from: pwbmspac @ . . .

Here is a link to some recently released Mars images. Several look like the kind of imagery we come to expect to find in National Geographic Magazine.

The situation needs to be improved. In the event of success, an indicator at such a future date, you may expect to see research teams exploring such far away locations supported in large part by institutions such as the National Geographic organization.

Notice that the comparable USA national effort is in declining health. A decision after presidential review has canceled — for at least the next year – – the government funding of launch systems development, such as would be needed for human missions beyond earth orbit, (An editorial in Popular Science Magazine, earlier in 2010, suggested to readers this decision might, on the other hand, be good news for a private market in development / operation of space launch services.)

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Exotic New Mars Images From Orbiting Telephoto Studio

A new batch of sharp Martian close-ups from NASA’s HiRISE camera were released on Sept. 1. HiRISE (High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment) has been circling Mars on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter for four years now, taking dramatic photos of the red planet with a telephoto lens to make any paparazzi jealous. The camera can focus on objects the size of a beach ball from more than 180 miles away.

The 236 new images, taken between July 8 and July 31, cover the planet practically from pole to pole. They zoom in on terrain ranging from volcanic cones to cratered planes, from wind-swept dunes to crusts of ice. The images even capture evidence of ongoing geological processes on Mars today, like fresh craters that may have formed between January and June of this year.

Visit and read article at:
http://www.wired.com/
wiredscience/2010/09/new-mars-image-gallery/
?pid=52&pageid=28254&viewall=true

Above: These volcanic cones were formed by hot lava running over water or ice. The heat from the lava boiled the water underneath, and the water burst upwards in an exploding bubble of lava. The explosion threw chunks of molten and solid lava into the air to gather into the cones. These cones are similar in size and shape to cones found in Iceland.