of the European Space Agency's Foton M3 mission launched last month. The effect of the heat upon re-entry of the rock was looked into by Professor John Parnell. He concluded that primitive life would not be able to surivive a meteroite of small size because of the heat. It may be able to surve inside the center of a much larger one. But any bigger than one measuring tens of centimeters would vaporize when it hit the ground.

Picture of Ice on Mars

Pictures reveal a wide range of ice feautures in certain latitudes. This is similar to earth, which means that Mars has a latitude-dependent climates. They are obvious at both poles of Mars. When you get closer to the equator this is evidence of water ice that has shaped the surface in many different ways. They have made many discoveries of a icy frost on the the surface. This is very simliar to the Earth's Artic and Antartic poles. Much of the ice that once covered the planet has made its ways to the poles. Craters have been filled with glacial decris and small valleys as well. This may be an indicator that a glacier once filled and widened the canyon.

Medical Revolution Needed for Mars Mission

Scientists bring to the spot light, medical attention in Mars. What if an astronaut were to do a mission involving activity on Mars and during the mission he/she becomes ill or breaks a bone, what is the likelihood of the astronaut healing from this wound while in microgravity. As a result of this questioning, NASA has teamed up with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) as a means to discover ways to care for astronauts that will be embarking on this future 4-5 year journey to Mars. Researchers also believe that findings from such investigations will be highly applicable to medicine on earth. A scientist stated: "We're bringing medicine out of the hospital. It's time to think in dramatic ways and imagine our future capabilities... The need here is pretty clear."
http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/generalscience/mars_medical_000414.html

Scientists Unsure if Methane at Mars Points to Biology or Geology

Three research teams have combined forces to find traces of methane on Mars, and at last they have found it. This finding has enabled several new theories to be unfolded for consideration as to how the methane got there. The two most likely theories as to how methane became present on Mars are: volcanic activity or meteorites landing on Mars containing methane. However, several theorists are pushing for the theory that the methane was produced by microbial life. The methane detected were said to have been detected by ground based telescopes by NASA scientist Michael Mumma and Catholic University of America researcher Vladimir Krasnopolosky. They believe that because methane has a short half life in Mars atmosphere, about 300 years, the methane had to be some how replenished. The likely answer to this speculation is methane seeping through the crust caused by prior volcanic activity.
http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/mars_methane_040329.html

NeoGenesis: How Scientists Are Creating Alternate Life Forms

Scientists are attempting to produce new life forms. They plan to carry this out by providing genetic material with a different than earthly building block in their cellular structures. This process of producing new life is called neogenesis. Scientists believe that by performing neogenesis, it will allow them to understand how evolution occurred in terrestrial animals, and how life may have formed on other planets. The building blocks these scientists are focusing on are the twenty amino acids highly found in animals. As an attempt to produce neogenesis, they plan to induce animals use an amino acid that is foreign to the animal and determine what effect it will have on protein formation, and activity. As a result of this investigation, scientists also plan to use the results as a means to discriminate between DNA found on Mars from DNA found on Earth.
http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/generalscience/neogenesis_scitues_010501-1.html

Prototype Mars Base to Rise on Arctic Island

The International Mars Society is has approved on building a prototype Mars environment on Devon Island (Canadian arctic). The project has funds of up to $250,000, and parts of it are planned to be used towards building dome shaped structure. The dome is planned to have an eight meter diameter, allowing room for four to six astronauts during a laboratory workshop. Scientists say that the purpose to working in the arctic is to get used to performing science in extreme environments. However, due to congress not providing any sign of approval to sending humans to other planets, prototype experiments is as close as astronauts will get to Mars, until further notice is provided.
http://www.space.com/news/mars_base_818.html

Life is Sweet: Sugar-Packing Asteroids May Have Seeded Life on Earth

Meteorites containing sugar like molecules have been found on earth, indicating signs of the origin of life for our solar system. According to this article, the meteorite contained a significant amount of these sugar like molecules, indicating that life started in space billions of years ago. They also state that the earth billions of years ago, was dry and harsh, hence, reducing the chance of observing water and organic compounds enrich life on earth. However, although arguments have been made to support that life originated from space, other scientists speculate that perhaps earth contaminated those asteroids found in our solar system. One example of such a controversial meteorite is ALH84001, a meteorite that was found in Antarctica, and remained intact since it had landed. http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/planetearth/meteor_sugar_011219.html

