Flying Into The Gaping Maw Of Mars

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Flying Into The Gaping Maw Of Mars

Flying Into The Gaping Maw Of MarsThis is one of NASA's proposed landing sites for the Mars Science Laboratory, which looks like a set of giant gaping jaws of evil. Do those look like teeth to anybody else? Actually, they're sand deposits resulting from wind activity, with the lighter parts being bedrock. The green and blue areas are full of iron- and magnesium- rich minerals like pyroxene and possibly olivine. And the reddish stuff is mineral-heavy clay. Okay, it's really just the Martian jaws of evil. Click through for a pretty pic from NASA's moon-rocket briefing.

Flying Into The Gaping Maw Of MarsHere's project manager Steve Cook gesturing at a video screen while talking about the Ares V moon rocket. NASA wants to beef up the size and power of the moonshot to enable it to carry more weight up to the lunar surface. Images by AP/NASA and AP/Jay Reeves.

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