Scientists are interested in the history of water on Mars to understand how life could have survived. Samples of the atmosphere could reveal crucial details on its formation and evolution, and also why Mars has less atmosphere than Earth. Mars can also help us to learn more about our home. Understanding martian geophysical processes promises to uncover details of the evolution and history of Earth and other planets in our Solar System.
To reduce the cost and risk for human exploration of Mars, robotic missions can scout ahead and help us to find potential resources and the risks of working on the planet. Before sending astronauts, we need to understand the hazards. Inevitably, astronauts would bring uncontained martian material when they return to Earth, either on their equipment or on themselves.
Understanding any biohazards in the soil and dust will help the planning and preparation of these future missions. As the first step, Perseverance will collect rock and soil samples in 43 cigar-sized tubes. The samples will be collected, the canisters will be sealed, and left on the ground.
The second step is for a Mars Fetch Rover provided by the European Space Agency to land, drive, and collect all samples from the different locations, and return to the lander. The Fetch Rover will then transfer the canisters to the Ascent Vehicle. MSR will revolutionise our understanding of the evolutionary history of Mars. If MSR is successfully executed, we will have a reasonable answer of whether there was microscopic life on Mars.
But MSR does have its risks. A hidden risk is strategic. At the cost of MSR, there could be spacecraft missions to different parts of the solar system: so hence, by choosing MSR, NASA forecloses the option to undertake those other missions.
Producing oxygen on Mars: A critical requirement. For a human mission to Mars to materialise, the cost needs to be reasonable. For costs to be reasonable, there needs to be a technology and infrastructure in place to manufacture oxygen on Mars using raw materials available on Mars.
Without a robust way to manufacture oxygen on Mars, human missions to Mars will be very expensive, and unrealistic. Should this experiment be successful, MOXIE can be scaled up by a factor of to provide the two very critical needs of humans: oxygen for breathing, and rocket fuel for the trip back to Earth. Looking for underground water on Mars. The instrument will also look for subsurface water on Mars — which, if found, will greatly help the case for a human mission or the cause of a human settlement on Mars.
Testing a helicopter to fly on Mars. The Mars Helicopter is really a small drone. It is a technology demonstration experiment: to test whether the helicopter can fly in the sparse atmosphere on Mars.
The low density of the Martian atmosphere makes the odds of actually flying a helicopter or an aircraft on Mars very low. Long-distance transportation on Mars has to rely on vehicles that rely on rocket engines for powered ascent and powered descent.
We are perhaps a decade from two milestones in the exploration of Mars: a human mission to Mars, and a decisive answer to the question of whether Mars harboured — or still harbours — microscopic life. Perseverance is expected to provide significant insight on both questions.
Mars One raised funds by having investors invest in a Mars One media company that held the rights to the mission. With their feedback, Mars One developed a plan that was feasible, affordable and that had an acceptable risk. In , the plan was announced, later followed by a job vacancy for Mars settlers. More than , people registered their interest on the Mars One website. More than 10, potentials finished the job application process, and Mars One narrowed down the applicants, first to round 2 candidates and then to round three candidates.
In and , Mars One had feasibility studies performed by Lockheed Martin , for a first robotic mission and with Paragon Space Development Corporation, for Mars suits and life support systems. In Mars One ran out of funds and was unable to continue the selection program and the technical studies. In the years after that, several attempts were made to raise additional funds, but they were unsuccessful. Despite that, Mars One has had an impact on Mars exploration by promoting the idea of permanent settlement.
The risk of doing a return mission before you have adequate launch infrastructure on Mars is simply too great. The first time you hear the idea of permanent settlement, you might think it is out there.
0コメント