Hawaii Reveals Steamy Martian Underground

The surface of Mars is completely hostile to life as we know it. Martian deserts are blasted by radiation from the sun and space. The air is so thin, cold, and dry, if liquid water were present on the surface, it would freeze and boil at the same time. But there is evidence, like vast, dried up riverbeds, that Mars once was a warm and wet world that could have supported life. Are the best times over, at least for life, on Mars?
New research raises the possibility that Mars could awaken from within -- three large Martian volcanoes may only be dormant, not extinct. Volcanic eruptions release lots of greenhouse gasses, like carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere. If the eruptions are not complete, and future eruptions are large enough, they could warm the Martian climate from its present extremely cold and dry state.http://www.marstoday.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=23818

Finding a Landing Place

Today members from the Mars science community met to decide landing spots for the Mars Science Laboratoy this will be sent to Mars in 2009. They do this by looking at over 125 pictures that the Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars has sent back to them. One of the objectives for the CRISM was to find and investigate areas that were wet long enough to leave minerals behind. This picture taking part of the Reconnaissance Orbiter has the capability to map spectral variations of over 544 colors. It has mapped over half the planet in low-resolution mode since November 2006. It has also taken 2,500 hihg-resolution oberservations and almost 3,000 atmopheric observations.

The Maunder Crater Photos

At 50 degrees South and 2 degrees East, the Maunder crater sits on Mars. The High Resolution Stereo Camera on the ESA Mars Express Orbiter has taken pictures of the region on Mars. It was named after astronomer Edward Maunder. It is nearly 900 meters in depth and 90 kiometers in diameter, but is not the largest impact craters on Mars presently. It used to much deeper, but has been filled over the years since its orignial discovery.

Water Under the Surface

Work done by University of Guelph researchers have found evidence for large reservoirs of water on the Martian surface. The water they found is not in liquid form, but rather a chemically bound white layer of mineral salts. It was found under the planet's red surface only a penny thick. It is made up of as much as 18% of water by weight as well as iron and sulphur. Earth has water that is often part of minerals that contain sulphates. It was found not only in the Columbia Hills that the rover has been exploring but it was a common thing in the area.

It was left from surface water pools that evaporated. If there is a possibility of taking the water out of the surface, it would help the problem of colonizing Mars. There will be a Science Lab sent to Mars in three years to confirm this existance of water.

When the Spirit's wheels locked up in the surface of the planet, it had sent up this while underlying layer. It has since then been found to contain water.

Landing sites from Orbiter

This article brings to light the 26 terabytles of information that has been surpassed in collecting data from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. The High Resolution Imaging Science Experiemtna dn the Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer have been taking in most of the data. The 143 images that have been release share features as small as a desk on the surface of Mars. This is important so possible landing spots can be found for furture mission in 2009.

The spectrometer has found clay minerals that are hydrated that may lead to some information about life on Mars.

There exsist about 30 potential landing spots for the mission in 2009. Out of those places they need to decide which would be the the best to determine if there was any signs of life. Although the pictures were not taken in color the is computer software that has color fliters to help make the photographs in color.

Greenhouse Design Live Webchats

When a lunar base is eventually built, plants will be an important source for food, water, oxygen, and to recycle waste. Three times this month, NASA "expert space farmers" will be holding live web-chats to collaborate towards an effective lunar greenhouse model. The chats between NASA experts and K-12 students/teachers is a jumping off point for a contest to design the best greenhouse. Participants even get their own packet of basil seeds that flew in space on the STS-118 shuttle mission. Groups will design, create, and test their designs using the basil seeds. I'm not sure that there is a prize awarded to the best design, but having the project you created used on the lunar base is pretty cool.

