January 17, 2022
Categories: Russia

The image captures the crater’s central uplift – raised from depth during the impact event that carved out the crater itself – and a variety of impact-related rocks, or ‘breccia’, which is essentially broken up fragments of the planet’s rocky surface cemented together by finer-grained material.

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter already identified features and minerals in this crater that suggest water was once present here. Ritchey Crater is located at 309.06°E/28.13°S, just south of Valles Marineris, where TGO also just reported evidence that vast amounts of water – in the form of ice or hydrated minerals – is still present today.

TGO arrived at Mars in 2016 and began its full science mission in 2018. The spacecraft is not only returning spectacular images, but also providing the best ever inventory of the planet’s atmospheric gases, and mapping the planet’s surface for water-rich locations. It will also provide data relay services for the second ExoMars mission comprising the Rosalind Franklin rover and Kazachok platform, when it arrives on Mars in 2023.

More from this category:
February 9, 2022

At the Baikonur Cosmodrome, the Progress MS-19 cargo spacecraft preflight preparation continues for launch under the 80th resupply mission to the International Space Station. On…

full story
July 30, 2019

On July 29, 2019, the “Progress MS-11” cargo spaceship undocked from the Russian segment of the International Space Station (ISS). The on-board computer gave the…

full story
May 29, 2013

According to RIA Novosti,  the Soyuz TMA-09M spacecraft, carrying three new crew members to the International Space Station (ISS), docked with the station on Wednesday,…

full story
December 3, 2015

Yesterday, on December 2, 2015, Baikonur say traditional flag-raising ceremony taking place at #17 launchpad in front of “Cosmonaut” hotel. ISS-46/47 mission prime and back-up…

full story
August 6, 2020

The Russian satellite for remote sensing of the Earth “Kanopus-V” captured the consequences of an explosion in the port of Beirut (Lebanon). A powerful explosion…

full story
July 1, 2014

In the course of a space flight the crew may face various off-nominal situations either onboard the spacecraft or the station and has to be…

full story
June 18, 2015

Scheduled ISS orbit adjustment aimed to create optimal ballistic conditions for Soyuz TMA-17M spacecraft docking with the station will be accomplished on Thursday, – Mission…

full story
November 7, 2013

Soyuz-FG booster with Soyuz TMA-11M manned spacecraft having new ISS mission crew onboard was successfully launched from #1 launchpad (“Gagarin’s pad”) of Baikonur spaceport. Some…

full story