The Mars Rover Exploration Mission

June 18, 2011 Leave a Comment

In 2003, NASA embarked on a mission to explore the planet Mars with the use of two land rovers. The primary purpose of the mission was to analyze the past presence of water on the red planet and to see if any water was currently present. The rovers would collect pieces of rock and use specialized equipment to analyze the material. This information would then be sent back to NASA scientists on Earth.

Artist's rendering of a Mars Exploration Rover. 

Image via Wikipedia

When the rovers landed on Mars, they were deployed from the ship in two different places. One rover was deposited at Gusev Crater and the other was deposited at Meridiani Planum, which was on the opposite side of Mars. Scientists thought this was the best way to get an accurate sample of the rocks and minerals on the planet.

Rover Analyzing Equipment

Both of the rovers were equipped with highly-specialized equipment for the collection of specimens and exploration. Here is a list of some of the equipment.

  • Panoramic camera.
  • Microscopic imager for close-up photos of rocks and minerals.
  • Tools for rock abrasion. This is so the rovers could remove dust and other particles so that they could examine things better.
  • Spectrometer tools to measure thermal emissions and take x-rays.
  • Magnets to collect dust particles that are magnetic.

There was no set ending date for the Mars Rover Exploration Mission as of 2011, and the land rovers will probably never be collected. This was also not the first attempt to explore Mars. Some previous rovers have disappeared or lost contact with Earth for various different reasons. The whole exploration of Mars is going to be a slow process.

Filed Under: NASA, Planets Tagged With: , ,

The Beginnings of Exploration

May 8, 2011 Leave a Comment
nasaact.jpg 

Image by Rhubarble via Flickr

It was an age of curiosity — the continents had all been found; the miles had all been sought; and Earth seemed far less impressive than the previous centuries had claimed it to be (with explorers afraid to travel to its edges, certain they would tumble into oblivion). Land no longer held a fascination for the masses. The sun instead appealed, and men looked to the sky for answers to their many questions.

The year was 1958 and space was deemed a challenge to be conquered.

Such a challenge — of course — demanded action; and July 29 saw the creation of the National Aeronautics and Space Act.

Explained simply, the National Aeronautics and Space Act sought to redefine the terms of exploration. Until this time the military controlled all operations regarding the planets; but their influence was too limiting, seeking only ways to develop combat technology (which was deemed far less beneficial to the quest for galaxies). Change had to occur — and it did.

Through the passing of this stature (signed without hesitation by President Eisenhower) separate funding was offered to the cause of the universe; and from this funding rose the beginnings of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration: more commonly called NASA. This sparked the creation of new programs — all with the intention of developing ways to enter the atmosphere and discover what waited beyond.

That intention succeeded: in 1969 man walked on the moon.

Since then the efforts of the National Aeronautics and Space Act have resulted in technological advancements and planetary achievements. These are poised to continue in the years to come.

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NASA exploratory projects

March 16, 2011 Leave a Comment

NASA exploratory projects  - The term NASA refers to National Aeronautics and Space Administration, which is a space investigation executive branch agency of United States Government. NASA was established on 29th July, 1958 by the National Aeronautics and Space Act, replacing the previous one named National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NASA), and NASA became functional on 1st October 1958. The science of NASA is mainly focused on the way to understand our earth more through the help of earth understanding system. The present strategy of United States of America about space shows that NASA will make economical automatic as well as human-aided plans for the development and explorations with the help of space systems for civilians in order to advance our fundamental information about the earth and the other parts of the universe.

The new coming projects of NASA involve a deep survey of Saturn and Mars. As a large and improved laboratory or branch of NASA, they are manufacturing a Laboratory of science for Mars and most probably will be launched in year 2011 as a result of postponement caused due to some hardware problems else it was supposed to be launched in October 2009. NASA is mainly focused to understand more and to protect our planet Earth and to explore the universe in search of different life forms along with providing an inspiration for the next generation of explorers. The highest post held in NASA is the administrator of NASA and holds the power to serve the president as the senior space science advisor. NASA has also started Energy Efficiency and Water Conservation Program as an agency wide program to reduce energy utilization and water pollution, which is in the welfare of mankind. Thus, NASA is contributing a lot in the world of exploration of life and other significant explorations of the universe and also facilitates the new explorers a path to move on with.

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About NASA’s space programs

March 9, 2011 Leave a Comment

NASA stands for National Aeronautics and Space Administration. This agency is located in United States of America and is responsible for all kinds of space programs and research in the aerospace and aeronautics field. The mission statement of National Aeronautics and Space Administration is to probe the future and explore space and make new discoveries in the field of aerospace.  NASA has undertaken many events to explore space like the Apollo moon landing mission, Space Shuttle and Skylab Space station. It came into operations on 1st October in the year 1958 after replacing National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. NASA has developed an Earth Observing System to understand Earth in a better manner. NASA has been exploring bodies in the Solar system. For this effort it has undertaken mission like Great Observation, New Horizons, Big Bang and many other programs.

NASA shares its researches and data with a number of national and international organizations who seek interest in such information. NASA has undertaken many missions to probe into the heavenly bodies that exist near the surface of Earth. Some of these missions include Mariner program which was designed to investigate the planets like Venus, Mars and Mercury. The pioneer program was another mission which was undertaken to study the planetary bodies and was launched in the year 1978. The Voyager program was another unmanned mission launched by National Aeronautics and Space Administration to study the planetary alignments and different planets. It was designed to study the planets Jupiter and Saturn and their orbits.

There were also manned programs launched by National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Among these was the Space shuttle program launched in 1970’s and 1980’s. The ASTP program was also launched by NASA known as Apollo Soyuz Test Project which took place in 1975 was the last Apollo flight for United States of America. Space Shuttle program was undertaken in the year 1981 in the month of April.

Filed Under: NASA, Universe Tagged With: , ,
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