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Mars rover

NASA launches super-size Mars rover to red planet

Last updated Saturday, November 26, 2011 - 11:22am

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The world's biggest extraterrestrial explorer, NASA's Curiosity rover, rocketed toward Mars on Saturday on a search for evidence that the red planet might once have been home to itsy-bitsy life.

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The United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket with the NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Curiosity stands ready for its launch at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Friday, Nov. 25, 2011. The rocket scheduled to launch Saturday morning will deliver a science laboratory to Mars to study potential habitable environments on the planet. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)

NASA project uses Idaho sites in Mars teacher project

Kevin Gaboury Lewiston Tribune

Last updated Friday, November 25, 2011 - 3:04pm

When the Curiosity Mars Rover blasts off from Cape Canaveral aboard an Atlas Rocket Saturday, two area science teachers will know they had a small part in its success.

Jeff Karlin, astronomy, marine biology and zoology teacher at Idaho's Lewiston High School, and Jim Gustin, science teacher at Orofino Junior/Senior High School, accompanied the man behind Mission Curiosity -- NASA astrobiologist Chris McKay -- this summer on the NASA-sponsored Idaho Spaceward Bound study. The five-day expedition took 10 teachers from Idaho, California, Massachusetts and Nevada, three University of Idaho delegates and seven NASA Ames Research Center teachers across Idaho to explore sites such as Hells Half Acre, Craters of the Moon National Monument and Shoshone Ice Caves and bring their discoveries back to the classroom. The trip also had a second focus, according to Karlin.

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In this Jan. 28, 2004 photo provided by NASA/JPL of a photo shot by NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit. NASA is ending efforts to revive the sand-trapped rover Spirit, which has been silent for more than a year. Project manager John Callas of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory says the last commands will be sent up Wednesday, May 25. (NASA/JPL/Associated Press)

NASA gives up on Mars rover Spirit

Amina Khan, Los Angeles Times

Last updated Wednesday, May 25, 2011 - 11:38am

After a year of fruitlessly trying to communicate with Spirit, one of two rovers on the surface of Mars, NASA scientists have finally decided to let it rest in peace. They plan to send their last commands to the rover a little after midnight PDT Wednesday morning.

Spirit, which landed on Mars in January 2004, has been stuck in Martian sand for two years and has been silent for more than a year, despite regular attempts by NASA scientists to contact it.

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