NIAGARA FALLS, NEWYORK

Sharing a part of the international border between United States and Canada, Niagara Falls gives its
visitors a unique, natural, up-close experience to one of the natural wonders of the world . Niagara
 Falls is the collective name for three water falls viz. American Falls(US), Bridal Veil Falls (US) and
Horseshoe falls (major part in Canada ). Located on the Niagara river ( 36 mile long) halfway  is the
 falls themselves. This majestic, powerful  and beautiful natural  wonder is a destination for explorers
 daredevils and honeymooners alike.

There are differing theories as to the origin of the name Niagara. Some believe that the word Niagara
 is derived from the Iroquois Indian word "Onguiaahra" meaning the  "point of land cut in two" and
some argue that it came from the native Indians of the area known as "Niagagarega".The outside
world came to know about the existence of Niagara falls only after the expedition and in-depth
description of it by Father Louis Hennepin, a French priest in 1678. This made the region under
 the French hold and they built a fort at the mouth of the Niagara River, now known as Old Fort Niagara.

   As the Niagara falls straddle between USA and Canada, it can be viewed from both countries  by
just crossing a bridge, provided you have valid visa and passport. The port of entry to both countries
are situated on the rainbow bridge, that connect both countries. The Canadian side of falls gives a
gorgeous view of  the American Falls and the mighty Horseshoe Falls while in the American side
 one could enjoy all three components of Niagara Falls - Horseshoe Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and the American Falls

The Rainbow Bridge at Niagara Falls connects the cities of Buffalo in New York, USA with Ontario,
 Canada. This  international steel arch bridge across the Niagara River gorge is a world-famous
tourist site. Those who visit the falls from US side get a pass called " Niagara USA Discovery
 Pass"  at 38% discount on all park attractions. The pass includes Niagara Adventure Theater,
Aquarium of Niagara, Cave of the Wind, Niagara Gorge  Discovery Center, and Maid of the Mist.

One of the greatest attraction at Niagara falls is the Maid of the Mist boat tour. Before the

construction of the Rainbow bridge, the boat ride originated as an actual ferry service between USA

and Canada.The service now turned to a thrilling boat ride on  boats  named Maid of the Mist. The

 boat starts off  near Rainbow bridge every 15 mts and takes about 300 passengers on board near  to

 American  and Bridal Falls and then into the dense mist of spray inside the curve of Horse Shoe Fall.

 

This amazing  20 minute boat tour offer a lifetime experience to feel the splendor of Niagara Falls.

  Passengers on board are provided with a transparent blue rain poncho. As the boat moves, giant rock

 walls of the falls appears really close and almost frightening.This incredible experience is a combo

of  beauty, noise, wind, mist and spray .Peregrine falcons, bald eagles and many sea gulls and terns

  patrol the base of the Falls in large flocks looking for those unfortunate fish that are stunned by the

 falls and swim too close to the surface. Niagara river is a fishing mecca with wide varieties of fishes.

 As the boat reaches closer to the falls, only the roar and thunder of the  water can be heard .You cant

 even hear the person next to you. The power and sheer size of the water falls can be felt directly

when  the water and mist drench you with moist wind blows and water splashes. . Make sure to cover

 your camera when you are in the dense mist shower area. 

 Another major attraction at the falls is The Cave of the Winds. This was an original  natural cave
behind Bridal Veil Falls at the Niagara Falls. The cave was some 130 feet high, 100 feet wide and 30

 feet in depth. It was discovered in 1834, and originally dubbed Aeolus' Cave, after the Greek god of

 winds . The guided tour through the cave continued until  a rock fall in 1954.  Now, the journey only

includes walking on wooden decks and stairs right up to the base of the Bridal Veil Falls areas.

 

 Cave of the wind offer a thrilling walk on Niagara Falls wild side which take visitors to a stormy
mist zone. The admission to the cave of the winds include an yellow rain poncho and special sandals.
 The   elevator  takes you down  175 ft deep into the Niagara Gorge and  to the side of the falls. The
 visitors  has to  follow a wooden walkway along Niagara River to the Hurricane Deck . Hurricane
deck with a railing is nearly 20 ft from the billowing torrents of the Falls.  

 

The water  coming over the falls will make you drenched and doused. On the Hurricane deck you can
actually get tropical storm-like conditions when water splashes and wind blows on you with a greater
force. The gushing water and strong spray of water  from above with force will make you really feel
 the natural power of water.Its like a dream to watch the permanent rainbow within your hands reach. 

