Mars InSight Mission
Skip Navigation
menu

INSIGHT MISSION IMAGES

Mars Odyssey Project Manager Gaylon McSmith

Mars Odyssey Project Manager Gaylon McSmith, of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory

October 15, 2010

Mars Odyssey Project Manager Gaylon McSmith, of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Credit

NASA/JPL-Caltech

ENLARGE

Related

This THEMIS image of rounded hills and ridges in Arcadia Planitia shows a very intriguing geomorphic feature that may be attributed to the presence of an icy-rock mixture of material. Smooth aprons...
More
This THEMIS image of rounded hills and ridges in Arcadia Planitia shows a very intriguing geomorphic feature that may be attributed to the presence of an icy-rock mixture of material. Smooth aprons of material are observed to be preferentially located on the cold, north facing slopes of hills and extend further and beyond the deposits located on other sides. These smooth deposits are in stark contrast to the more rough surfaces that dominate the scene and it has been suggested that they represent a preserved mixture of ice and rock. How exactly this deposit forms still remains a mystery. They may have been "pasted" onto the slopes and preserved on the cold facing sides or they may represent the result of downslope motion of material that is enhanced by the presence of ground ice. In either case, this interesting observation suggests that ground ice may still play an important role in the formation and preservation of martian surface features.
Arcadia Planitia
Newly detailed mapping of local variations in Mars' gravitational pull on orbiters (center), combined with topographical mapping of the planet's mountains and valleys (left), yields the best-yet ma...
More
Newly detailed mapping of local variations in Mars' gravitational pull on orbiters (center), combined with topographical mapping of the planet's mountains and valleys (left), yields the best-yet mapping of Mars' crustal thickness (right).
Using Gravity and Topography to Map Mars' Crustal Thickness
This image of a crater in Acidalia Planitia was acquired March 8, 2003, during northern summer.
More
This image of a crater in Acidalia Planitia was acquired March 8, 2003, during northern summer.
Acidalia Planitia Crater
This image of Phobos is one product of the first pointing at that Martian moon by the THEMIS camera on NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter.  The Sept. 29, 2017, observation also provided information about ...
More
Martian Moon Phobos Observed by NASA's Odyssey
Martian Moon Phobos Observed by NASA's Odyssey
Women working in science, technology, engineering and mathematics at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory pose for a photo in mission control in honor of Women in Science Day.
More
Women working in science, technology, engineering and mathematics at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory pose for a photo in mission control in honor of Women in Science Day.
Women in Science
Dr. Bill Boynton, Principal Investigator for the Gamma Ray Spectrometer suite of instruments Image credit: NASA/JPL
More
Dr. Bill Boynton, Principal Investigator for the Gamma Ray Spectrometer suite of instruments
Dr. Bill Boynton
A small section of Dao Vallis in shown in this VIS image. Dao Vallis is a major channel that drains into Hellas Planitia
More
A small section of Dao Vallis in shown in this VIS image. Dao Vallis is a major channel that drains into Hellas Planitia
Dao Valles
Artist’s concept of Comet Siding Spring approaching Mars, shown with NASA’s orbiters preparing to make science observations of this unique encounter.
More
Artist's concept of Comet Siding Spring approaching Mars, shown with NASA's orbiters preparing to make science observations of this unique encounter.
NASA's Mars Orbiters Maneuvers as Comet Siding Spring Approaching Mars
This THEMIS visible image shows a close-up view of the ridged plains in Hesperia Planum. This region is the classic locality for martian surfaces that formed in the "middle ages" of martian history.
More
This THEMIS visible image shows a close-up view of the ridged plains in Hesperia Planum. This region is the classic locality for martian surfaces that formed in the "middle ages" of martian history. The absolute age of these surfaces is not well known. However, using the abundance of impact craters, it is possible to determine that the Hesperian plains are younger than the ancient cratered terrains that dominate the southern hemisphere, and are older than low-lying plains of the northern hemisphere. In this image it is possible to see that this surface has a large number of 1-3 km diameter craters, indicating that this region is indeed very old and has subjected to a long period of bombardment. A large (80 km diameter) crater occurs just to the north (above) this image. The material that was thrown out onto the surface when the crater was formed ("crater ejecta") can be seen at the top of the THEMIS image. This ejecta material has been heavily eroded and modified since its formation, but there are hints of lobate flow features within the ejecta. Lobate ejecta deposits are thought to indicate that ice was present beneath the surface when the crater was formed, leading to these unusual lobate features. Many of the Hesperian plains are characterized by ridged surfaces. These ridges can be easily seen in the MOLA context image, and several can be seen cutting across the lower portion of the THEMIS image. These "wrinkle" ridges are thought to be the result of compression (squeezing) of the lavas that form these plains.
Hesperia Planum
Continuing our survey of non-crater dune fields brings us to this group of dunes in Aonia Terra. The daytime IR illustrates the warmth of the dune material compared to the surrounding materials.
More
Continuing our survey of non-crater dune fields brings us to this group of dunes in Aonia Terra. The daytime IR illustrates the warmth of the dune material compared to the surrounding materials.
Aonia Terra Dunes
In Ares Vallis, teardrop mesas extend like pennants behind impact craters, where the raised rocky rims diverted the floods and protected the ground from erosion.
More
In Ares Vallis, teardrop mesas extend like pennants behind impact craters, where the raised rocky rims diverted the floods and protected the ground from erosion.
Mars Odyssey All Stars: Ares Vallis
This image from NASA's Mars Odyssey shows ice-rich clouds over the summit of Arsia Mons.
More
This is an image of ice-rich clouds in false color, taken by the Odyssey satellite orbiting Mars.
Ice-Rich Clouds - False Color
This movie shows three views of the Martian moon Phobos as viewed in visible light by NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey orbiter. The apparent motion is due to movement by Odyssey's infrared camera, Thermal ...
More
This movie shows three views of the Martian moon Phobos as viewed in visible light by NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey orbiter.
Odyssey's Three Views of Phobos in Visible Light
NASA's Mars Odyssey spacecraft passes above Mars' south pole in this artist's concept illustration. The spacecraft has been orbiting Mars since October 24, 2001.
More
NASA's Mars Odyssey spacecraft passes above Mars' south pole in this artist's concept illustration. The spacecraft has been orbiting Mars since October 24, 2001.
Odyssey over Mars' South Pole
Five decades of successful NASA missions to the Red Planet, 1965-2015.
More
50 Years of Mars Exploration
50 Years of Mars Exploration
This unnamed channel is located in Xanthe Terra.
More
This unnamed channel is located in Xanthe Terra.
Channel in Xanthe Terra
Six views of the Martian moon Phobos captured by NASA's Odyssey orbiter as of March 2020. The orbiter's THEMIS camera is used to measure temperature variations that suggest what kind of material th...
More
Three views of the Martian moon Phobos
Odyssey's Six Views of Phobos
How do you converse with a robot nearly one hundred million miles away? In this video, Odyssey team members describe communications with the 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft using the antennas of the D...
More
Challenges of Getting to Mars: Telecommunications
Challenges of Getting to Mars: Telecommunications
On the southwest edge of the immense volcanic region of Tharsis, lava from its giant volcanoes flowed down to meet the old cratered landscape of Terra Sirenum.
More
On the southwest edge of the immense volcanic region of Tharsis, lava from its giant volcanoes flowed down to meet the old cratered landscape of Terra Sirenum.
Terra Sirenum
This unnamed channel drains part of Margaritifer Terra.
More
This unnamed channel drains part of Margaritifer Terra.
Channel in Margaritifer Terra.
West of Valles Marineris lies a checkerboard named Noctis Labyrinthus, which formed when the Martian crust stretched and fractured.
More
West of Valles Marineris lies a checkerboard named Noctis Labyrinthus, which formed when the Martian crust stretched and fractured.
Mars Odyssey All Stars: Noctis Vista
Planum Boreum crater
More
Planum Boreum crater
Planum Boreum crater
Geological faulting has opened cracks in the Cerberus region that slice through flat plains and mesas alike.
More
Geological faulting has opened cracks in the Cerberus region that slice through flat plains and mesas alike.
Mars Odyssey All Stars: Cerberus Crack
Ninth-grade, high-school students from Peoria, AZ analyze images of Mars.
More
Ninth-grade, high-school students from Peoria, AZ analyze images of Mars.
Student Teams Work As Real Scientists
How can you communicate with Mars spacecraft when the Sun is in the way? Learn more about 'solar conjunction' in this 60-second video.
More
Mars in a Minute: What Happens When the Sun Blocks our Signal?
Mars in a Minute: What Happens When the Sun Blocks our Signal?

