Mars MAVEN mission

[jmorgan]

Clicky

NASA said:

"NASA’s Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) spacecraft successfully entered Mars’ orbit at 10:24 p.m. EDT Sunday, Sept. 21, where it now will prepare to study the Red Planet’s upper atmosphere as never done before. MAVEN is the first spacecraft dedicated to exploring the tenuous upper atmosphere of Mars.
“As the first orbiter dedicated to studying Mars’ upper atmosphere, MAVEN will greatly improve our understanding of the history of the Martian atmosphere, how the climate has changed over time, and how that has influenced the evolution of the surface and the potential habitability of the planet,” said NASA Administrator Charles Bolden. “It also will better inform a future mission to send humans to the Red Planet in the 2030s.”

Getting a bit busy there. Also reading elsewhere it can help augment the Rovers communications coverage.

[jmorgan]

Getting busy there, meanwhile Mercury keeps its company for a tad longer before it gets very lonely again
http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/news_room/details.php?...