Those who want a panoramic view of all  Niagara Falls, the clear choice is Prospect Point Park

 Observation Tower. Extending out dramatically over Niagara Gorge, this architectural wonder

constructed of aluminum, glass and steel  affords unobstructed views of the wild cascades of Niagara

Falls, as well as the raging whitewater below. Originally built in 1961, the tower stands at 282 feet

(86 m) with the base at the gorge level. The tower is visited by eight million tourists annually.

Terrapin Point located at Goat Island, next to Horseshoe Falls is another major observation area to
overlook  the falls and lower Niagara Gorge from American side . Before the second half of the 20th
century, Terrapin Point was a group of rocks on the brink of the falls and were known as the Terrapin
 Rocks because they resembled giant tortoises. The three sisters islands which can be accessed from
goat island also offers a great view of the upper rapids cascading over the Canadian Horseshoe Falls.

 The American Falls receive approximately 10% of the total flow from Niagara River. The  ledge of

the American Falls is shaped in a modified "W" form, caused by numerous rock falls over  past 150

years which have resulted in the huge mound of rock at its base. Luna/moon Island separates Bridal

veil falls, the smallest of the three falls from American Falls. The border between USA and Canada

over Horseshoe falls was first determined by the Treaty of Ghent. Horseshoe Falls with the shape of a

  horseshoe-shaped crest is the biggest among these falls  and constitutes 90% of the total water flow.

With its renowned beauty the falls also has recreational, commercial, and industrial uses. The  power
   plants of USA and Canada together produce around 2.5 million kilowatts of Hydroelectricity from
  this valuable  source of hydroelectric power. Under the 1950 International Niagara treaty, the flow
 of water over the falls is reduced during night to allow more of the water to flow into intakes used
for  power generation. This plan ensures that the Falls’ natural beauty remains unaffected during
 prime  viewing hours. It also help to reduce the rate of erosion .

Niagara river is a legacy of the last ice age. It is estimated that over 12000 years ago when the falls
were formed , Niagara Falls extended seven miles down river to what is now Lewiston New York
and Queenston, Ontario. Until the 1950's when  the flow of the water began to be controlled , the
brink of the falls moved backwards at an estimated rate of three feet every year because of erosion. It
 is estimated that 50,000 years from now,even at this reduced rate of erosion, the remaining 20 miles
 (32 km) to Lake Erie will have been undermined  and the falls will cease to exist.

 Water  that plunges over Niagara Falls comes from four of the five Great Lakes that drain into the

Niagara River, (Superior, Michigan, Huron and Erie) before emptying into Lake Ontario. These five

 Great Lakes make up almost one-fifth of the world's fresh water supply. The Great Lakes are the

world’s largest surface freshwater system and contribute about 18 percent of the world’s supply. The
water flows from streams and rivers, empty into the  Great Lakes through Niagara . From there it

flows to Lake Ontario and drains into  the St. Lawrence River and join with the Atlantic Ocean.

  Niagara Falls is the second largest water falls in the world next to Victoria Falls, a South African

natural wonder created by Zambezi river. The falls was formed when Zambezi river suddenly and

dramatically  crashes into the chasm and swallowed into its own riverbed allowing the visitor to walk

along its length, directly opposite to the falls, seperated only by a narrow gorge. The  title of worlds

highest falls in the world goes to "Angel Falls" in Venezuela, measuring 979 m (3212 ft) high. What

 makes Niagara Falls so spectacular from these famous falls is the combination of its height , shape and volume.

The most famous daredevil of Niagara Falls  who crossed the gorge on a tight rope was Charles

Blondin from France. From 1859 he crossed the falls17 times altogether . His adventures include

crossing the Falls blindfolded, pushing a wheel  barrow across the rope,  carrying his manager, Harry

 Colcord, on his back, traversing the tightrope while walking on stilts, taking photographs of the

crowd down below  and  balancing a chair on the  rope and standing on it. One time he even carried a

 small stove on his back and stopped at the middle of  the  rope and prepared himself an omelet and ate it.

The startling green color of the Niagara River is a visible tribute to the erosive power of water. An

estimated 60 tons of dissolved minerals are swept over Niagara Falls every minute. The color comes

 from the dissolved salts and "rock flour," very finely ground rock, picked up primarily from the

limestone bed but probably also from the sandstones under the limestone cap at the falls. Erosive

 forces include the action of frost from the spray and the dissolving action of the spray itself.

