Latest news with #MalinSpaceScienceSystems
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Red, white and blue on the Red Planet
July 3 (UPI) -- On the eve of the 249th anniversary of American independence, NASA on Tuesday showcased a patriotic image of Old Glory as seen from hundreds of millions of miles away. A plaque bearing the United States flag is on an aluminum plate at the base of the mast, or "head," of NASA's Perseverance rover on the Red Planet. An image of the flag was taken on June 28 by the WATSON (Wide Angle Topographic Sensor for Operations and eNgineering) camera on the end of the rover's robotic arm. On Tuesday, NASA published an image of the flag on the rover, as seen during its 1,548th day of its mission. WATSON was built by Malin Space Science Systems in San Diego and is operated jointly by Malin Space Science Systems and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. JPL, managed by Caltech, built and manages operations of Perseverance. The first U.S. flag planted somewhere besides Earth was the one planted on the moon by Buzz Aldrin in 1969. It signaled the United States had won the so-called Space Race with the Soviet Union.
UPI
3 days ago
- Science
- UPI
Red, white and blue on the Red Planet
July 3 (UPI) -- On the eve of the 249th anniversary of American independence, NASA on Tuesday showcased a patriotic image of Old Glory as seen from hundreds of millions of miles away. A plaque bearing the United States flag is on an aluminum plate at the base of the mast, or "head," of NASA's Perseverance rover on the Red Planet. An image of the flag was taken on June 28 by the WATSON (Wide Angle Topographic Sensor for Operations and eNgineering) camera on the end of the rover's robotic arm. On Tuesday, NASA published an image of the flag on the rover, as seen during its 1,548th day of its mission. WATSON was built by Malin Space Science Systems in San Diego and is operated jointly by Malin Space Science Systems and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. JPL, managed by Caltech, built and manages operations of Perseverance. The first U.S. flag planted somewhere besides Earth was the one planted on the moon by Buzz Aldrin in 1969. It signaled the United States had won the so-called Space Race with the Soviet Union.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
NASA's Perseverance rover captures dust devil in stunning Martian selfie celebrating 1,500 sols of exploration
NASA's Perseverance rover recently captured a remarkable new selfie on Mars, featuring a rare guest—a Martian dust devil. This small, swirling whirlwind of dust appears about five kilometres behind the rover, adding a unique and captivating detail to the image. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The selfie, composed of 59 photos taken by the rover's robotic arm camera, commemorates 1,500 sols (Martian days) of exploration. Taken near Jezero Crater at a site called 'Witch Hazel Hill,' the photo also shows the rover's latest sample borehole. This striking image highlights Perseverance's ongoing mission and the dynamic environment of the Red Planet. NASA's Perseverance rover captures iconic selfie after 1,500 sols on Mars The selfie was snapped as Perseverance reached 1,500 sols (Martian days) on Mars or 1,541 Earth days. The record signifies the rover's prolonged mission on Mars' surface, gathering valuable scientific data. The image is a mosaic made from 59 separate photos taken by the camera on the tip of the rover's robotic arm. The photos were carefully pieced together to create a high-definition selfie of Perseverance in its Martian environment. The photo was taken when Perseverance was staked out in an area of terrain that has been referred to as "Witch Hazel Hill" on the outskirts of Jezero Crater. The rover has been taking samples there for five months, drilling into rocks and removing samples which may hold the key to secrets of ancient microbial life. What is distinctive in the selfie is the rover's latest sample borehole on the ground. Both the unforgiving Martian terrain and the rover's hardware are shown in the photo, testifying to the technological marvel hundreds of millions of miles from home. NASA scientists celebrate the detail and effort behind Perseverance's latest selfie Megan Wu, an imaging scientist for the Malin Space Science Systems — the team that built the rover's camera — gave some information about how it worked. