Mars & the Rover Missions

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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