 Niagara whirlpool is a natural whirlpool located in Niagara gorge along the down streams of Niagara
 river. The whirlpool naturally spins in a counterclockwise motion when the river  takes a sharp turn.
 If you want great fun, opt for a jet boat ride on the whirlpool which is a  real blast. This roller coaster
 experience on water make you fly down the river  at over 50 MPH .The boat plunge directly into the
rapids and Hamilton turns, scooping up hundreds of gallons of water over you.. Those who visit from
 the Canada side can enjoy an Aero Car drive over the whirlpool. Private helicopter ride over the
 gorge and the whirlpool are also available, which gives a better view of the entire falls.

Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. They are  formed as result of  earthquake,

landslide, glacier or volcanos, which  create cliffs, cracks, faults and other changes in elevation. 

Waterfalls  are classified into various types and groups based on its  shape and volume. Niagara Falls

is a block or rectangular shaped waterfall belonging to class 10  based on volume. Once in history

(1848)  the flow of water to the  Niagara falls was completely stopped for few hours due to an

 ice jam in the upper river. It revealed  the river bed  for several hours and  people actually  walked

 and recovered  many artifacts from the river bed  .

Every evening beginning at dusk, the Falls are lit in the colors of the rainbow. Because of this

 spectacular light show of rich and ever-changing hues, Niagara Falls can appear even more dramatic

 after dark. The hours of illumination may vary depending on the sun sets and the season .

This unmatched light show will give you the feeling of standing in a fairy land.

Niagara Falls State Park is the oldest state park in the United State . It was created after the  Niagara
appropriations bill signed into law in 1885.This state park with brilliant floral gardens depict the

  Great Lakes region above the falls. It includes grassy areas in the shapes of Lakes Michigan,
Superior, Huron and Erie and also have a walkway that follows the course of the Niagara River.
The park  have  food concession, a movie theater, museum, gift shop, fireworks, hiking and nature
 trails, fishing, biking, picnic and  recreation programs 

Niagara Falls State Park of USA stretches over 400 acres, with close to 140 acres  under water.

 The Park has many parking options to choose from. Paid lots are offered closer to the Falls, and

many free parking options are available along the Niagara Parkway. Niagara Falls State Park has

 a number of food service outlets ranging from grab-and-go snack bars and cafes. This State Park is

 also a   great setting for special events including weddings, reunions and banquets.

Note: Cameras Used :-Canon Power shot A490, Canon Power Shot SD 400, nikon d5000

How to reach: 

By Air: Buffalo-Niagara International Airport (30 miles from the park).

      Niagara Falls International Airport (NFIA) ( 8.4 miles to the park). 

By Train : Niagara USA is connected to East Coast destinations such as New York City, Philadelphia and Washington D.C via Amtrak ( rail service)

By Bus:  Service available  by Greyhound, New York Trail ways and various tour operators.

By Car: The region is  easily accessible from the New York State Thruway (I-90).

Address:332 Prospect Street, Niagara Falls, NY 14303
Phone:716-278-1796

  

CHERRY BLOSSOM

For over 100 years , Cherry Blossom have made spring ,a magical season in Washington DC. Cherry

 Blossom festival commemorate the gift of Japanese cherry trees from the Mayor of  Tokyo City to

the city of Washington DC on March 27, 1912,.A Cherry Blossom is the flower of any of several

trees of genus Prunus, particularly the Japanese Cherry called Sakura .

 In Japan, the flowering cherry tree, or "Sakura," is an exalted flowering plant.  The beauty of the

cherry blossom is a potent and lasting symbol  of Japanese culture. The celebration is called Hanami

 ( Blossom Viewing ) in Japan in  which people from all walks of life gather under the blossomed

trees and enjoy the brief burst of the beauty of nature and springtime.

 In Japan Cherry blossom also symbolize clouds due to it its nature of blooming. Cherry blossom is

 speculated to be native to the Himalayas and is currently distributed widely in temperate zone of

northern hemisphere  such as Europe, West Siberia, South Korea, China, Japan and United States .

Washington, DC's famed cherry trees grow mainly in three park locations. They can be seen around

 the Tidal Basin in West Potomac Park, in East Potomac Park (Haines Point),and near to the  grounds

 of the Washington  Monument. Approximately 3,750 cherry trees are on the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC.

