Exploration of Mars Is a Global Endeavor
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Kudos to The Times for “Look Up and Marvel” (editorial, Aug. 23) and “The Wonder of Seeing Red,” by Timothy Ferris (Opinion, Aug. 24), for highlighting this summer’s spectacular, close approach of the planet Mars. The exploration of Mars is a global endeavor in which all of us can participate.
Ferris, however, needs to catch up on the latest news from Mars. His recounting of recent robotic explorers neglected to include the very successful 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft, which has been observing the surface from Mars orbit since early last year.
Odyssey’s sensors have obtained part of the answer to Ferris’ question: Where has the water gone? Vast quantities of water ice are indeed “frozen in the soil” at Martian high latitudes -- enough, in fact, to fill Lake Michigan twice.
Jeffrey Plaut
Project Scientist
2001 Mars Odyssey
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Pasadena
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