February 5, 2014

NASA Mars rover's color view of likely route West

This view combines several frames taken by the Mast Camera (Mastcam) on NASA's Mars rover Curiosity, looking into a valley to the west from the eastern side of a dune at the eastern end of the valley. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

The team operating NASA's Curiosity Mars rover will likely drive the rover westward over a dune and across a valley with fewer sharp rock hazards than alternative routes.

A final decision on whether to pass through this valley will ride on evaluation of a short drive planned this week toward the top of the dune that lies across "Dingo Gap."

The dune is about 3 feet (1 meter) high at its center, tapered off at both sides of the gap between two low scarps.

A color view assembled from images taken by Curiosity's Mast Camera (Mastcam) on the east side of the dune shows details of the valley that the rover may traverse this month.

Provided by NASA

NASA Mars rover's color view of likely route West

Wind tunnel study shows hypersonic jet engine flow can be controlled optically

NASA picks SpaceX to carry ISS to its watery graveyard after 2030

China lunar probe returns to Earth with samples

China, France launch satellite to better understand the universe

Drone racing prepares neural-network AI for space

Researchers investigate the impacts of space travel on astronauts' eye health

Would astronauts' kidneys survive a roundtrip to Mars?

Simulating blood flow dynamics for improved nanoparticle drug delivery

We date and marry people who are attractive as we are, new analysis finds

Researchers propose a new, holistic way to teach synthetic biology

Under pressure: How comb jellies have adapted to life at the bottom of the ocean

The worm has turned: DIY lab platform evaluates new molecules in minutes

Researchers find flexible solution for separating gases

Scientists use computational modeling to guide a difficult chemical synthesis

First comprehensive characterization of the extraordinary thermoelectric properties of cadmium arsenide thin films

NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter captures huge volcano, nears 100,000 orbits

Alphabet soup: NASA's GOLD mission finds surprising C, X shapes in atmosphere

Clean Water Act leaves about 55% of water flowing out of rivers vulnerable to pollution, study suggests