Abstract
This paper discusses The Red Planet, Mars. The author examines the conditions, life, and gives detailed information about the planet's atmosphere and its two moons. The paper also looks at the possibility of life surviving on Mars' desert-like environment.

From the Paper
"Mars, it is the fourth planet from the sun. It is closet planet to the planet that we live on. Mars is the planet with more solar exploration than any other planet in our universe. Mars is the one planet that has an atmosphere similar to ours. Mercury, Venus, and Pluto have had all of their atmospheres burned off and Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune all have atmospheres that are hundreds of time more violent than the calm atmospheres of Earth and Mars. Mars is also the only planet in which we have identified that there was once water on the surface of the planet. We have discovered huge canyons that resemble the ones on Earth. This is also the reason why we believe that the Red Planet might have once had or still does have life on it."

Tags:red, planet, carbon, dioxide, oxygen, life, water, olympus, mons, phobes, deimos

Abstract
This paper explores comets; the astronomical bodies made up of frozen gases and dust particles, which orbit the solar system. The author discusses how comets develop, their structure, their volatility, and the important role that comets play in the revolution of astronomy and cosmology. The paper also contains a detailed description of Halley's Comet.

From the Paper
"Comet structures are diverse and very dynamic, but they all develop a surrounding cloud of diffuse material, called a coma, that usually grows in size and brightness as the comet approaches the Sun. Usually a small, bright nucleus (less than 10 km in diameter) is visible in the middle of the coma. The coma and the nucleus together constitute the head of the comet."

Tags:tail, halley, nucleus, sun, orbit, moon, astronomy, greece, cosmology, ice, space, molecule

Abstract
This paper looks at literary and scientific documentation to assess whether the possibility exists that there is both life and an existing civilization in Mars and whether Mars is able to support human (or at least similar to the elements needed to support human living) life.

Outline

Introduction
Graham Hancock's "The Mars Mystery"
Summary of Scientific Speculations
List of Similarities between Mars and Earth
Evidence Supporting Life on Mars
Physical Structure and Composition of Mars
Chemical, Biological and Atmospheric Composition of Mars
Life is Possible on Mars
Civilization Existed on Mars
Space Missions and Probes
Space Mission/Programs Funded by Various Nations
Disqualification of Claims of Civilization on Mars
Conclusion

From the Paper
"These space probes and explorations about Mars brought about numerous information and even pictures of the planet's surface. However, it is difficult to obtain quality shots of the planet's surface because of its distance from the Earth, and accuracy and precision was sacrificed when information brought by these probes came into existence and knowledge of scientists and astronomers. One speculation that resulted from these studies and explorations is that aside from the possibility that Mars is capable of cultivating human life, there has been evidence supporting some scientists' claim that there existed a form of civilization in Mars."

Tags:civilization, human, beings, astronomy, solar, system, sun

Abstract
The paper details the similarities between Earth and Mars explaining that Mars once had its own water cycle. The paper explains what an asteroid is and asserts that asteroids probably destroyed Mars. It speculates whether an asteroid can destroy Earth and discusses ways to prevent this from happening.

From the Paper
"A billion or so years ago, a frozen lake covered the plains that were alive. Most of the other volcanoes had stopped spewing gases, the temperature and atmospheric pressure on Mars were so low that ice from the lake surface sublimated. These formed into vapor without melting as water. The water vapor formed clouds that dropped snow onto the volcano's slopes. The volcano's magma chamber warmed the slopes enough to melt the bottom layers of the deep snow pack."

Tags:asteroid, water, meteorite, extinction

Abstract
The paper looks at the Viking landing missions on Mars twenty years ago and their tests for biological processes on the Martian surface. It looks at how a recent series of orbiting Martian missions has yielded a good deal of chemical and geographic observations from afar. The most exciting possibilities have come from the analysis and interpretation of Martian surface formations seen by these missions. The paper includes a detailed description of these formations such as outflow channels, seepage gullies and several others. In further searches for definitive findings, several missions in the near future will land on Mars and hopefully provide the best data yet. This paper details some of the discoveries made to date, the strongest arguments for water on Mars and what the future holds for Martian exploration.

From the Paper
"The thought of life on Mars has intrigued humans for centuries. As Martian astronomy has made incredible leaps in the past 100 years and many spectacular discoveries have been made, we are still not sure if life does or has ever existed on Mars. Over the last thirty years, as our knowledge of biological functions has increased, scientists have focused more and more on the existence of liquid water as the biggest single indicator of possible life. To that end, much work and controversy has surrounded man's efforts to find evidence of that all important ingredient for the development of life on Mars."