You Might Also Like

The Red Planet rotorcraft headed south in support of furthering research into the potential use of aerial scouts on Mars in the future.
More
NASA's Ingenuity Mars Helicopter Completes First One-Way Trip
NASA's Ingenuity Mars Helicopter Completes First One-Way Trip
The Red Planet rotorcraft will shift focus from proving flight is possible on Mars to demonstrating flight operations that future aerial craft could utilize.
More
NASA's Ingenuity Helicopter to Begin New Demonstration Phase
NASA's Ingenuity Helicopter to Begin New Demonstration Phase
A livestream will begin at 3:15 a.m. PDT that morning as the helicopter team prepares to receive the data downlink at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
More
NASA to Attempt First Controlled Flight on Mars As Soon As Monday
NASA to Attempt First Controlled Flight on Mars As Soon As Monday
Now uncocooned from its protective carbon-fiber shield, the helicopter is being readied for its next steps.
More
NASA Ingenuity Mars Helicopter Prepares for First Flight
NASA Ingenuity Mars Helicopter Prepares for First Flight
The first trek of the agency’s largest, most advanced rover yet on the Red Planet marks a major milestone before science operations get under way.
More
NASA's Perseverance Drives on Mars' Terrain for First Time
NASA's Perseverance Drives on Mars' Terrain for First Time
The award moves NASA and ESA a step closer to realizing Mars Sample Return, an ambitious planetary exploration program that will build upon decades of science, knowledge, and experience.
More
NASA Awards Mars Ascent Propulsion System Contract for Sample Return
NASA Awards Mars Ascent Propulsion System Contract for Sample Return