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posted by janrinok on Monday April 30 2018, @08:51PM   Printer-friendly
from the sniff-up dept.

ExoMars returns first images from new orbit

The ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter has returned the first images of the Red Planet from its new orbit.

The spacecraft arrived in a near-circular 400 km altitude orbit a few weeks ago ahead of its primary goal to seek out gases that may be linked to active geological or biological activity on Mars.

[...] The image captures a 40 km-long segment of Korolev Crater located high in the northern hemisphere. The bright material on the rim of the crater is ice.

[...] A long period of data collection will be needed to bring out the details, especially for particularly rare – or not even yet discovered – ingredients in the atmosphere. Trace gases, as hinted at from their name, are only present in very small amounts: that is, less than one percent of the volume of the planet's atmosphere. In particular, the orbiter will seek evidence of methane and other gases that could be signatures of active biological or geological activity. The camera will eventually help characterise features on the surface that may be related to trace gas sources.

ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter

Also at Space.com.


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  • (Score: 4, Funny) by takyon on Tuesday May 01 2018, @02:30AM (3 children)

    by takyon (881) <reversethis-{gro ... s} {ta} {noykat}> on Tuesday May 01 2018, @02:30AM (#674008) Journal

    Can we build a spacesuit that allows you to expose your bare ass on Mars?

    Temperatures on Mars can reach a comfortable 70°F, so there's only the low atmospheric pressure to worry about.

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  • (Score: 2) by jimtheowl on Tuesday May 01 2018, @06:53AM (1 child)

    by jimtheowl (5929) on Tuesday May 01 2018, @06:53AM (#674062)
    Thanks for the submission, but we could have passed on this comment.
  • (Score: 2) by Freeman on Tuesday May 01 2018, @05:57PM

    by Freeman (732) on Tuesday May 01 2018, @05:57PM (#674232) Journal

    Might help, if you're ever stranded with someone like Fred Z. Randall.

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