Tags:atmosphere, carbon, dioxide, earth, lunar, nasa, odyssey, orbit, planet, rover, solar, space, sun, system

Abstract
This is an informative paper on what exactly a black hole is and what scientists have theorized about black holes. The paper examines the formation of black holes, past research on black holes and pondering questions still unanswered today.

From the Paper
"Ever since you were old enough to know what the sky, moon and stars were, you have always imagined what is actually up there? One of the most fascinating ideas of all is the mysterious and scary thought of a BLACK HOLE! This is perfectly normal because even today scientists are still pondering over that same question - what is a black hole and does it exist? Theories that at one time seemed reasonable are now laughed at, our skies hold an infinite space which we will never be able to explore, as a result, our questions will be infinite as well."

Tags:astronomy, black, holes, science, stars, universe, infinity

Abstract
Intelligent systems are becoming increasingly important in deep space missions, especially missions to Mars. This paper covers three intelligent technologies: (1) The intelligent space ship 'Deep Space One' and its autonomous navigation system; (2) The Mars global surveyor and the deep space terminal and (3) The 'Sojourner' and Rocky 7 and 8 rovers.
The paper includes illustrations.

From the Paper
"Deep Space One marked the first mission of NASA's New Millennium Program which is aimed at testing highly advanced technologies for low-cost planetary missions [3]. The key component being tested by the mission was its AutoNav system. AutoNav is made up of three main tools: the Nav Main (simply Nav), the Nav Executive (NavExec) and the Nav Real-Time (NavRT). Nav and NavRT have architectures very similar to those of expert systems where decisions are based on algorithms built on sets of well defined rules. As well its decisions are supported by information gathered autonomously. In that respect it is very similar to the path planning software used in planetary rovers, which will be discussed later."

Tags:computer, nasa, robotics, viking

Abstract
This paper focuses on the history and the discovery of the ninth planet in the Solar System, Pluto, and its lone moon, Charon. The paper discusses various theories about what originally propelled astronomers to search for this mysterious planet, known as Planet X, and how its name Pluto finally came about after its discovery.

From the Paper
"John Murray, an astronomer from Open University in the U.K. proposes a theory in which two large objects may gravitationally affect the orbits of long period comets. These two objects would have to be about 32,000 AU from the Sun and extremely massive, about the size of Jupiter. John J. Matese of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette proposes a similar theory. His involves two to three Jupiter sized objects orbiting at about 2.3 trillion miles from the Sun. He says that their gravity is responsible for the deflection of roughly 25% of the known 82 Oort Cloud comets into the inner solar system. Matese says that these massive objects do not necessarily have to be planets; they may be undetected brown dwarfs undetected because the IRAS (Infrared Astronomical Satellite) of the 1980s was not sensitive enough to distinguish an individual brown dwarf against the galactic plane."

Tags:astronomy, hershel, outer, physics, space, Camille, Flammarian

Abstract
The writer gives a background of the Big Bang Theory and explores the theory as an explanation of the beginning of the universe. However, since the 1940s and the introduction of this theory, scientists have raised questions as to the validity of the explanation and continue to research other ways in which the universe might have been created. The paper traces some of this research.

From the Paper
"One such area of research has been the model for the expansion of the universe and so for the Big Bang. One theory offered to explain this is the inflationary model, and over the last two decades what has happened to this model shows some of the ways scientific truth is pursued and fine-tuned. Alan Guth developed the idea in 1979 and wrote it in his notebook. Inflation was the name for the mechanism Guth proposed for igniting cosmic expansion and which might have operated for as little as 10-35 seconds. Still, it would have whipped up all the matter and energy in the universe and laid the seeds for galaxies and galaxy clusters in that brief time, and in that time the universe would have blossomed exponentially from as small as 10-24 centimeters across to perhaps the size of a pumpkin. Michael Turner of the University of Chicago describes inflation as "the most important idea in cosmology since that of the big bang itself.""

Tags:universe, creation, science, astronomy, research

Abstract
This paper deals with Galileo's arguments with church officials, and his attempt to reconcile his scientific findings with teachings from the bible. Emphasis is placed on Galileo's conviction that scientific truth and the biblical message are not contradictory, but can complement each other. Historical and religious figures are discussed with respect to their influence on Galileo.

From the Paper
"Perhaps the most relevant and convincing argument that Galileo posed to clear up the relationship between
scientific truth and the bible was that the bible was often unclear and ambiguous (GAL 214, 206, 199), which could cause the true meaning to be misunderstood by people attempting to translate its meaning. An example of this posed by Galileo was from the commonly known story of God stopping the sun in the sky to allow Joshua to win a battle."

Tags:bible, church, dogma, galileo, religion, renaissance, scientific, truth, -, LO, TOV