THE SOLAR SYSTEM
Launch of Mars Global
Surveyoron its 10-month
journey to Mars. Its five
instruments are similar to
or backups for those lost
when the Mars Observer
mission failed in 1993.
Below is an artist’s
impression of the spacecraft
in orbit about the planet. Volcanoes on Mars. This
Mars Global Surveyor image
was obtained by the Mars
Orbiter Camera in March- Visible are two
volcanoes – Ceraunius
Tholus (left) and Uranius
Tholus (right). Craters can be
seen on both these
volcanoes, indicating that
they are old and no longer
active. Dust from the globaldust storm of 2001 lies on
the slopes of Ceraunius
Tholus, towards the left in
this image. The caldera of
this volcano is about 25 km
(16 miles) wide. Mars’ north pole in spring.
This striking image mosaic
was obtained by the Mars
Orbiter Camera aboard the
Mars Global Surveyor in May- Mars’ north polar cap is
the bright white region at top,
comprising frozen carbon
dioxide. The temperature
difference between this cold
region and the warmer
ground surrounding it results
in swirling winds, and the
clouds of several dust storms
be seen clearly.Mars from Global Surveyor
M
ars Global Surveyor, launched on 7 November 1996,
was a complete success, and sent back hundreds ofhigh-quality images. It entered Mars orbit in September
1997, and was still operating excellently in 2003.C Atl of Univ Phil'03stp 2/4/03 3:06 pm Page 85