Image of the Day: 25/9/14

(Photo Credit: NASA/MAVEN/Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado)

NASA’s Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) spacecraft has obtained its first observations of the extended upper atmosphere surrounding Mars.

NASA prepares Mars spacecrafts for comet flyby

(NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter – Photo Credit: NASA/JPL/Corby Waste)

NASA are taking steps to protect their fleet of Mars-orbiting space crafts, while also preparing for a valuable opportunity to gather scientific data, as comet C/2013 A1 (otherwise known as Siding Spring) passes by the Red Planet on October 19.