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  • Mission to Mars: what a student-designed, student-built camera can teach us about the red planet

Mars

Mission to Mars: what a student-designed, student-built camera can teach us about the red planet

Posted by Ed on May 1, 2024

Fully assembled and flight qualified VISIONS Flight 1 and Flight 2 instruments prior to packaging for shipping. Credit: APS/NAU

Not many people in the world can say that something they built is orbiting Mars—especially not college students. Soon, a cross-disciplinary team of about 35 NAU students—most studying planetary science, astronomy, mechanical engineering or electrical engineering—led by faculty members at NAU will be able to claim that accomplishment. The team’s VISIONS (VISible and Infrared ObservatioN System) camera is… Read more

Filed Under: Astronomy and Planetary Science

New Emirates Mars Mission observations hint at the origins of Mars’ mysterious moon

Posted by Ed on April 27, 2023

Emirates Mars Mission composite photo of Deimos and Mars.

The Emirates Mars Mission (EMM), the first interplanetary exploration undertaken by an Arab nation, has unveiled a series of groundbreaking observations of Mars’ smaller moon, Deimos. The observations, shared during a special session at the European Geosciences Union General Assembly (EGU23) in Vienna, used all three of the mission’s science instruments (EMUS, EMIRS and EXI) to reveal new details of Mars’ most mysterious moon and where it came… Read more

Filed Under: Astronomy and Planetary Science

NAU professor, students assisting in mission to Mars to learn about its 2 moons

Posted by Ed on April 19, 2023

It’s a project that could also improve life here on Earth.

“If you think about this project—it’s pretty ambitious,” said Dr. Christopher Edwards, associate professor in NAU’s department of astronomy and planetary science.

He’s over the moon about this opportunity.

“We’re going to send a spacecraft to orbit another planet, land on its moon, pick up samples and bring it back to Earth,” Edwards explained.

Read the article and see the video of the interview at FOX 10 Phoenix

Filed Under: Astronomy and Planetary Science

NASA selects NAU researcher for international mission to Martian moons

Posted by Ed on

Graphic of Mars Moon Exploration mission trajectory plan.

Christopher Edwards, an associate professor in the Department of Astronomy and Planetary Science, received a six-year, $650,000 grant for the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission awarded by NASA. This goal is to send an uncrewed spacecraft to Mars’ two moons, Phobos and Deimos, to gather information about them. It also will collect surface material from Phobos, a first-of-its-kind attempt.

Read the full story at The NAU Review.

Filed Under: Astronomy and Planetary Science

The Soil of Mars

Posted by Ed on January 24, 2023

Planetary scientists from Northern Arizona University are conducting tests on soil-moisture retention on volcanic dunes located near Sunset Crater, just 20 miles north of Flagstaff. The team hopes that the data they collect will help them understand how water is stored on Mars. NAU-TV captured the important work.

Filed Under: Astronomy and Planetary Science

What a martian meteorite can teach us about Earth’s origins

Posted by Author on Source on July 12, 2022

“This meteorite recorded the first stage of the evolution of Mars and, by extension, of all terrestrial planets, including the Earth,” said Valerie Payré, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Astronomy and Planetary Science. “As the Earth lost its old surface mainly due to plate tectonics, observing such settings in extremely ancient terrains on Mars is a rare window into the ancient Earth surface that we lost a long time ago.”

Read the full article Read more

Filed Under: Astronomy, Astronomy and Planetary Science

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