NASA Begins to Map the Earth
and Receives a Valentine from Mars
 The
six-member crew of STS-99, the Shuttle
Radar Topography Mission, has begun its "21st
century mission placing Earth back on the map." The
astronauts will make close to one trillion measurements
during their 11 days on orbit. For up-to-the-minute
status reports, news events, how to watch NASA TV on
your computer and more, follow this
link. Kids can follow along and learn about maps and
radar too. For fun activities related to SRTM, click
here. Meanwhile, NASA has received a topical
topographical gift from another planet, Mars. As if
saying Happy St. Valentine's Day from the Red Planet,
the Mars Global Surveyor's Mars Orbiter Camera captured
this unique view of a bright, heart-shaped mesa in the
south polar region. The heart is about 279 yards across.
(Full
Story)
(2/11/00)
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