Between the Poles

Flowing water identified on Mars' surface

It is known that Mars has frozen water at its poles and water vapour in its atmosphere.  Today researchers associated with NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter have identified flowing water on Mars' surface.

Imagery of Mars' surface shows dark streaks that reappear periodically on slopes.  These streaks, which appear and grow in the downslope direction during warm seasons when temperatures reach about 250–300 K, are called recurring slope lineae (RSL).  By analyzing spectral data from the Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars instrument onboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter researchers have found evidence for hydrated salts at four separate locations on Mars' surface.  They have found that the hydrated salts occur during warm seasons when RSLs are most extensive.  This supports the hypothesis that the RSLs represent flowing briny water.  The salts in the water prevent it from freezing at temperatures of 250–300 degrees K.

Source: Spectral evidence for hydrated salts in recurring slope lineae on Mars, Lujendra Ojha, Mary Beth Wilhelm,    Scott L. Murchie, Alfred S. McEwen, James J. Wray, Jennifer Hanley, Marion Massé & Matt Chojnacki, Nature Geoscience(2015) doi:10.1038/ngeo2546, Published online 28 September 2015.

 

India's Mars Orbiter Mission probe ready for Mars orbit insertion

Late breaking: The engine burn was successful and ISRO reports that the Mars Orbiter spacecraft is now in orbit about Mars.

Wednesday Sep 24 India's Mangalyaan or Mars Orbiter Mission probe is scheduled to fire its main engine and small thrusters to slow itself down to insert the probe into an elliptical orbit about Mars. The probe was launched aboard a PSLV-C25 rocket from SDSC SHAR Sriharikota November 5, 2013.  There is a simulation video of the Mars Orbit Insertion maneuver.  A live webcast of the real event will be broadcast starting Wed 06:45 am IST, Tue 9:15 pm EDT.

The scientific objective of the mission is the remote sensing exploration of Mars surface features, morphology, mineralogy and Martian atmosphere using Indian-manufactured instruments.  One key goal is to try to detect methane in the Martian atmosphere, which could be an indicator of biological activity.