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Home > Shows > Mars & the Rover Missions

Mars & the Rover Missions

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Highlights:
Rovers' Progress
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Planetary Changes
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Face on Mars
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MP3 Downloads:
Hour 1    Hour 2    Hour 3    Hour 4   

Date:

11-26-06

Host:

Art Bell

Guests:

Prof. Jim Bell

Leader of the team that created the cameras on the Mars Rovers, Jim Bell discussed the Rover missions as well as conditions on the Red Planet. Both Spirit and Opportunity have far exceeded expectations on how long they would last. It was hoped they would function for 90-100 days, and both have been running over 1,000 days, he reported. They also traveled further than expected, with Spirit driving four miles, and Opportunity six.

The major finding of the Rover missions is the confirmation thatliquid water existed on the planet's surface a long time ago, said Bell. Evidence for this comes from the presence of minerals such as jarosite, which needs water to form. The Rovers can't tells us the age of rocks on the planet, but he estimated they are around 3-4 billion years old in the areas they explored.

Prof. Bell shared his thoughts on some of Mars' seemingly anomalous features. While he believes there are many striking land forms on the planet, he doesn't view the 'Face on Mars' as representing something artificial. Similarly, in what has been called the Mars Humanoid Skull, he sees an enigmatic rock rather than a smoking gun for past intelligent life. However, he did note that he is supportive of further study of such unusual elements.

Bumper Music

Bumper music from Sunday November 26, 2006

1. 25 Or 6 To 4
Chicago
2. Black Velvet
Alannah Myles
3. Don't Fear the Reaper
Blue Oyster Cult
4. Hazy Shade of Winter
The Bangles
5. Hazy Shade Of Winter
Simon and Garfunkel
6. In the Air Tonight
Phil Collins
7. Inca Dance
Cusco
8. Midnight Express (The Chase)
Giorgio Moroder
9. Midnight Express (The Chase)
Giorgio Moroder
10. Mummer's Dance
Loreena McKennitt
11. Right Now
Van Halen
12. Some Velvet Morning
Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood
13. The Chain
Fleetwood Mac
14. The Way It Is
Bruce Hornsby
15. Time
Pink Floyd
16. Time
Alan Parsons Project
17. Time
Hootie & the Blowfish
18. Tonight, Tonight, Tonight
Genesis
19. What Is Life
George Harrison
20. Wicked Game
Chris Isaak
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