Mars Science Conference Takes Place on Caltech Campus: New Discoveries and Updates from the Mars Science Laboratory Team

The 8th International Mars Science Conference is currently taking place on the Caltech campus in Pasadena, with many scientists from the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) team attending. The first three speakers at the conference were colleagues from the USGS Astrogeology team, including Ken Tanaka, who presented a new global geologic map of Mars that was distributed to all registered attendees. His mapping effort resulted in the publication of this map and he received a round of applause for his work. The third speaker, Oleg Abramov, shared his findings from detailed modeling of impact bombardment on early Mars history, suggesting that the planet’s crust may not have been completely melted during that time, potentially leaving habitable environments.

While the conference has kept scientists busy, updates on MSL operations are still being monitored. Recent project reports indicate that the rover traveled over 82 meters last weekend, with a more limited drive planned for Sol 689 due to rough terrain ahead. Dates for upcoming rover activities outlined in the reports are subject to change based on factors such as the Martian environment, communication relays, and rover status. Despite these challenges, the team continues to work diligently to collect valuable data and explore the Red Planet.