Mars subsurface ice is patchy
Posted: Thu, May 3, 2007, 7:32 AM ET (1132 GMT)
The depths below the surface where water ice exists near the polar regions of Mars depends strongly on the properties of the surface, scientists reported this week. In a paper published in Thursday's issue of the journal Nature, scientists analyzed infrared images of the polar regions of the planet taken by NASA's Mars Odyssey spacecraft to measure the changes in temperature of the surface, a measure of how close to the surface the thermally-stable layer of water ice lies. Researchers found that the ice was much closer to the surface in dusty regions, while much farther below the surface in rocky areas the "pump" heat into subsurface layers. The results means that NASA's Phoenix spacecraft, scheduled for launch later this year to land in the planet's far-northern regions, might find differences in the depth of the water ice layer in spots as little as a meter apart.
The depths below the surface where water ice exists near the polar regions of Mars depends strongly on the properties of the surface, scientists reported this week. In a paper published in Thursday's issue of the journal Nature, scientists analyzed infrared images of the polar regions of the planet taken by NASA's Mars Odyssey spacecraft to measure the changes in temperature of the surface, a measure of how close to the surface the thermally-stable layer of water ice lies. Researchers found that the ice was much closer to the surface in dusty regions, while much farther below the surface in rocky areas the "pump" heat into subsurface layers. The results means that NASA's Phoenix spacecraft, scheduled for launch later this year to land in the planet's far-northern regions, might find differences in the depth of the water ice layer in spots as little as a meter apart.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
NASA IG cites overconfidence and unrealistic schedules for Starliner woes
Posted: Sat, Jul 4 8:11 PM ET (0011 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Friday, July 17
Serbia joins NASA's space exploration partnership Artemis Accords
SeeNews — 5:11 am ET (0911 GMT) The Italian Space Agency announces the passing of President Teodoro Valente
ASI — 5:09 am ET (0909 GMT) Deep space pioneer Henon signs to launch with Plato
ESA — 5:08 am ET (0908 GMT) Taiwan lawmakers to remove legal hurdles for Starlink to operate
The Standard (Hong Kong) — 5:06 am ET (0906 GMT) UK to field offensive space squadrons in national first
UK Defence Journal — 5:05 am ET (0905 GMT) |
