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Image: Particles of Martian dust are shown in image from NASA's Phoenix Lander's Optical Microscope

Mars lander sends back picture of Martian dust

NASA's Mars Phoenix Lander has sent back the first-ever image of a speck of red Martian dust taken through an atomic force microscope, shown at a higher magnification than anything ever seen from another planet. Full Story

Ho / Reuters

Chasing dust devils from Earth to Mars

Scientists: Martian soil similar to Chile's desert

Mars soil may not be so good for life

Water discovery on Mars drives search for life

NASA confirms water on Mars

Cracks appear in ice under Mars lander

Ooops! Mars soil gets stuck in lander's scooper

Mars lander pulls all-nighter

Photos suggest Mars was once all wet

NASA serves up shaved ice on Mars

Mars lander exposes more ice

When will a Mars sample return to Earth?

How to find traces of life in Martian rocks

Mars lander runs into tough digging

Mars lander breaks new ground

Mars lander’s next whiff could be its last

How does Mars taste? Salty, reports lander

Will NASA ever find life on Mars?

Test shows Mars soil has nutrients for life

Scientists wonder if ice on Mars ever melted

Mars ice! Now you see it, now you don’t

Phoenix loses day of work after data glitch

Mars probe digs into scientific preserve

'White stuff' mystifies Mars researchers

Lander gets close-up of Mars dirt

Phoenix ready to cook up Mars soil

Mars lander shakes soil successfully

Scientists try one last shake on Mars

Unknown problem interrupts lander's task

Lander returns pictures of Martian dust

Glitch delays Mars lander’s digging

What's next for Mars exploration?

Phoenix to get down to business soon

A scoop from Mars! Lander digs in

Phoenix lander leaves its mark on Mars

Photos boost belief Mars lander has bared ice

Phoenix lander hunts ice and hits a snag

Mars lander flexes its arm and looks around

Red Planet may be too salty for life

Mars lander begins its arm exercises

Radio glitch stalls Mars lander’s work

Amazing! Mars orbiter gets a fix on lander

Phoenix lands on Mars — and sends postcards

Where no Mars probe has gone before

Martian cliffhanger resolved at last

Vents on Mars could have supported life

Phoenix to go digging on Red Planet

Why the Red Planet remains a mystery

Brrr! Mars colder than expected

Are the rovers cut out to detect alien life?

Probe snaps close-ups of Martian moon

NASA: Mars rovers spared budget cuts

Mars orbiter spots rover on weird plateau

Cosmic Log: Mysteries lurk in Martian depths

NASA extends Mars rovers' mission

Mars rover takes the plunge into crater

How the rovers changed our view of Mars

Gasp! Even the dirt points to water on Mars

Mars probe points out icy hot spots

Mars orbiter’s loss traced to human error

Did probes find Martian life ... or kill it off?

