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Science Friday > Archives > 2002 >
May>
May 31, 2002:
Hour One: Mars
Update
| Researchers analyzing data from NASA's Mars Odyssey spacecraft
reported this week that they have discovered signs of what may be
vast stores of frozen water under planet's surface at the Martian
poles. In three papers published this week in the journal Science,
they discuss data collected by the craft's gamma ray spectrometer
instrument suite, which can detect the presence of hydrogen on the
Martian surface. |
Spectrometer image of Mars. Deep blue regions indicate areas of
high hydrogen content -- meaning possible water. (NASA / JPL/
University of Arizona / Los Alamos National Laboratories image)
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Mars Surface Layers in Infrared
(NASA/JPL/Arizona State University image)
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The spectrometer data indicated that parts of the Martian surface
may contain up to 50% water by volume. If the findings are correct,
do they alter how scientists search for life on other planets?
Do they change any plans for a possible human trip to the Red
Planet?
In this hour of Science Friday, Ira and guests talk about evidence
for and against the presence of water on Mars, from the latest
data, to a theory that says some of the surface features attributed
to flowing water on Mars may actually have been caused by carbon
dioxide. Call in with your comments and questions at 1-800-989-8255,
and share your opinions online in our Listeners' Lounge (registration required).
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Guests:
James Bell
Professor
Center
for Radiophysics and Space
Astronomy Department
Cornell University
Ithaca, New York
Philip Christensen
Principal Investigator, Thermal Emission
Spectrometer
Mars Odyssey
Arizona State University
Tempe, Arizona
Nick Hoffman
Senior Researcher, Earth
Science
University of Melbourne
Melbourne, Australia
Books/Articles Discussed:
Related Links:
JPL
News Release - Odyssey Finds Water Ice in Abundance Under Mars' Surface
Mercury
News | 05/29/2002 | Mars images show complex geology marks planet's
surface
2001
Mars Odyssey Home Page
Mars
Global Surveyor - Welcome to Mars!
2001
Odyssey THEMIS
Mars Student Imaging
Project
Howstuffworks
"How Mars Odyssey Works"
Mars
Exploration Homepage
The
Mars Society
Spacedaily.com:
Support For Critical Role Of Carbon Dioxide On Mars Grows
CNN.com
- Space - Theory: Carbon dioxide, not water, formed Mars canyons - August
4, 2000
This segment produced by: Annette Heist
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