Shallow Radar (SHARAD) Archives - Astrobiology

Analog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Away Teams & Field Reports, Desert Worlds, Exploration Gear & Tech, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, Status Report, Tricorders & Sensors

Revealing the Internal Structure of Mars-Analog Glaciers From Drone-Based Radar Sounding

by Keith CowingApril 6, 2026April 6, 2026

Debris-covered glaciers (DCGs) at the mid latitudes of Mars preserve ice accumulated in multiple episodes of high obliquity during the Amazonian age. The englacial debris layers formed during interglacials are […]

The European Space Agency’s Mars Express orbiter captured this view of Mars’ south polar ice cap Feb. 25, 2015. Three years later, the spacecraft detected a signal from the area to the right of the ice cap that scientists interpreted as an underground lake. Credit: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO

Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Desert Worlds, Icy Worlds, Mars, Missions & Hardware, Press Release, Terraforming & Geoengineering

Mars South Pole: Suspected Underground Lake Is Probably A Layer Of Rock And Dust

by Keith CowingNovember 25, 2025November 25, 2025

NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) has revisited and raised new questions about a mysterious feature buried beneath thousands of feet of ice at the Red Planet’s south pole. In a […]

This is an example of a debris-covered glacier on Mars. New research into these features suggests that they are purer than once thought, with implications for understanding Mars’ overall water budget and resource utilization on future crewed missions. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona

Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Mars, Press Release

Mars Glaciers Are Purer And More Uniform Than Previously Thought

by Keith CowingJuly 25, 2025July 25, 2025

On the slopes of Martian mountains and craters clings what appears to be flowing honey, coated in dust and frozen in time. In reality, these features are incredibly slow-moving glaciers, […]

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter

Astrogeology, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mars, Missions & Hardware, Press Release

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Learns New Moves After Nearly 20 Years in Space

by Keith CowingJune 28, 2025June 28, 2025

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter is testing a series of large spacecraft rolls that will help it hunt for water.