Strong westerly, prograde jets have been identified in the martian atmosphere between about 10–20 km altitude throughout much of the year in a Mars Global Circulation Model (MGCM) study [2]. The development of data assimilation techniques for Mars [3, 5] now permits the analysis of super-rotation in less highly idealized cases using an atmospheric reanalysis, as would be done for the Earth. Thi...

In their pioneering work, Leighton and Murray argued that the Mars atmosphere, which at present is 95% carbon dioxide, is controlled by vapor equilibrium with a much larger polar reservoir of solid carbon dioxide. Here we argue that the polar reservoir is small and cannot function as a long-term buffer to the more massive atmosphere. Our work is based on modeling of the circular depressions com...

Simple logistics strategies such as "carry-along" and Earth-based "resupply" were sufficient for past human space programs. Next-generation space logistics paradigms are expected to be more complex, involving multiple exploration destinations and insitu resource utilization (ISRU). Optional ISRU brings additional complexity to the interplanetary supply chain network design problem. This paper p...

This paper describes marimunl likelihood estirncr-tion techniques for performirlg rover localizatio?t in natural terrain by matching range ntaps. An OCCUpancy map of the local terrain isgertef'ated usirigstcreo visiou. The positioa of the rover rvith respect to a previously generated occupancy map M then computed by comparing the maps using a probabdistic formulation of [[ausdoz-ff matching iec...

Mars' crustal magnetic field was most likely generated by dynamo action in the planet's early history. Unexplained characteristics of the field include its strength, concentration in the southern hemisphere, and lack of correlation with any surface features except for the hemispheric crustal dichotomy. We used numerical dynamo modeling to demonstrate that the mechanisms proposed to explain crus...

All planetary atmospheres respond to the enhanced x-rays and ultraviolet (UV) light emitted from the Sun during a flare. Yet only on Earth are observations so continuous that the consequences of these essentially unpredictable events can be measured reliably. Here, we report observations of solar flares, causing up to 200% enhancements to the ionosphere of Mars, as recorded by the Mars Global S...

Strong westerly, prograde jets have been identified in the martian atmosphere between about 10–20 km altitude throughout much of the year in a Mars Global Circulation Model (MGCM) study [2]. The development of data assimilation techniques for Mars [3, 5] now permits the analysis of super-rotation in less highly idealized cases using an atmospheric reanalysis, as would be done for the Earth. Thi...

The FIDO (Field Integrated Design & Operations) rover is an advanced mobility platform and research prototype for future Mars surface missions planned by NASA. It was used in a recent field trial aimed at realistic simulation of the 2003 NASA Mars Exploration Rovers (MER) mission. This paper reports the key system enhancements made to improve the utility of the FIDO rover as a platform for high...