Jupiter's Deadly Radiation Could Power Life On Europa

One of Jupiter's moons, Europa, has an icy terrain that is suspected to have liquid water underneath the ice. Considering these conditions, scientists believe that high levels of radiation surrounding Jupiter could be enough to cause chemical reactions to harbor life on Europa. Scientists used the analogy that starting life is like starting your Chevy, you need fuel and a little bit of oxidant. Scientists have also agreed that Europa is the likeliest object in our solar system to harbor life on it. However, when they state "life" they don't mean gigantic life forms, but rather little critters underneath the icy surface. The significance to Europa is that it is about the size as planet Earth's moon, however, it has twice the potential volume of water as Earth does, which signifies a large chance of life on Europa. Researchers say that the only way to really know whether there is life on Europa or not, is by going there and taking samples.
http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/solarsystem/europa_life_000126.html

PBS Documentary to Probe Life Among the Stars

This article speaks of a documentary "Life Beyond Earth." The documentary is being published by PBS, will be relating the abundance of microbial life to the possibility of life in space. The writer of the film, Ferris, has written 10 books pertaining to astronomy. Ferris states: "We have a real prospect of answering within the lifetimes of people alive today the age-old question, 'Are we alone?'" He addresses this question in the first half of his two hour long film by looking into origin of life on our own planet and then connecting it to possible life elsewhere in space. The second half of his film is about whether there is any chance of space communication occurring. He primarily focuses communication around the SETI project ran by Frank Drake.
http://www.space.com/sciencefiction/ferris_pbs_991106.html

Germs from Outer Space! Researchers Say Flu Bugs Rain Down from Beyond

Sir Fred Hoyle and Chandra Wickramasinghe of the University of Wales at Cardiff believe that flu pandemics come from the sky. They have published data in the Indian journal Current Science, correlating sunspot activity with past flu pandemics. Solar activity follows an 11 year cycle, and they believe with a solar cycle nearing, large scale flu pandemics will be accompanying such solar activity. More specifically they believe that the viruses are in earth's orbit hiding within space dust. Once the gravity becomes strong enough, the dust particles containing viruses descends onto the surface of the earth due to: "'The intense solar activity at sunspot maximum that causes bright displays of aurora also has the effect of driving viral particles or their triggers rapidly to ground level,' the researchers say."
http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/planetearth/flu_in_space_000121.html

New study reveals that Venus, not Mars had conditions suitable for life

A new study shows evidence that Venus and not Mars is the most likely planet in the solar system to have also developed life. New computer models show that Venus might have had its oceans for a billion years after it formed. Previously, similar models showed that it's oceans heated up and evaporated within Venus' first 600 millions, a significantly shorter period of time. These extra 400 million years are especially important because in most of the first 600 million years of existence, Venus was under heavy bombardment of asteroids which would have made life very unlikely. However, in these later years, asteroid bombardment had tapered off, making life much more likely.

If samples can be collected from the surface then scientists might find rocks that formed when the planet was wet. This could help them to definitively determine how long ago the planet dried out.

Ice at the Southern Pole

This article discusses new measurements taken at the Southern Polar region on Mars that indicate the presence of extensive frozen water. Mapping the thickness of the ice, NASA and the Italian Space Agency claim that enough frozen water resides in the polar region to cover the whole planet in a liquid layer 36 feet deep! The ice in some areas is as deep as 2.3 miles below the surface. The measurements were taken with the Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionospheric Sounding (MARSIS), which provides more accurate data than has been available in the past. The amount of detail and information provided by MARSIS allow scientists to better understand the surface and subsurface composition of Mars.
The vast majority of known water on modern Mars is located at the poles, though the planet appears to have been shaped by water and wet conditions in times past. This new radar will help us better understand the cycle of water on Mars, and ultimately aid the search for life on Mars.

Pushing the Technology of the Spacesuit

This article talks about NASA’s pending search for new tailor’s to construct spacesuits to be worn by astronauts in the future on missions to the moon. NASA is looking for more flexible and durable suits to allow less constrained movement in space. A contract for the new tailor will be awarded in June 2008. NASA requires more multi-purpose suits for their astronauts by the 2015 mission to the international space station and an additional mission to the moon by 2020. Spacesuits must be constructed to protect crew from cabin leaks and allow astronauts to perform unplanned spacewalks. The suits must also be rugged and versatile to survive the weightless flight to the moon and multiple excursions. NASA stresses the importance of lightweight and comfortable suits which are easy to put on and off.
Currently NASA has supplies for 12 ensambles of its current model of spacesuit, the Extravehicular Mobility Unit, EMU. These spacesuits contain a hard shell for the upper torso, a helmet, mix-and-match arm, leg, and glove units, which are constructed to fit individual needs of the astronauts. These suits were designed only for short use in orbit and will not be durable enough to accommodate astronauts on lunar missions.
It is beneficial that NASA is attempting to develop the technology of spacesuits for their astronauts. A mission to Mars will require spacesuits much more advanced and durable than the current EMUs. Improving the technology will make the possibility for a manned mission to Mars much more likely.

