1. Life on Mars? The desert may tell: Scientists' studies may shed light on
whether life possible elsewhere

By Megan Blaney, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 03/29/2007 12:00:00 AM PDT

MOJAVE NATIONAL PRESERVE - On a barren landscape, scientists trudge over dry,
cracked terrain. Except for the plentiful supply of oxygen, and a couple
other differences, this could be the planet Mars - and scientists are hoping the
similar terrain will offer insight into the Red Planet.

More at: http://www.dailybulletin.com/news/ci_5544669

2. First Steps to Mars

March 28, 2007: The landing site is unknown. The rockets are still on the
drawing board. Some of the astronauts haven't even been born yet.

Never mind all that. NASA's journey to Mars has already begun.


The first steps are being taken onboard the International Space Station
(ISS). "Astronauts are stationed on the ISS for six months at a time," says Dr.
Clarence Sams, lead scientist for the ISS Medical Project at NASA's Johnson
Space
Center (JSC). "Coincidentally, that's about how long it takes to travel to
Mars. We can't simulate every aspect of a 50 million mile journey to Mars," he
says, "but there are many questions we can answer from low Earth orbit."

More at: http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/28mar_firststeps.htm

3. Space station astronaut set to break US flight record

20:45 28 March 2007
NewScientist.com news service
Kelly Young

An astronaut currently on board the International Space Station is set to
break the US record for the longest stay in space on a single mission, since her
ride back to Earth will almost certainly be delayed.

More at:
http://space.newscientist.com/article/dn11488-space-station-astronaut-set-to-bre\
ak-us-flight-record.html

4. China details Mars exploration with Russia

Wed Mar 28, 2007 1:57PM EDT

BEIJING (Reuters) - China and Russia will mount a joint effort to explore
Mars and one of its moons in 2009, Chinese state media reported on Wednesday
following an agreement to boost cooperation between the two ambitious space
powers.

More at: http://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSPEK16971020070328

5. Opportunity Begins Imaging Of Cape Of Good Hope
by JPL Staff Writers Pasadena CA Mar 30, 2007

Sol 1125: Opportunity used this sol to look at the sky and ground with its
miniature
thermal emission. That instrument was also used to monitor for dust.

Opportunity is healthy and making progress on the imaging campaign of "Cape
St. Vincent." On Sol 1116, Opportunity experienced a fault due to a known but
rare race condition in the flight software. This race condition fault has now
occurred three times in 1,122 sols for Opportunity and three times in 1,143
sols for Spirit.

More at: http://www.marsdaily.com/reports/
Opportunity_Begins_Imaging_Of_Cape_Of_Good_Hope_999.html





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