I moved to Las Cruces in August 2000 from Hobbs, New Mexico. I am a member of the Association for Computing Machinery and the Pride of New Mexico, the NMSU Marching Band. By combining three image mosaics, scientists have generated a donut-shaped picture with an overhead view of NASA's highly successfull and hugely popular Mars Pathfinder lander and Sojourner rover on the surface of the Red Planet. NASA's Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft currently orbiting the Red Planet carries the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter instrument. MOLA transmits infrared laser pulses towards Mars and measures the time of flight to determine the range of the spacecraft to the surface below.
Scientists can then use the measurements to develop a precise topographic map of the terrain.
Space visionary Robert Zubrin discusses what life will be like for these future children.