Mars+the+Red+Planet

MARS THE RED PLANET



*Physical Characteristics* and *Geology*
 * =//Named after the Roman god of war//=


 * =//Mars is about half the size of the Earth//=
 * =//Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System//[[image:VSS00105.jpg]]=
 * =//It has an orbital period equal to 687 earth days and a rotational period equal to slightly more than 24 hrs.//=
 * =//The red color comes from various oxides of iron (hematite mostly) in very, very fine particles, and trace amounts of other elements including titanium, chlorine and sulfur//=
 * =//Mars has two moons, __Phobos__ ( // Fear ) and //__Deimos__ (// Terror ) //both discovered in 1877 by Asaph Hall.//=


 * =//**Olympus Mons - Highest Mountain in Solar System**//=

==


 * =//It is a fact that Mount Everest is the highest planet on Earth, but the highest mountain in the solar system lies on Mars and its named as Olympus Mons. It is three times higher than our own mount Everest and extends up to 26 kms from the base! Everest seems puny if you consider the planetary mountains by solar system standards.//=

*The Goals of Mars Exploration*
 * =//**Mariner 4** was the fourth in a series of spacecrafts, launched in 1964, performed the first successful flyby of the planet Mars//[[image:mariner04.gif width="417" height="273"]]=
 * =//Findings of Mariner 4://=

// 1. Mars has H2O! //
=//**The most interesting fact about Mars is that it contains water in the form of solidified ice in its polar regions. When the NASA orbiter scanned the surface of Mars, evidence of freely flowing water, which existed once upon a time, was found. As of now, it is all locked up in the polar caps!**//=

=// 2. [|*Life on Mars*] is the scientific investigation on the possibility of life on the planet Mars.//=

=//Why no sign of life has been found on Mars?//= =//a) Because Mars has no Magnetic field to repel solar radiations and atmospheric objects that hit its surface.//= =//b) Its surface atmosphere has over 95% carbon dioxide, which leaves little chance for survival or existence of life there.//=

*Current Missions*
 * =//In 2001 NASA launched the successful [|Mars Odyssey] orbiter, which was in orbit until September 2010.//=


 * =//in 2003, NASA launched the twin [|Mars Exploration Rovers] named Spirit (MER-A) and Opportunity (MER-B). Both missions landed successfully in January 2004 and have met or exceeded all their targets.//=


 * =//In February 2009// The Dawn spacecraft //flew by Mars for a gravity assist on its way to investigate Vesta and then Ceres( Two Small Planet Beside of Mars)//=

*Future Missions* > > = ﻿ ﻿ = > > =//It is possible for human beings on Earth to explore Mars because of the location of Mars in our solar system. The finding of water in Mars means the possibility of existence of life on Mars. Scientists need further exploration of the physical characteristics, geology and living organisms on Mars.//= > > > =media type="youtube" key="iY5TWVWeTrA?version=3" height="390" width="640"= >
 * = Phoenix //will be followed by the [|Mars Science Laboratory] in 2011, a bigger, faster (90 m/h), and smarter version of the Mars Exploration Rovers[[image:Mars_Science_Laboratory_drawing.jpg width="502" height="330"]]//=