After a string of mission failures, high hopes are riding on NASA’s latest
foray to Mars which is due to lift off this week. The Mars Odyssey mission will
orbit the Red Planet carrying three mineralogy instruments. A camera will record
images in 10 visible and infrared bands. A gamma-ray spectrometer will look for
water in the upper few centimetres of the crust. A third sensor will measure
radiation levels. The probe will reach Mars in October and manoeuvre into an
orbit 400 kilometres above the surface. After two years of surveying, the probe
will act as a relay station…
To continue reading, today with our introductory offers
Advertisement
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features
ÎçÒ¹¸£Àû1000¼¯ºÏ
Woman with Alzheimer's starts conversing again after taking psilocybin
News
Life
New-to-science spider builds trap that flings ants into the air
News
ÎçÒ¹¸£Àû1000¼¯ºÏ
How menopause radically changes the brain – and what happens after
Features
Mind
‘Fusogenic’ neurosurgery let paralysed pigs walk again – are we next?
Comment
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles
1
Faecal transplant makes the brains of old mice act young again
2
Most portable air conditioners suck – but there's an easy fix
3
The surprising ways your brain changes from your 20s to your 40s
4
Woman with Alzheimer's starts conversing again after taking psilocybin
5
A quantum state that lasts forever may finally be within our grasp
6
We've found a mysterious substance on Titan and Pluto
7
People training new AI models admit they just get chatbots to do it
8
‘Fusogenic’ neurosurgery let paralysed pigs walk again – are we next?
9
Can prebiotics, probiotics or postbiotics help your ageing microbiome?
10
How menopause radically changes the brain – and what happens after
