mars archive

MIT, Harvard offer solution to Mars enigma - An analysis by MIT and Harvard scientists suggests a possible answer to a Mars puzzle: Why the lack of widespread carbonate rocks, despite plenty of evidence that points to an early warm, wet climate on the planet that would promote the rocks' formation? December 27, 2007

MIT to lead ambitious lunar mission - MIT will lead a $375 million mission to map the moon's interior and reconstruct its thermal history, NASA announced this week. The Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory mission will be led by MIT professor Maria Zuber and will be launched in 2011. December 14, 2007

Observations give precise estimate of Mars ice - An MIT-led team of scientists has found that the southern pole of Mars contains the largest deposit of frozen water in the inner solar system, outside of Earth. The work shows that water, not carbon dioxide, is the predominant frozen liquid in that area. September 21, 2007

Mars group launches high-flying fundraiser - Those who cannot afford the million-dollar price tag attached to space tourism will be happy to learn that at least their names--and their logos--will be able to travel into space for a much smaller fee, thanks to a group of MIT students. November 3, 2006

Experts available to discuss space travel and human exploration of Mars - MIT faculty with expertise in space travel and human exploration of Mars are available for comment to members of the media. August 30, 2006

IAP: Life on Mars could be human, someday - If space is the final frontier, the first step in colonizing it is a one-way trip to Mars for 12 dedicated settlers, said an MIT graduate student who helped conduct an Independent Activities Period overview of the Mars Homestead Project. January 12, 2006

MIT researchers visit Mars on Earth - At 75 degrees north latitude, Devon Island lies high above the Arctic Circle, but not outside the reach of MIT. This past summer, a research team established a semi-permanent shelter there due to its similarity to conditions on Mars. November 16, 2005

So cool: Study shows Mars in 4-billion-year freeze - Scientists have long thought that the Red Planet was once temperate enough for water to have existed on the surface and perhaps for life to have evolved there. But a new study by MIT and Caltech scientists gives this idea the cold shoulder. July 21, 2005

Robots serve humans in many settings - There's still a long way to go before today's robots evolve into everyday technologies, but even now, autonomous robotic vehicles are exploring uncharted places, assisting troops in combat and performing household tasks. March 2, 2005

Team to test interplanetary laser link - A NASA-MIT team is working to forge the first laser communication link between Mars and Earth, in an effort to benefit the transmission of data from robotic spacecraft. August 6, 2004

Consider one-way Mars mission, Gavin says - Alumnus Joe Gavin discusses his proposed one-way manned mission to Mars. April 14, 2004

Mars gets a lift - John Grotzinger and other NASA scientists reached the conclusion that Mars had once been a watery place with a flowing saltwater sea. April 14, 2004

Evidence of Mars water - MIT's Professor John Grotzinger, a member of NASA's science team for the Mars robotic investigations, led reporters on a "geologic field trip" at a press conference. March 3, 2004

Zuber joins commission - Professor Maria Zuber, head of the Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, has been appointed to the Presidential Commission on Implementation of US Space Exploration Policy. February 11, 2004

Grotzinger oversees rover - Grotzinger, MIT professor, is leader of the long-term planning group of NASA's science team overseeing the work of the Mars rover Spirit. January 28, 2004

Experts comment on Mars - President Bush's announcement of a new NASA initiative for sending humans to Mars via a moon base sent reporters scurrying for experts for comment. January 22, 2004

Of Mars and men - Students and researchers at MIT are designing a space mission to learn about the effects of Mars-level gravity using pint-sized astronauts. January 9, 2004

Mars-gazing - Mars, our closest neighbor planet, will be closer to Earth than it has been in nearly 60,000 years. But 35 million or 37 million miles away--what's a few million miles among friends? August 26, 2003

Orbiter watches frosty Mars - An MIT researcher is part of an international team using data from NASA's Mars Odyssey spacecraft to analyze new details about the dynamic character of the frozen layers that dominate the high northern latitudes of Mars. June 27, 2003

Zuber to head EAPS - Maria T. Zuber, the E.A. Griswold Professor of Geophysics, will take over as head of the Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences (EAPS) on July 1. June 10, 2003

Mars travel explored - Nearly 80 students and professionals interested in learning the latest in Mars-related research attended the fourth annualMIT Mars Week. October 9, 2002

Measurements of snow on Mars - MIT and NASA researchers provide first-time measurements of the density and thickness of seasonal snow and frost on Mars in Dec. 7 issue of Science. December 7, 2001

Videoconference looks at Mars - "From Earth to Mars" was videocast to MIT students in Rm 9-057 and five French universities. May 23, 2001

Mars features not shorelines - What scientists suspect might be ancient ocean shorelines on the northern plains of Mars is actually a network of tectonic ridges related to dramatic Martian volcanism. April 11, 2001

Mars magmas contained water - Evidence from a Martian volcanic rock indicates that Mars magmas contained significant amounts of water before eruption on the planet's surface. January 31, 2001