Different varieties of cherry trees participate in the blossom festival.The dominant Yoshino trees
produces  single white blossoms that create an effect of white clouds around the Tidal Basin and
 north onto the grounds of the Washington Monument. Akebono cherry trees, which bloom at the
 same time as the Yoshino trees, produce single and pale-pink blossoms.

The Kwanzan  cherry trees grows primarily in East Potomac Park and comes into bloom two weeks

after the Yoshino. It produces clusters of clear pink double blossoms. East Potomac Park also has

Fugenzo, which produces rosy pink double blossoms, and Shirofugen which produces white double

blossoms that age to pink. Interspersed among all the trees are the Weeping Cherry, which produces a

 variety of single and double blossoms of colors ranging from dark pink to white about a week before the Yoshino.

Other cultivars that can be found are the Autumn Cherry (semi-double, pink), Sargent Cherry which
 is single and deep pink), Usuzumi (white-grey), and Takesimensis. The dates of the National Cherry
 Blossom Festival are set based on the average date of blooming,  which is around April 4th.

Based on the weather ,the date when the cherry blossoms reach their peak bloom varies from year to
year. The blooming period  can last up to 14 days. They are considered to be at their peak when 70
percent  of the blossoms are open.  

Growing cherry trees in Washington was the brainchild of two flowering-cherry aficionados, Eliza
  Scidmore and Dr David Fairchild. Scidmore was an American globetrotter,writer, photographer and
 the first woman to sit on the National Geographic Society's board of directors. She was overwhelmed
 by the lovely blossoming cherry trees when she visited Japan.For 24 years she advocated for planting
  Japanese cherry trees in Washington DC.

 Fairchild was an American botanist responsible for  introducing  more than 200,000 exotic plants to

 America. He planted 75 cherry trees himself to test  their viability and succeeded in his  experiment.
 Pleased with the success he began to promote Japanese flowering cherry trees as the ideal type of
 tree to plant along avenues in the Washington area.

The first "Cherry Blossom Festival" was held in 1935 under joint sponsorship by numerous civic

groups, became an annual event. It is said that in Japan celebrating the cherry blossoms was an old

 tradition started  from 8th century onwards. These flowers are also considered as the unofficial

 national flower of Japan ( As Japan has not yet formally declared any national flower )

The festival is an annual, city-wide event featuring more than 200 international cultural

performances and over 90 other special events. More than 700,000 people visit Washington DC each

 year to admire the blossoming cherry trees that herald the beginning of spring in the nation's capital.

The two-week festival with an array of activities and cultural events takes place on the following days. 

 

The Blossom Kite Festival (formerly the Smithsonian Kite Festival) usually takes place during the

 festival's first weekend. Every day there is a sushi/sake celebration, classes about cherry blossoms,

 and a bike tour of the Tidal Basin. Other events include cultural performances, fashion shows, dance,

 singing,art exhibits (photography, sculpture, animation) ,rakugo, kimono , martial arts, merchant-

sponsored events, and a rugby union tournament.

 On the second Saturday of the celebration, a three-stage festival takes place on the Southwest

 Waterfront. The next morning, the Cherry Blossom 10-Mile Run  begins on the grounds of the

Washington Monument. Later in the day, dignitaries gather at the Tidal Basin to participate in a

ceremonial lighting of the 360-year old Japanese stone lantern.

On the last Saturday of the festival, the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade takes place along

the Constitution Avenue. When the festival ends, a fireworks show begins on the nearby Washington

Channel. The pyrotechnic petals that burst overhead is one of the highlights of the National Cherry

Blossom Festival  and drew in huge crowds of spectators . 

 

 

Location: Washington DC
Camera: Canon Power shot A490, Canon Powershot SD 400,Nikon DSLR ( Arasu)

 

 

 

ROCK BRIDGE MEMORIAL STATE PARK, COLUMBIA

States Parks are protected areas having natural beauty, historical interest or recreational potential.

In USA, there are around 59 National Park and 6624 state parks. State parks are administered

by states while National parks comes under the direct control of federal government.

In Missouri there are 87 state park and historic sites covering an area of 200000 acres.

Established in 1967,Rock Bridge Memorial State Park is located in Boon County, Columbia.

The park has a karst topography with rock bridges, underground streams and sink holes.
Karst is a landscape formed by chemical dissolution of carbonate rocks.

The park offers several trails for hiking and bicycling in a  wild and scenic environment.

Major trails in the park are spring brook trail, Sinkhole trail, Karst Trail, High Ridge Trail,

Grassland  trail,  Gans Creek Wild area trail, Deer Run Trail and the Devils Icebox trail. 

