Mission to Mars

Why Mars? Mars has long been the subject of human interest.” Explore the potential previous and future ability to sustain life Test technology for human exploration of Mars “Early observations revealed color … attributed to seasonal vegetation.” “Mars is a rocky planet, like Earth, that formed around the same time” – “Half the diameter of Earth” – “Thinner atmosphere” – The surface is cold and desert-like.

Launches to Mars DecadeLaunches 1960s s s s s s4

Who has successfully gone to Mars? NASA Soviet Union European Space Agency Indian Space Research Organization Others have tried; some include Japan and China

Mars 2020 Rover

Rover Rover design will be similar to design of Curiosity Car sized (3 m x 2.7 m x 2.2 m)

Mission Identify and select a collection of rock and soil samples that will be stored for potential return to Earth in the future. Analysis will help determine whether life existed on Mars Analysis will help inform planning for human exploration there

Improvements Powered by heat of plutonium nuclear decay, will create electricity – Allows for day and night operation – Will last at least 1 Martian year, 687 Earth days Wheels that are more heavy duty than Curiosity’s wheels 2020 Rover will cover more distance, drive more independently than Curiosity

Improvements 2020 Rover will have more efficient surface- operations system that will enable the mission to assay, sample and cache at least 20 scientifically important samples in one Mars year Samples will be protected from contamination and collected at some point in the future for analysis on Earth

Possible Helicopter Add-on Could potentially triple the distance rover travels in a Martian day

Helicopter uses Solar powererd Helicopter would fly ahead of the rover almost every day, checking out various possible points of interest and helping engineers back on Earth plan the best driving route. Weight 1 kilogram Blades 1.1 meters across from the tip of one blade to the other. Prototype body looks like a medium-size cubic tissue box.

PBL Problem: Landing Site Criteria Does the area show signs that it once had the right environmental conditions to support past microbial life? Does the area have a variety of rocks and soils? Did different geologic and environmental processes, including interactions with water, alter them through time? Are the rock types able to preserve chemical or mineral signs of past life? Can the rover achieve all of the mission's scientific objectives at this site? Is it a good place for a rover to land and travel from place to place?

Columbia Hills, Gusev Crater: Home to Mars Rover Spirit

Eberswalde: A Delta Within a Delta

Holden Crater: Shaken and Stirred

Jezero Crater: Wet and Dry and Wet Again

Mawrth Vallis: A Mysterious Water Source

NE Syrtis: Once Warm, and Wet

Nili Fossae: A Splashy Array of Minerals and a Dash of Methane

SW Melas: Part of the Largest Canyon in the Solar System

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