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now It took some one hour of deliberate arm motion to capture all the photos required for this composite selfie, according to the reports. Wu mentioned that the work was worthwhile, especially with the dust devil adding a unique and memorable element to the image. Perseverance's exterior in the photo is shrouded by a thin veil of crimson Martian dust, a result of its extensive deep drilling operations on scores of rock samples. Justin Maki, Perseverance imaging lead at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, underscored the importance of the selfie, stating that it provides "a great view of the terrain and the rover hardware." Perseverance's fifth selfie showcases mission milestones and scientific goals This is the fifth recent selfie taken because of the launch of the rover mission. It was made up of a series of pictures captured by the WATSON camera, which is installed on the rover's robotic arm. WATSON took several more photos with the focus point being the rover's mast so the selfie would be able to capture the whole width of the rover's framework and surroundings in order to complete the composite picture. Launched in 2020, the Perseverance rover's primary mission is to collect geological samples from Jezero Crater, a region believed to have been an ancient river delta and lakebed. Scientists hope that by analyzing these samples, they will observe remnants of microbial life that had previously inhabited Mars and learn more about Mars' past. The rover's continued exploration and the remarkable images it sends back, such as this latest selfie with a dust devil in the background, underscore the progress and excitement surrounding humanity's quest to explore the Red Planet. Also Read |
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Selfie on Mars? Here's how NASA caught a new glimpse of the Martian surface
A Martian selfie is giving Earthbound astronomers a look at environmental details on the red planet's surface. But the selfie was not taken by an extraterrestrial. Rather, it was a manmade explorer. On May 10, NASA's Perseverance Mars rover used its 1,500th sol, or Martian day, to take a selfie from the edge of the Jezero Crater called 'Witch Hazel Hill,' according to NASA on Wednesday. The selfie came together using a compilation of 59 individual pictures showing the whole rover and the Martian surface, NASA stated. 'To get that selfie look, each WATSON [Wide Angle Topographic Sensor for Operations and eNgineering] image has to have its own unique field of view,' Megan Wu, a Perseverance imaging scientist from Malin Space Science Systems in San Diego, said in NASA's statement. 'That means we had to make 62 precision movements of the robotic arm. The whole process takes about an hour, but it's worth it.' Unique to the complete image is a swirling natural phenomenon seen on Earth. To the left of the center of the image is a dust devil, 'located 3 miles to the north in Neretva Vallis,' Justin Maki, Perseverance imaging lead at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, said in NASA's statement. 'Having the dust devil in the background makes it a classic,' Wu said. 'This is a great shot.' Located on a gray spot just below the rover is the 'Bell Island' borehole, in which the rover collected a sample of Mars' soil, astronomers said. The selfie also gives NASA a chance to see what the Perseverance rover looks like over four years since it landed on the red planet. Though covered in dust, an American flag can still be seen on the rover's chassis. At the time the selfie was taken, Perseverance analyzed 37 rocks and boulders, collected 26 rock cores and has used its six wheels to drive more than 22 miles since it landed. New research says our universe only has a quinvigintillion years left, so make 'em good ones Video: Erupting volcanoes cause 'dancing' light show in space Massive solar flare erupts, causing radio blackouts across Earth Where will failed '70s Soviet probe land after it crashes back to Earth? Nobody knows Sorry, Pluto: The solar system could have a 9th planet after all, astronomers say Read the original article on MassLive.
Arab Times
22-05-2025
- Science
- Arab Times
NASA's Mars Perseverance snaps a selfie as a Martian dust devil blows by
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., May 22, (AP): The latest selfie by NASA's Perseverance rover at Mars has captured an unexpected guest: a Martian dust devil. Resembling a small pale puff, the twirling dust devil popped up 3 miles (5 kilometers) behind the rover during this month's photo shoot. Released Wednesday, the selfie is a composite of 59 images taken by the camera on the end of the rover's robotic arm, according to NASA. It took an hour to perform all the arm movements necessary to gather the images, "but it's worth it,' said Megan Wu, an imaging scientist from Malin Space Science Systems, which built the camera. "Having the dust devil in the background makes it a classic," Wu said in a statement. The picture - which also shows the rover's latest sample borehole on the surface - marks 1,500 sols or Martian days for Perseverance. That's equivalent to 1,541 days on Earth. Perseverance is covered with red dust, the result of drilling into dozens of rocks. Launched in 2020, it's collecting samples for eventual return to Earth from Jezero Crater, an ancient lakebed and river delta that could hold clues of any past microbial life.