Trails are  footpath located in different setting and have different uses. In North America it is

 also applied to routes along rivers and sidewalk on highway. Created in 1968, US National Trail

system include National Scenic trails, Historic trails and recreational trails.The most famous and

longest trail in North America is Appalachian National Scenic Trail and Pacific Crest Trail.

This state park is a great location for hiking ,cycling and horseback riding. Multiday hikes with
 camping is known by different names in different parts of the world.It is called backpacking in North
 America while in other parts of the world it is known as trekking or tramping.One can listen to wood
 peckers and watch wild life along the trails and  know the nature in close proximity.

Rock Bridge Memorial State Park spreads in an area of 2272.83 acres or approximately 5 miles.
 This Park with its  lushly green and vivid vegetation offers a fascinating opportunity for the
visitors  to learn about plants, animals and wild communities  all across the trail.

Native to moist wood lands in eastern parts of North America Jack in the pulpit is a
 poisonous plant .The name Jack refers the central spadix  and pulpit refers the pouch shaped
 sheath like leaf. Overall the plant denote preacher standing in a pulpit (raised platform).

 Jeffereys shooting star is a plant with swept back petals.  This nodding flowers is believed to be
protected by twelve Greek Gods. Hence the name Dodecatheos which means twelve gods. Its
a bewitching sight to watch these wild flowers of the prairies blooming in colonies during spring .

Colorful and attractive wild red columbine can be seen all across this park. This  is a favorite
 flower for humming birds . At the same time this  plant is said to be toxic to wild herbivorous.

This pretty pink wild flower known as Evening Primrose start out as white and become pink when

 grew old. This shell pink flowers blooms in the day and night  and closes on full sun light. Native to

plains, deserts and grass lands of North America this flower  attracts the nocturnal wild.

Blue Eyed Mary is a pretty and tiny bicolor woodland wild flower with a true blue color. It  grows
 in the shady  mountain  and moist forests in western and northern parts of United States.    

  Dancing in the spring breeze, this flower is known as Wild blue phlox or wild sweet William
This is a semi evergreen perennial flower widely seen in the rock bridge state park.

Despite the trails, this park has many caves and creeks. Deer's, beavers and muskrats are seen
along  the secluded woods and grassy openings in the park. If you want   biking, scrambling and
hiking in a scenic and  wild solitude, Rock bridge memorial state park is a good choice.

Other than wild plants and animals, the major attractions in the park include Devils Ice box (a double

 sink hole), Connor's spring ,Natural tunnels, bottom land forests, creeks and hills .

The photos are taken as a part of the half day discovery trail arranged by Runge  conservation

center.It is  a volunteer led program to provide opportunities to people of all ages to explore
 the  best hiking trails of Missouri. The park is a great place to walk around and  has much
 to offer to any nature enthusiast.

 

 Location:  5901 South Highway 163,

                  Columbia, MO 65203

GODDARD SPACE CENTER: NASA

National Aeronautics and Space Administration( NASA) is the  space agency formed in 1958 by the

 US congress under the presidency of Dwight D Eisenhower. This agency  with its headquarters in

Washington DC is accountable for all the space explorations undertaken by the US government.

   The Goddard Space Flight Center established in 1959, is a major space research laboratory of

NASA. It is NASA's first space flight center, named in recognition of Dr. Robert H Goddard , the

pioneer of modern rocket propulsion in the United States. NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center is

home to the nation's largest organization of combined scientists, engineers and technologists that

build spacecraft,  instruments and new technology to study Earth, sun, solar system and the universe.

 Goddard visitor center located at Maryland is an educational museum . It demonstrates Goddard's

 innovative and exciting work in Earth science, astrophysics, heliophysics, planetary science,

 engineering, communication and technology development to the public. The visitor center displays

only a  very few  models of space crafts and technologies developed by NASA. Many of the originals

 and backups are displayed at the National Air and Space Museum (Smithsonian) at Washington DC. 

A model of Hubble Telescope can be seen at the entrance of the center. Launched in 1990 and still
 remains in operation, it provides a uniquely clear and deep views of the cosmos. Named after
astronomer Edwin Hubble, this is the world's first space -based  optical telescope constructed by
NASA. Although not the first  space telescope, it is one of the largest and most versatile telescope,
and is well known as  a vital research tool and a public relations boon for astronomy. One of the key
successful mission of NASA was repairing the Hubble Telescope ,which literally revolutionized  the
history of astronomy.Its scientific successor, the  James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), is
scheduled to launch in 2018.