Rare Molecule Discovery Announced

After 10 months of keeping the secret, US and European scientists let the eagerly awaiting public know that they found a rare molecule on Venus like the one they found on Mars previously. The molecule was identified as a carbon dioxide isotope that has 10 neutrons instead of 8. The presence of this molecule may effect the greenhouse mechanisms on these planets.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/upi/index.php?feed=Science&article=UPI-1-20071010-14300200-bc-us-molecule.xml

Winter Homes for Rovers

Martian winter is coming and the Spriti rover is looking towards another chilly winter. In order to endure this winter the crew is trying to find a spot to stick it out in. This winter will last from March 2008 till October 2008. Unlike the earth Mars seasons last longer because the planet takes twice as long to circle the sun; around 697 Earth days.

When the sun gets low in the sky the solar powered robots take a hit towards energy to move about the planet. And there are also fewer gust of wind to move the dust that settle ontop of the solar planels.

The place to put these robots are on a broad, north-facing slope so that they can gather sunlight.

If the robot gets stuck the crew is able to do some science that they are not normally able ot do do because they are in a rush everywhere else.

When they got stuck this last winter they were able to study a palm sized area of Martian soil. Probably the best soil ever studied in the enitre solar system

MRO provides insights about Martian Water

This article highlights the quest of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), which is currently examining several geological features to search for clues in understanding the role water has played throughout Martian history.
The search included two gullies that were explored to inspect material deposited within the past 8 years, the polar ice layers, and signs of water release as a result of large impacts in distant Martian history. The deposited material in the gullies was determined not to be the result of liquid water flow, but dry landslides. These findings will be published in the next issue of the journal Science. It had been previously thought that the deposits in the gullies could indicate the presence of liquid water on Mars in present time. The new evidence provided by MRO has proved this is most likely not the case.
Other gullies on Mars provide more hope. Strong evidence of liquid water flow on Mars in recent times (millions of years) indicates cyclical climate change. Similar to Earth, Mars experiences periodic flux within the climate due to the tilt and orbit of the planet. In some gullies, there are shallow slopes that are not steep enough to create dry landslides. Images from the cameras of MRO show strong evidence of liquid water flow.
Landscapes with braided channels and delta-like deposits have also been identified with the cameras of MRO. This highlights the possibility that Mars once had a wet climate on a continual basis at one point. There is close association between these features and impact craters. This supports the hypothesis that the presence of water on Mars is episodic. These drainage networks could be the result of material melted by the impact of a large object into an ice-rich Martian crust.
The search for water continues…

Coors looks into Brewing in Space

Coors Brewing Company is a titan in the alcoholic beverage industry and has sponsored some investigations into putting their product in space and actually producing the product in space. Kirsten Sterrett worked at the Coors Brewing Company and had an undergraduate degree in aerospace engineering, when she began interest in the performance of yeast in fermentation fare in orbital free fall. If fermentation is more efficient in outer space this would mean a possible decrease in production cost. Increased fermentation efficiency would also make a stronger beer in the in space, compared to the time it would take to make a beer of the same alcohol content on Earth. The ferementation process requires the absence of oxygen, which is one of the features of outer space.
In the experiment Sterett sent a wort, the pre-fermentation mixture of water, barely, hops, and yeast, in a Fluid Processing Apparatus to space. The space-beer had some interesting properties when compared to beer that was brewed on Earth. The space-beer had a lower cell count than the beer brewed on the ground, and also had a lower percentage of live cells. There was also a greater amount of a certain protein produced by yeast in the space beer. Sterett had no explanation for these differences, but in the end there is an increase in efficiency of the fermentation process. The experiment produced only a very small amount of beer, which my raise questions for the production of alcohol on a larger scale.