Opportunity’s landing site seen from orbit

Photos strengthen case for water on Mars

Mars orbiter photographs four probes

Mars gullies could be gold mines

10-year-old Mars orbiter goes silent

Martian life might have evaded detection

Latest Mars orbiter sends sharpest pictures

China, Russia plan joint mission to Mars

Young Mars offered brief chance for life

New Mars orbiter sends its first pictures

Mars probe enters orbit after risky move

Mars rover slides into Home Plate mystery

Rovers still exploring Mars after 2 years

Studies question Mars water assumptions

Life was rough on ancient Mars

Arctic microbes raise hope for life on Mars

Scientist sees water in Martian dunes

Meteorites point to big chill on ancient Mars

Scientists unearth surprises on Mars

Spirit finds evidence of Mars' violent past

Europe gets its own rover ready for Mars

Martian map hints at ancient polar shift

ARTICLES

Jan. 3: Spirit lands safely

Jan. 4: Scientists pore over photos

Jan. 5: A 3-D view of Red Planet

Jan. 6: Color postcard reveals new world

Jan. 7: Airbag snag for rover

Jan. 8: Landing impact seen in photos

Jan. 9: Rover starts getting ready to roll

Jan. 10: Spirit stands up

Jan. 11: NASA rehearses rover rollout

Jan. 12: Muddy mystery intrigues scientists

Jan. 13: Rover makes first moves

Jan. 14: Spirit set to hit the ground

Jan. 15: Rover rolls onto Martian surface

Jan. 16: Spirit gets an eyeful of Martian dirt

Jan. 19: Rover tackles first rock

Jan. 20: Analysis of soil yields new questions

ARTICLES

Jan. 21: Storm on Earth delays work on Mars

Jan. 22: Anomaly disrupts contact with rover

Jan. 23: Rover in 'critical' condition

Jan. 24: Opportunity lands on Mars

Jan. 24: NASA makes progress fixing Spirit

Jan. 25: Opportunity scores 'hole-in-one'

Jan. 26: Colorful vista shows a weirder Mars

Jan. 27: Scientists wowed by Martian jackpot

Jan. 28: Opportunity gets ready to roll

Jan. 29: Mars rovers back on fast track

ARTICLES

Jan. 30: Opportunity finds hints of water

Jan. 31: Opportunity rolls onto surface of Mars

Feb. 1: Spirit not ready to roll just yet

Feb. 2: Rovers double up on science

Feb. 3: Close-ups of dark dirt

Feb. 4: Curious minerals mapped

Feb. 5: Spirit gets back to work

Feb. 6: Spirit uncovers rocky surprise

Feb. 7: A Martian first: Spirit rover drills into rock

Feb. 8: Opportunity snaps close-up of bedrock

Feb. 9: Opportunity peers over side of crater

Feb. 10: Spirit sets one-day distance record

Feb. 11: Cold weather stalls Spirit rover's sprint

Feb. 12: 'Two very busy rovers' back at work

Feb. 13: Mars rovers get bandwidth boost

Feb. 14: Opportunity gets set to dig into Mars

Feb. 15: Spirit studies flaky Martian rock

Feb. 16: Spirit takes its longest trip yet

Feb. 17: Opportunity digs hole in search of science

Feb. 18: Martian soil gets a closer look

Feb. 19: Have the rovers struck water?

Feb. 20: Spirit digs its own trench on Mars

Feb. 21: Spirit peers into Martian trench

Feb. 22: Spirit gears up for crater trek

Feb. 23: Results could solve Martian riddle

Feb. 24: Opportunity drills into bedrock

Feb. 25: Opportunity takes energy-saving steps

Feb. 26: Sunset on Mars inspires scientists

Feb. 27: Rovers cut back on working hours

Feb. 28: Opportunity takes another bite

Feb. 29: Spirit washes off 'Mickey Mouse' spot

ARTICLES

March 1: Scientists abuzz over Martian findings

March 2: Mars found once wet enough for life

March 3: Opportunity doesn’t rest on laurels

March 4: Opportunity gives robotic arm a workout

March 5: Spirit adds to evidence of water

March 5: See a solar eclipse from Mars

March 6: Mars rovers are on the move

March 8: Opportunity no match for Martian rock

March 9: Spirit makes way to higher ground

March 11: Spirit sends snapshot from crater

March 15: Panorama shows crater in living color

March 16: Spirit focuses on mystery dune

March 17: Water ice detected at pole

March 18: Longer leash for Spirit, Opportunity

March 19: Rovers kick up some dirt

March 22: Opportunity rover leaves Martian crater

March 23: Mars rocks bear signs of ancient shore

April 1: Spirit adds to the case for Martian water

ARTICLES

April 6: Spirit rover's mission goes into overtime

April 8: Mars rovers get another five months

April 13: Mars rovers get software upgrade

April 19: Rovers reach rims of Martian craters

April 21: Mars mission far from over

April 26: Opportunity rover passes Mars milestone

April 28: Mars rovers speed up their pace

May 3: Opportunity sends 3-D vista from crater

May 6: Mars rover prepares for cliffhanger

May 17: Spirit gets a reboot

May 26: Rovers weather difficulties

June 2: Mars team excited about new routes

June 4: Opportunity to take risky trip

June 8: Rovers may weather Martian winter

June 8: Salt adds to case for ancient water

ARTICLES

June 11: Opportunity tiptoes into crater

June 15: Spirit develops wheel problem

June 25: 'Pot of gold' perplexes researchers

July 6: Rovers roll on (and up and down)

July 7: A GPS system for Mars

July 18: Spirit hits rock paydirt on Mars

Aug. 4: Glitches dog Mars rovers

Aug. 5: Lava hides Martian mystery

Aug. 18: Mars rovers reach heights and depths

Aug. 24: Scientists debate methane mystery

Aug. 25: Mars Odyssey goes into overtime

Sept. 15: People on Mars in 20 to 30 years?

