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
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
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
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.
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.
“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.”
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