Rehearsing Landing on Mars

This article presents the scientists from the University of Arizona's Pheonic Mars Lander mission starting to prepart for surface science operations. The lander is still 300 million miles away from its target. They will perform realistic simulated work of what will take place when the lander reaches Mars. There are about 125 researchers all preparing for the operations that will take place. They have a full-scale model of the Lander in the simulated Martian landscape, where they will be performing tests. They will only have 5 Martian days when the lander reaches Mars in May of 2008.

This lander will be looking for evidence of water and other elements of potential life. Ice samples will be heated up and soild will be collected. They want to be proficient in the tasks that need to be done in the short time they have to do it when they eventually land.

Crystal in Canada might grow on Mars.

This article presents a possible chunk of crystal found in Ottawa that may be found on Mars. Robert Peterson a professor from Queen's University found this crystal known as meridianiite in the Okanagan Valley with some high school students. He did experiments in his garage this past winter because the meridianiite only exist in freezing temperatures. NASA wants to take a look at it because this rare mineral may be found on Mars and possibly on some moons of Jupiter.

A few years ago a Mars rover spun its tires in some white dust. The analysis found it to be rich in magnesium and sulfur. In Canada you can find this material in the waste of where people have mined before and also acidic ponds.

Mars Gullies Could Harbor Martian Biology

This article talks about new possible evidence of moving water on Mars. Newly cut gullies have appeared recently on the surface of Mars that seem to have been formed by flowing water. The article also goes on to talk about how many environments on Earth life has been discovered in, including very extreme ones. Could Mars have flowing water somewhere on its surface? The environment seems to be changing rapidly on the surface of Mars.

Possible Caves on Mars

This article has stated that scientist have reported 7 potential caves on a Martian volcano's slopes. They are not certain whether they are deep vertical shafts or caverns under Mars' surface. What may seem like a perfect place to become a habitat for life is in an extreme altitude that human life and also microbial life could not survive. By use of the Odyssey's infrared cameras to check the temperature of the circle openings the crew said that they are typical of cave openings. They might be from the undergound stresses around the volcano.

MER

The Mars Exploration Rover (MER) mission has sent back groundbreaking information about the history of Mars. The most important result is the discovery of salt deposits that indicate that some regions of the planet were once "drenched" in water.

See article at http://www.astrobio.net/news/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=1249

Mars Attacks? Protecting Earth From Off-World Infections

This article starts with the acknowledgement that there are several virulent bacteria on this earth, such as mad cow disease. Scientists are concerned that with space travel, earth may contaminate life on Mars along with the possibility that Mars as well may contaminate earth, a term known as "back contamination". This article then follows up with the emphasis of how hard it is to isolate a disease once it is on earth, referencing back to mad cow disease and its origins: Great Britain.
http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/missions/mars_contamination_010404.html

Controversy Continues: Mars Meteorite Clings to Life - Or Does It?

NASA proposes that ALH84001, a three billion year old potato shaped meteorite has fossilized proof of life once being on mars. ALH 84001 originally landed in Antarctica and was founded around 1996. The debate is said to revolve around the nano size magnitites that indicates Mar's signature, along with the carbonate globules which signifies life existing within the meteorite. Due to the unlikely-hood of being able to transport magnetite into this meteorite without first being in Mars, scientists have confirmed that the meteorite had come from mars. However, further tests are being performed to further support that the meteorite had come from mars. http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/solarsystem/mars_meteorite_020320.html

Rethinking Viking: The Life on Mars Debate Rages On

Former Viking scientist, Gilbert Levin, believes that Viking voyager had already found microbial life on Martian soil. Levin's technique for proving this was by taking Martian soil placing it in a nutrition solution with Carbon 14, a radioactive isotope of Carbon 12. As a result, if there are any living organisms in the soil, then the organisms will ingest the Carbon 14, and they will be visible. However, NASA counters Levin claim, by stating that no results were found and that the landing site of Viking was a hot desert like terrain, hence, making unlikely to find life in such a location. The debate revolves around whether the data collected should be voided or is to be considered viable information to prove that there is life on mars.
http://www.space.com/news/spacehistory/rethinking_viking_010720-2.html

Mars Melt Hints at Solar, Not Human, Cause for Warming, Scientist Says

This is an article by National Geographic that talks about global warming that is occuring on Earth, and apparently on Mars as well. One scientist thinks that it is a natural phenomenon that occurs on its own, regardless of human contribution. He thinks this because apparently Mars has been experiencing a melting of the ice caps as well. Read it over. See what you think.

