The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Mars Exploration Rover Mission (MER) is an ongoing space exploration mission of the planet Mars utilising two robotic rovers named Spirit and Opportunity launched on June 10 and July 7, 2003, respectively from Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA [1]. The mission’s primary goal is to “Determine Whether Life Ever Arose on Mars” (NASA) through the search for clues in soils and rocks that suggest past water activity on the planet’s surface. The complete list of scientific objectives as specified by NASA are to [2]:
1. Search for and characterize a variety of rocks and soils that hold clues to past water activity. In particular, samples sought will include those that have minerals deposited by …show more content…
The first stage of slowing the spacecraft down was also facilitated by the aeroshell which acts like an airbrake, reducing the vehicle’s speed to about 1000 miles per hour in a minute [10]. To further reduce the speed of the spacecraft in preparation for landing, a parachute located in the rear of the entry vehicle is deployed approximately 10 km above the planet’s surface at which time the heat shield is released as it is no longer necessary [11]. Due to the limited space and weight available on board, the parachute assembly comprised of polyester and nylon, materials that are strong enough to support the 19000 pound load, yet light enough to maintain aerodynamic stability during entry and was “pressure packed” using a heavy weight to compress the parachute assembly [12]. The lander utilises a radar altimeter to determine its height above the surface and inflates airbags around itself to cushion its landing on the hard and rocky martian surface [13]. Following inflation of the airbags, three rockets fire to reduce the lander’s vertical velocity to zero at which point the airbagged lander is released to freefall the remaining distance to the surface [14]. The entry, descent, and landing stages of the mission are called the ‘Six Minutes of Terror’ by NASA for their complexity and …show more content…
As more is understood about Mars and its past, the likelihood of finding intelligent life on similar planets within our solar system in terms of habitability appears remote. We continue to explore Martian surface for signs of past water and life through Curiosity rover following the success of Spirit and Opportunity. From Curiosity’s mission goals and objectives, it is likely observations and conclusions from MER had a significant influence in the planning of the mission with an emphasis on whether Mars could have sustained microbial life. Dr. Mary Voytek, director of astrobiology at NASA states “We believe that the harsh environment on the surface – really dry, high radiation – may drive life today – if it exists – underground.”
1. Search for and characterize a variety of rocks and soils that hold clues to past water activity. In particular, samples sought will include those that have minerals deposited by …show more content…
The first stage of slowing the spacecraft down was also facilitated by the aeroshell which acts like an airbrake, reducing the vehicle’s speed to about 1000 miles per hour in a minute [10]. To further reduce the speed of the spacecraft in preparation for landing, a parachute located in the rear of the entry vehicle is deployed approximately 10 km above the planet’s surface at which time the heat shield is released as it is no longer necessary [11]. Due to the limited space and weight available on board, the parachute assembly comprised of polyester and nylon, materials that are strong enough to support the 19000 pound load, yet light enough to maintain aerodynamic stability during entry and was “pressure packed” using a heavy weight to compress the parachute assembly [12]. The lander utilises a radar altimeter to determine its height above the surface and inflates airbags around itself to cushion its landing on the hard and rocky martian surface [13]. Following inflation of the airbags, three rockets fire to reduce the lander’s vertical velocity to zero at which point the airbagged lander is released to freefall the remaining distance to the surface [14]. The entry, descent, and landing stages of the mission are called the ‘Six Minutes of Terror’ by NASA for their complexity and …show more content…
As more is understood about Mars and its past, the likelihood of finding intelligent life on similar planets within our solar system in terms of habitability appears remote. We continue to explore Martian surface for signs of past water and life through Curiosity rover following the success of Spirit and Opportunity. From Curiosity’s mission goals and objectives, it is likely observations and conclusions from MER had a significant influence in the planning of the mission with an emphasis on whether Mars could have sustained microbial life. Dr. Mary Voytek, director of astrobiology at NASA states “We believe that the harsh environment on the surface – really dry, high radiation – may drive life today – if it exists – underground.”