Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and the second-smallest planet in the Solar System, after Mercury. It is a terrestrial planet with a thin atmosphere, having surface features reminiscent both of the impact craters of the Moon and the valleys, deserts, and polar ice caps of Earth. The red-orange appearance of the Martian surface is caused by iron(III) oxide, or rust. Mars has two small moons, Phobos and Deimos. The exploration of Mars has been a goal of national space programs for decades. NASA has launched several successful missions to Mars, including the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity, and the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity. The European Space Agency has also sent missions to Mars, including the Mars Express and the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter.
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