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Collection:
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NASA Image eXchange Collection
Collection
NASA Image eXchange Collection
Collection
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Title:
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NASA Selects Mars Exploration Program Rover for 2003 Mission
Title
NASA Selects Mars Exploration Program Rover for 2003 Mission
Title
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Description:
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In 2003, NASA plans to launch a relative of the now-famous 1997 Mars Pathfinder rover. Using drop, bounce and roll technology, this larger cousin is expected to reach the surface of the red planet in January 2004 and begin the longest journey of scientific exploration ever undertaken across the surface of that alien world. The rover will weigh about nearly 150 kilograms (about 300 pounds) and has a range of up to about 100 meters (110 yards) per sol, or Martian day. Surface operations will last for at least 90 sols, extending to late April 2004, but could continue longer, depending on the health of the rover. One aspect of the Mars rover's mission is to determine history of climate and water at a site or sites on Mars where conditions may once have been warmer and wetter and thus potentially favorable to life as we know it here on Earth. The exact landing site has not yet been chosen, but is likely to be a location such as a former lakebed or channel deposit -- a place where scientists believe there was once water. A site will be selected on the basis of intensive study of orbital data collected by the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft, as well as the Mars 2001 orbiter and other missions.
Description
In 2003, NASA plans to launch a relative of the now-famous 1997 Mars Pathfinder rover. Using drop, bounce and roll technology, this larger cousin is expected to reach the surface of the red planet in January 2004 and begin the longest journey of scientific exploration ever undertaken across the surface of that alien world. The rover will weigh about nearly 150 kilograms (about 300 pounds) and has a range of up to about 100 meters (110 yards) per sol, or Martian day. Surface operations will last for at least 90 sols, extending to late April 2004, but could continue longer, depending on the health of the rover. One aspect of the Mars rover's mission is to determine history of climate and water at a site or sites on Mars where conditions may once have been warmer and wetter and thus potentially favorable to life as we know it here on Earth. The exact landing site has not yet been chosen, but is likely to be a location such as a former lakebed or channel deposit -- a place where scientists believe there was once water. A site will be selected on the basis of intensive study of orbital data collected by the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft, as well as the Mars 2001 orbiter and other missions.
Description
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Date:
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07.27.2000
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Credit:
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facet_what:
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Earth
facet_what
Earth
facet_what
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facet_what:
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Mars
facet_what
Mars
facet_what
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facet_what:
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Mars Pathfinder
facet_what
Mars Pathfinder
facet_what
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facet_what:
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Surveyor
facet_what
Surveyor
facet_what
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facet_what:
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Mars Pathfinder Rover
facet_what
Mars Pathfinder Rover
facet_what
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facet_what:
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Mars Global Surveyor Orbiter (MGS)
facet_what
Mars Global Surveyor Orbiter (MGS)
facet_what
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facet_where:
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Mars
facet_where
Mars
facet_where
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facet_where:
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Langley Research Center (LaRC)
facet_where
Langley Research Center (LaRC)
facet_where
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facet_when:
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2003
facet_when
2003
facet_when
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facet_when:
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January 2004
facet_when
January 2004
facet_when
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facet_when:
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April 2004
facet_when
April 2004
facet_when
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facet_when:
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07-27-2000
facet_when
07-27-2000
facet_when
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facet_when_year:
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2003
facet_when_year
2003
facet_when_year
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facet_when_year:
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2004
facet_when_year
2004
facet_when_year
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facet_when_year:
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2000
facet_when_year
2000
facet_when_year
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Media:
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IMAGE
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ID:
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EL-2000-00308
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UID:
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SPD-NIX-EL-2000-0030 8
UID
SPD-NIX-EL-2000-0030 8
UID
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orignial url:
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orignial_url
orignial url
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