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the Victoria era; the inconvenient polar ice

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Written by staff writer

Wednesday, 19 September 2007

the Victoria era

NASA’s Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity has descended into Victoria Crater for several weeks of detailed investigation. There has been some concern that, once inside, the rover may not be able to get back out of the crater, but tests last week at the rim of the crater have reassured scientists that the rover will be able to exit the crater.

Victoria Crater is a significant step in Opportunity’s exploration because the crater exposes more ancient rock layers than any crater previously explored.

the inconvenient polar ice

Satellite imagery confirms that the ice sheet at the North Pole has shrunk to its smallest size since satellites began monitoring the ice 30 years ago, according to a recent ESA release.This may soon cause the Northwest Passage to become a viable shipping lane, whereas in the past it has remained frozen and impassable. The Northwest Passage would allow a radically shorter shipping route between Europe and Asia.

The environmental implications of radically reduced polar ice are too many to list here.

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