Earth Planets and Moons ID: 13342

MAVEN Explores Mars to Understand Radio Interference at Earth

Released on February 3, 2020

The MAVEN mission explores Mars’ atmosphere to better study a phenomenon observed at Earth, known as “Sporadic-E Layers.” They are concentrations of plasma that form in the ionosphere and interfere with radio waves. This video is animated in a comic book style.

Music from Universal Production Music. Songs include: "Alpha and Omega," "Break the News," and "Waiting for a Sensation."

NASA’s MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN) spacecraft has discovered “layers” and “rifts” in the electrically charged part of the upper atmosphere (the ionosphere) of Mars. The phenomenon is very common at Earth and causes unpredictable disruptions to radio communications. However, we do not fully understand them because they form at altitudes that are very difficult to explore at Earth. The unexpected discovery by MAVEN shows that Mars is a unique laboratory to explore and better understand this highly disruptive phenomenon.

See more here: NASA's MAVEN Explores Mars to Understand Radio Interference at Earth

Download individual animations from https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/20313

Credits

James Tralie (ADNET Systems, Inc.):
Lead Producer
Lead Editor
Narrator

Bailee DesRocher (USRA):
Lead Animator

Michael Lentz (USRA):
Art Director

Jonathan North (USRA):
Animator

Krystofer Kim (USRA):
Animator

Jacquelyn DeMink (USRA):
Animator

Bruce Jakosky (LASP):
Scientist

Glyn Collinson (Catholic University of America):
Scientist

Aaron E. Lepsch (ADNET Systems, Inc.):
Technical Support

Adriana Manrique Gutierrez (USRA):
Support

Maria-Jose Vinas Garcia (Telophase):
Translator
Narrator (Spanish)

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

Short URL to share this page:
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/13342

Mission:
MAVEN: Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN

Keywords:
SVS >> HDTV
SVS >> Mars
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Spectral/Engineering >> Radio Wave
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Sun-earth Interactions >> Ionosphere/Magnetosphere Particles
SVS >> Solar System >> Planets >> Mars >> Ionosphere
NASA Science >> Earth
NASA Science >> Planets and Moons
SVS >> Mars Atmosphere
SVS >> Mars Upper Atmosphere

GCMD keywords can be found on the Internet with the following citation: Olsen, L.M., G. Major, K. Shein, J. Scialdone, S. Ritz, T. Stevens, M. Morahan, A. Aleman, R. Vogel, S. Leicester, H. Weir, M. Meaux, S. Grebas, C.Solomon, M. Holland, T. Northcutt, R. A. Restrepo, R. Bilodeau, 2013. NASA/Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Earth Science Keywords. Version 8.0.0.0.0