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US to go back to Mars in probe of 'lost atmosphere' mystery
Mars Daily ^ | Oct 5, 2010 | Staff Writers Washington (AFP)

Posted on 10/08/2010 12:29:53 PM PDT by mrreaganaut

The US space agency NASA announced Tuesday it has given the green light to a mission to Mars aimed at investigating the mystery of how the "red planet" lost its atmosphere.

NASA gave the approval Monday for "the development and 2013 launch of the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) mission," the agency said in a statement, noting that the project may also show Mars' history of supporting life.

(Excerpt) Read more at marsdaily.com ...


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: mars; maven; nasa; space
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The lack of sufficient magnetic activity to support an ionosphere may make terraforming impossible.
1 posted on 10/08/2010 12:29:58 PM PDT by mrreaganaut
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To: mrreaganaut
...the mystery of how the "red planet" lost its atmosphere.

Answer: Anthropogenic global warming.

(I just saved 'em a whole mess of money!)

2 posted on 10/08/2010 12:34:18 PM PDT by 17th Miss Regt
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To: mrreaganaut

I am thinking whatever pummelled the planet left a huge dirt cloud that covered the planet and that is why it is so uniformly covered with that red rock and material.

The same process that pulverized and OXIDIZED all those particles used up a lot of the atmosphere at the same time

like a sponge soaking up liquid (sort of)


3 posted on 10/08/2010 12:35:07 PM PDT by Mr. K (PALADINO for GOV. OF NY --- VOTE LIKE YOUR CHILD'S LIFE DEPENDS ON IT! (BECAUSE IT DOES))
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To: All

Total Recall?


4 posted on 10/08/2010 12:35:07 PM PDT by Maverick68
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To: mrreaganaut

5 posted on 10/08/2010 12:35:55 PM PDT by colorado tanker
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To: mrreaganaut
Would the fact that Mars is small and doesn't have a lot of gravity have anything to do with it?.................
6 posted on 10/08/2010 12:36:09 PM PDT by Red Badger (No, Obama's not the Antichrist. But he does have him in his MY FAVES.............)
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To: mrreaganaut

Probably the local ‘Rat equivalents embezzled it.


7 posted on 10/08/2010 12:37:39 PM PDT by Paladin2
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To: mrreaganaut

What a waste of money.


8 posted on 10/08/2010 12:37:59 PM PDT by ColdOne (GOP. Gutless Old Politicians :^))......November and Beyond!)
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To: mrreaganaut

Even if mars could hold an atmosphere it would still get blasted with solar radiation without a magnetosphere.

On the other hand, Mars is riddled with caves which are ready made shelters. Its unlikely that Mars will ever be a pleasant place to live but it might be fine for mining.


9 posted on 10/08/2010 12:38:11 PM PDT by cripplecreek (Remember the River Raisin! (look it up))
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To: Red Badger

Titan the moon of saturn is much smaller and has an atmosphere that is thicker than earth’s.....

So Gravity is a factor but not much of one.


10 posted on 10/08/2010 12:38:26 PM PDT by GraceG
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To: mrreaganaut

And which of the enumerated powers covers searching for the lost Martian atmosphere?


11 posted on 10/08/2010 12:39:19 PM PDT by running_dog_lackey
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To: mrreaganaut

Naturally muslims will play key roles in this effort. Ultimately, this effort will “prove” global warming, and will be the driving force for the world to adopt sharia.

At least that’s probably what BHO has laid down as NASA’s directive.

NASA is no longer the NASA I remember. Shut it down, break it up.


12 posted on 10/08/2010 12:40:23 PM PDT by brownsfan (D - swift death of the republic, R - lingering death for the republic.)
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To: mrreaganaut

Isn’t there a huge one scheduled to get there soon?
Mars Science Project or something?

I thought it was the be-all and end-all of the science missions...


13 posted on 10/08/2010 12:40:31 PM PDT by djf (It is ISLAM or "We, the People..." Take your pick. THERE IS NO MIDDLE GROUND!!!)
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To: Red Badger

Too obvious.
As is the weak magnetic field that allows the solar wind to strip it away.

Nope, both are too obvious - gotta send a probe.


14 posted on 10/08/2010 12:40:37 PM PDT by MrB (The difference between a (de)humanist and a Satanist is that the latter knows who he's working for.)
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To: mrreaganaut
how the "red planet" lost its atmosphere

Bush's Fault.

15 posted on 10/08/2010 12:40:47 PM PDT by Sakity Yaks
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To: mrreaganaut

“The lack of sufficient magnetic activity to support an ionosphere may make terraforming impossible.”

I’m no scientist, but from what I’ve read, I agree with you. Mars’ core must have gone cold, no magnetic field, poof, no atmosphere.


16 posted on 10/08/2010 12:42:14 PM PDT by brownsfan (D - swift death of the republic, R - lingering death for the republic.)
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To: mrreaganaut

17 posted on 10/08/2010 12:45:33 PM PDT by LibWhacker (America awake!)
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To: mrreaganaut

question, is there any sci-fi solution for the creation of an artificial magnasphere to protect the planet?


18 posted on 10/08/2010 12:48:34 PM PDT by taxcontrol
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To: running_dog_lackey

“post roads”


19 posted on 10/08/2010 12:49:41 PM PDT by muawiyah ("GIT OUT THE WAY" The Republicans are coming)
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To: running_dog_lackey

And which of the enumerated powers covers searching for the route to the Pacific ocean? (Lewis and Clark)

The fact is that governments have long funded pathfinding missions. The big difference here is that government also assures a dead end because the international outer space treaty puts everything off limits for all but research. If we ditch the outer space treaty and allow private ownership of property on bodies in space, business will find a means of making it profitable.


20 posted on 10/08/2010 12:50:02 PM PDT by cripplecreek (Remember the River Raisin! (look it up))
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