2003-10-01 | MISSIONS
Image Gallery from Mars Global Surveyor

Thousands of newly released portraits of Martian landscapes from NASA's Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft testify to the diversity of ways geological processes have sculpted the surface of our neighboring planet. The new images show a number of features, including steep-sided valleys that were likely carved by flowing water or lava. A total of 10,232 pictures were recently added to the Mars Oribital Camera gallery, bringing the total number of images to over 134,000.

The Mars Global Surveyor began orbiting Mars in 1997 and has since provided important information about the planet's atmosphere and interior. Surface images provided by its camera have helped researchers define the history of water on Mars and determine the best landing sites for the Mars Exploration Rovers, which are currently in transit to the planet. Understanding the environment of Mars is vital for establishing whether or not the planet could be a site for past or present life in our solar system.

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