Mars Links Page

This is not a genuine article, but it is a web site that has a whole lot of Mars links on it that will tell the reader a lot about various Mars expeditions, those already accomplished, those underway now, and those planned for the future.

The Hunt for TB on Mars

This article has stated that Britain has created a small kit to be sent to Mars to detect the TB bacteria. The kit is a size of a shoebox to cut down on the weight of it. There is hope that the kit will help detect life elsewhere in the solar system. This might help also detect TB in a human patent. Right now there is only a 50% chance of figuring out if a patent has TB. It might take up to 10 doctors visits for a person to be diagnosed with TB and before then they can still be highly contagious.

Russia send gerbils into space

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6996671.stm

Russian scientists have sent 10 gerbils in space using a Soyuz rocket. The gerbils will remain in space for 12 days while scientists study the effects of space travel on rodents. All 10 of the rodents will be filmed during their flight. Scientist believe gerbils one of the best suited rodents for space travel because they can live without liquid for a month due to their ability to produce very little waste.  The gerbils will be kept in specail cages with cereal and nuts.

What would you eat on Mars?

This article addresses possible food menus for astronauts when eating on Mars. NASA says that crops could be harvested and vegetarian meals could be made on futrue trip to Mars. They simulated 100 days on Mars on the Flashline Mars Artic Research Station during the summer of 2007. They had food that would have from Mars and other rations that were needed to survive and also an indoor garden.

The Mars Gravity Biosatellite Program

This website gives information on the Mars Gravity Bio-satellite program. This is just the cover page of sorts. If one follows the Faq link and the mission link you get more information. I could not find a date on this web site so the mission has either already occurred or is about to. Either way, it is interesting. For the purposes of describing the mission, I am going to assume that it hasn't happened yet. The mission was designed by students and involves the study of how lack of gravity affects muscle mass, bone density, and overall health with mice being the study animal. A satellite containing 15 mice living in individual cells will be launched into a low Earth orbit at a spin speed that should make the gravity similar to that on Mars. The idea is to see how the low gravity affects the mice. The mission lasts for 5 weeks and the mice will be monitored by video feed. I guess they put a lot of thought into how to keep the mice comfortable and in a clean environment for those five weeks. You should take a look at this site. It is really interesting.

Are Manned Missions Essential to the Exploration of Mars?

An article posted by the AFP yesterday discussed how the United States has pledged to send astronauts to the red planet by 2020. However, many scientists agree that this is an unnecessary risk that was essential to the past, not the future. Aerospace technology has advanced tremendously since NASA sent men to the moon in the past. Robots and satellites can do just as good of a job, without the potential for stranding humans millions of miles away from Earth. "Apollo gave us a false sense of security, it showed us what could be done," commented Doug Millard, space curator of the Science Museum in London. "But all we have managed to do since then -- no matter how magnificent it might be -- is to send humans round and round in orbit around Earth." However, the head of NASA Michael Griffin believes the contrary to be true: "We are looking at the moon and Mars to build a civilisation for tomorrow and after that." Steve Squyres, astronomy professor from Cornell University and principal investigator of the Mars Exploration Rover Mission agrees with Griffin, "We are many decades from robots that can match humans, even in the lab, and laboratory robotics is about 20 years ahead of space robotics." Griffin predicts without a shadow of a doubt that there will be human footprints on Mars by 2037. However, Millard says that he will be surprised if it happens this century. Millard cites 3 main reasons for our inability to put man on Mars.

1. How do we protect astronauts from many hazards associated with long-term space travel?
2. How will we find the funding to subsidize a trip like this?
3. How do we land a big Mars lander when the atmosphere is very different from ours?

Millard believes we should be using space to monitor Earth and its climate changes. Investing more in satellites such as Envisat, the largest Earth observation spacecraft ever built, will help us monitor Earth's atmosphere, oceans and ice caps.