Sept. 22: Fresh theory on water bubbles up

ARTICLES

Sept. 22: Rover mission gets 6-month extension

Sept. 27: Orbiter photographs rover from space

Oct. 6: Spirit frozen in place

Oct. 10: Signs point to two watery eras

Oct. 11: Is Mars ready to rumble?

Oct. 15: Life-on-Mars gets a fresh look

Oct. 21: Steering glitch resurfaces

Nov. 5: Mission control shifts to Cornell

Nov. 5: Rovers get mystery power boost

Nov. 11: Rovers get ready to move on

Nov. 12: Search for water goes underground

Dec. 2: Life on Mars? Proceed with caution

Dec. 13: Findings stir 'second genesis' debate

Dec. 13: Oohs and ahs over rocks and skies

Dec. 13: Rover rises from crater for new trek

Dec. 16: Mars leads Science's Top 10 list

Dec. 21: Mystery 'car wash' helps rover

Dec. 22: Mars may still be ready to rumble

Dec. 29: Rover studies its own junk

Dec. 30: Scientist looks back on Mars marathon
2005: The rovers' second year

Jan. 3: Mars rover celebrates first anniversary

Jan. 4: Spirit follows up on surprises

Jan. 19: Tests confirm Mars meteorite

Jan. 25: One amazing year for Opportunity

Feb. 3: Greenhouse effect could remake Mars

Feb. 14: Rovers spot strange shapes

Feb. 15: New rock type found

Feb. 16: Signs of current life on Mars?

Feb. 17: Did water once spread across planet?

Feb. 18: NASA rejects claims about life

Feb. 18: Spirit explores Martian 'salt lick'

March 8: Hunt for life will go deep

March 16: Dust devils caught on Mars

March 16: Glitch affects rover instrument

March 16: Signs of recent Mars glaciers

Slide show

Greatest hits from Mars rovers
A year’s worth of highlights from NASA’s Spirit and Opportunity robots

SPECIAL REPORT

Go behind the scenes with MSNBC.com

NEWSWEEK PHOTO GALLERY

Lost in Space?

Take our quiz: Is it Earth or is it Mars? Launch Flash presentation

INTERACTIVE

SLIDE SHOW

Week 1
Highlights: Postcard from Mars

Slide show

Week 2
Highlights: Spirit rolls off landing platform

SLIDE SHOW

Week 3
Highlights: Spirit targets its first rock, the view from orbit

Slide show

Week 4:
Highlights: Opportunity lands in geologist's dreamland

Slide show

Week 5
Highlights: Welcome to bedrock, hematite hunt

SLIDE SHOW

Week 6
Highlights: Bedrock close-up & "blueberries"

Slide show

Week 7
Highlights: Rovers make tracks, explore "Laguna Hollow"

Slide show

Week 8
Highlights: See the sunset from Mars, and ripples in the planet surface

Slide show

Week 9
Highlights: See "El Capitan" and images of the next destination for the rover Opportunity.

Slide show

Week 10
Highlights: See the rock named "Humphrey," the martian moon, and the view of Earth from Mars.

Slide show

Week 11
Highlights: See Bonneville Crater, a drift named "Serpent" and the "Neopolitan."

Slide show

Week 12
Highlights: See Eagle Crater, Upper Dells, Homeplate, First Base and details of Mazatzal rock.

Slide show

Week 13
Highlights: See a variety of perspectives on the rock dubbed "Mazatzal." Also, see the rock the rover Opporutunity hit upon landing.

INTERACTIVE

Life on Mars?
A history of humanity's strange, curious quest

Slide show

Mars' greatest hits
See two decades' worth of Red Planet images.