1 -- ESA Prepares for a Human Mission to Mars

"Starting in spring next year, a crew of six will be sent on a 500 day
simulated mission to Mars. In reality the crew will remain in a special
isolation
facility in Russia. To investigate the psychological and medical aspects of a
long-duration mission, such as to Mars, ESA is looking for experiment proposals
for research to be carried out during their stay."

More at: http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.nl.html?pid=22275

2 --- Possible New Mars Caves Targets in Search for Life
By Ker Than

A Mars-orbiting satellite recently spotted seven dark spots near the
planet's equator that scientists think could be entrances to underground caves.
The football-field sized holes were observed by Mars Odyssey's Thermal Emission
Imaging System (THEMIS) and have been dubbed the seven sisters --Dena, Chloe,
Wendy, Annie, Abbey, Nikki and Jeanne--after loved ones of the researchers who
found them. The potential caves were spotted near a massive Martian volcano,
Arisa Mons. Their openings range from about 330 to 820 feet (100 to 250
meters) wide, and one of them, Dena, is thought to extend nearly 430 feet (130
meters) beneath the planet's surface

More at: http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/070402_mm_mars_caves.html

3 -- MARSIS Radar Estimates the Volume of Water in the South Pole of Mars

"By studying the South Polar region of Mars, the MARSIS (Mars Advanced Radar
for Subsurface and Ionospheric Sounding) radar of the Mars Express space probe
has enabled the structure of the layered deposits of this region to be
elucidated. For the first time in the history of planetary exploration,
topographic
maps of the Martian sub-soil have been produced, revealing considerable
volumes of ice."

More at: http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.nl.html?pid=22277

4 --- THEMIS ART #80

This doublet crater looks like a melting snowman tipped on his side. Warmth
is in the air, as the southern hemisphere of Mars enters spring.

More at: http://themis.asu.edu/zoom-20070402a






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