Exploring Mars: The USGS Astrogeology Team Takes the Lead at International Mars Science Conference

The 8th International Mars Science Conference is currently taking place on the Caltech campus in Pasadena, and many of the scientists on the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) team are attending. It was exciting to see that two out of the first three speakers at the conference were colleagues from the USGS Astrogeology team. Ken Tanaka, the first speaker, presented a new global geologic map of Mars that was distributed to all registered attendees. Ken led the mapping effort that resulted in the publication of this map and 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 scientists continue to be busy with conference presentations, updates on MSL operations are still being monitored closely. 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 these reports are subject to change based on factors such as the Martian environment, communication relays, and rover status. Despite these challenges, members of the MSL team remain committed to collecting valuable data and exploring Mars diligently.