Mars Prototype

Presentation notes taken by Ms. Smith with hyperlinks to additional resources.

NASA / JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratories) Presentation

by Scott McGinley

1/11/13

www.nasa.gov

www.mars3d.jpl.nasa.gov

 

Energy + water + (biological) carbon = LIFE!  Mars has energy (sun), water (ice).  Scientists are searching for biological carbon:  bacteria / microbes.  So…is there life on Mars?  How can we find out?

JPL designs & builds instruments for robotic exploration of space in search of life.

Mars is cold! 

• 50 million miles further from the Sun than Earth.
• Thin atmosphere
• -166 degrees F at night / -284 degrees F in winter

4 kinds of robots:

• Satellites: used for orbits /fly bys
• Landers: stationary exploration
• Rovers: can travel or rove
• Space telescopes

4 Rovers have been built (designed to work for 3 months;  gold colored covering is insulation because Mars is so cold.  Flat plates are solar panels to power old rovers):

• Pathfinder Lander/ Sojourner Rover (1997): “Proof of Concept” rover; built to see if landing a rover on Mars was possible.  This rover did not do anything except confirm that scientists could launch & land a rover 250 million miles away! 
• Spirit (2004):  got stuck, then frozen in winter
• Opportunity (2004): 9 yrs. old and still working!  11 lbs. of instruments / 380 lbs. total
• Curiosity (2012):  A large space rover that picks up where Mars Rover left off; explores Gale Crater (96 miles across, has a “parking lot” or landing zone, rocks/channels/ canyons to explore) and can determine if canyons were created by wind or water.
  • 165 lbs. of instruments / 2000 lbs. total
  • 17 cameras (long & short distance; same cameras used on Spirit & Opportunity)
  • Weather gauge (temperature, wind, direction)
  • UV sensors (radiation detector to help prep for future human exploration)
  • ChemCam: chemical laser shoots 7 meters, pulses/taps rocks to test kinds of rocks
  • Mini nuclear power plant on board; power that’s created motors & warm Rover
  • Scientists assemble while wearing “Bunny Suits” to keep equipment clean; workers are grounded to avoid damaging instruments.

 Launching Curiosity Rover: 

• Scientists wait until Mars is closest (@ 150 million miles away)
• Rocket /timing/aim: send rover where Mars is going to be!
• Trip takes 8 months / 354 million miles
• Curiosity Rover folded and travels in a protective shell (can withstand 3800 degrees F as it enters Mars’ atmosphere; 1700 degrees F melts steel!)
• Sky crane lowers Curiosity Rover on cables.  Cables are severed with an explosive device.  Rover ready for mission!
• Drivers @ JPL can maneuver Rover; takes 5 – 20 minutes to get a signal