  The space era started on October 1957 when about the size of a beach ball, the Russian satellite
Sputnik  orbited earth and pulled Russia ahead in the  space race. It ushered a new political, military,
technological, and scientific developments and marked the start of US-USSR space race. In 1958,
Explorer1,the first satellite was  launched by America as part of its participation in the  International Geophysical Year .

Goddard Visitor  center exhibits many Images of the Solar system .NASA has been taking pictures of
 the Earth, the Moon , the Planets, and other astronomical objects inside and outside our Solar System
since its  creation. NASA has conducted many manned and  unmanned spaceflight programs
throughout its history. In 1961 Alan Shepard became the second person and the first American to
travel into space.  In 1968, NASA  launched a Mercury Redstone rocket  with "Ham the chimpanzee" on board.

A Model of space station and  images from space are displayed at the visitor center. Landsat Program
 of NASA has provided millions of images of the Earth to scientists . These Images are unique
resource for global change, research and applications in agriculture, geology, forestry, regional
planning,  education and  national security.In 1962 the TIROS satellite of NASA started continuous
 coverage of the Earth's weather and provided the first accurate weather forecasts based on data from space.

The Gemini program of NASA served as a stepping-stone to the Moon, testing astronauts' endurance,
 and the  rendezvous and docking maneuvers that would be needed for a lunar mission. Astronaut Ed
 White became the first American to walk on space on June 3, 1965. A few models of Artificial
satellites and   space shuttles are also exhibited  at the Visitor center.

There is a Sphere presentation theatre  with a 360 degree movie projector at Goddard Visitor center.
It projects the major  milestones and achievements of NASA including many useful information
about astronomy. The most attractive milestone in the history of NASA is the" giant leap for
mankind" happened on July 20, 1969. On that day, the whole world was  riveted, when Apollo 11
 Astronaut, Neil Armstrong stepped off the lunar lander Eagle and took man's  first steps on the lunar surface.

 Rocket Garden outside the visitor center displays a variety of rockets. The word "rocket" can mean
different things like a missile, spacecraft, aircraft, or vehicle that obtains thrust from a rocket engine.
In 1972, Pioneer 10 become the first spacecraft to travel through the asteroid belt, and the first
spacecraft  to make direct observations and obtain close-up images of Jupiter. Launched in 1973 by
 the rocket Saturn V, Skylab is the first experimental space station of America operated by NASA till 1979. 

 Sounding Rockets also known as research rocket is an instrument-carrying rocket designed to take
 measurements and perform scientific experiments during its sub-orbital flight. Of all the NASA
missions, none has visited as many planets, rings, and satellites, as the twin Voyager 1 and Voyager 2
 spacecraft, launched in 1977. Voyager 1, more than twice as distant as Pluto, is farther from Earth
 than any other human-made object.

Spacelab, a modular scientific laboratory developed by the European Space Agency in collaboration

with  NASA,  was launched aboard the shuttle Columbia in November 1983. The  Inter-national

 Space Station, seen with naked eye from earth is the largest and most complex international

  scientific project in the history. Led by the US, this habitable station draws upon the scientific and

 technological resources of 16 nations including Canada, Japan, Russia, 11 nations of the European

 Space  Agency and Brazil. Construction began in 1998 and crews staffed the station since 2000.

The Mars Pathfinder of NASA arrived at the red planet on July 4, 1997.Five orbiters currently

surveying the  red planet are Mars Odyssey (NASA),Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (NASA),MAVEN

(NASA), Mars Express (European Space Agency)  and  Mangalyan ( India). Opportunity and

Curiosity are robotic rovers of NASA, landed on Mars. (A rover is an automated motor vehicle that

propels itself across the surface of the planet Mars upon arrival) .

Though NASA faced major disaster like the explosion of  the space shuttle Challenger (1986) and

Space Shuttle Columbia (2003) which killed all the crew, it continue planning to expand human

 knowledge of space; lead the world in space-related technological innovation; develop vehicles that

 can carry both equipment and living organisms into space; and coordinate with international space

agencies to achieve the greatest possible scientific advancements. NASA continues to seek answers

to some of the biggest mysteries of Universe. It stands to explore every  corner of space to expand

 the human knowledge about the universe.

 

 

 

Note: Cameras Used :-Canon Power shot A490

Location: 8800 Green Belt Road,

                Green Belt, MD 20771

                301 286 2000.