Mars. It’s where the most technologically advanced rover ever built is right now. The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) is a specifically designed mission which allows scientist to study back on Earth to study Mars for any condition where past or present life may be found on the desolate planet. To conduct this mission on the planet itself, they use Curiosity, a high tech rover. In this paper, you will learn about the specifications of the rover, pre-launch preparations, the flight to Mars, the landing, and the types of experiments Curiosity is conducting on Mars. This is the Mars Science Laboratory.
Before you launch any type of spacecraft, there must be thousands of hours of preparation done to make sure everything works in perfect sequence, works properly, and fits together. This 2.5 billion dollar project is carrying the most expensive Mars rover built. It’s name is Curiosity. Curiosity is 9 feet 10 inches long, 9 feet 1 inch wide, has wheels with a 20 inch diameter, and weighs a staggering 2,000 pounds. The “main attraction” for this mission though was Curiosity. Curiosity was built here in La Canada Flintridge at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The rover was built in a special room called a “Clean Room”. This is a white walled, ceiling, and floored room which allows scientist to see any dirt or other earth-like substances that could attach themselves to the rover. The reason why the rover should be completely clean is mostly because they do not want to contaminate a new planet with bacteria or viruses that live on earth and get in to a water supply on Mars if ever found. At JPL, the rover, entry capsule, sky crane, and heat shield were all built. Once finished, these components traveled on an Army C-130 to Cape Canaveral, Flori...
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...s pretty slow. It only travels a couple miles each year. Curiosity has already found ancient streams and minerals and chemicals that could support life. These are just some of the major breakthroughs Curiosity has had.
Because of all the hard work that JPL scientist have put into the Mars Science Laboratory, we have been able to get a better understanding of what Mars is like and what type of life if any is able to survive on Mars. Curiosity also shows how our space program is advancing in such ways that we may be able to put a human being on mars within the next century. This is what makes the mars Science Laboratory so amazing from the technological and scientific standpoint. You could say this mission was somewhat out of a science fiction book. But it’s not. It’s very real and working as we sit here today. Who knows what’s to come in the future of exploring Mars.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the mars science laboratory is a specially designed mission which allows scientists to study back on earth for any condition where past or present life may be found on the desolate planet.
- Describes the 2.5 billion dollar project that carried the most expensive mars rover, curiosity.
- Describes how the rover was able to touch the martian surface just a couple miles from where scientists at jpl predicted where it would land.
- Describes the seven minutes of terror, when the rover enters the atmosphere of mars and is detached from the skycrane.
- Describes how the spacecraft's heat shield heats up as it enters the atmosphere of mars. it is the largest and strongest supersonic parachute ever made.
- Explains that curiosity is a high-tech rover with advanced instruments that allow scientists to test rock samples on the martian surface.
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- Space Exploration In Canada Essayexplanatory essayCuriosity, launched in 2012 has APXS (one of the science instruments on board the rover), which helps analyses rocks and soil samples (this was also contributed by Canada to the exploration project on Mars).
In this essay, the author
- Explains canada's first interest in space exploration came into play in 1959 when the first suborbital sounding rocket was launched from manitoba.
- Explains that canada became the third country to send an atmospheric science satellite known as alouette 1 in 1962.
- Explains the launch of the herms in 1976 was world’s first direct to home experimental telecommunication satellite.
- Describes the most innovative, famous and important invention, the canadarm, which was placed on to iss.
- Narrates how marc garneau was the first canadian astronaut into space during 1984 with about 10 experiments in hand.
- Narrates how julie payette became the first canadian astronaut to board the iss in 1999 and chris hadfield installed the canadarm 2 in 2001.
- Describes roberta bondar, a senior canadian astronaut, as the first canadian woman to go into space.
- Explains that there were many other satellite launches that tracked different scientific atmospheric and geographic data in space by canada.
- Opines that the most important and famous launches were the canadian space telescope most during 2003.
- Describes canadarm2, a robotic arm that measures 16.94 meters in length and has two ends.
- Explains that canada and israel are working together on two projects, which are to study two potential space missions, including one is to improve maritime safety.
- Explains that the phoenix mission to mars marked the first time canada developed interest in exploring mars and it landed on the surface of mars.
- Explains that the phoenix spacecraft was retired on may 25, 2010. the first weather report was on oct27, 2008 with mild dust storm and water ice clouds.
- Explains that curiosity has apxs (one of the science instruments on board the rover), which helps analyze rocks and soil samples.
- Analyzes how chris hafield talks about how canada and people in general are using technology and machines to help them learn from these machines when exploring the space.
- Explains canada's role in all the important launches such as the orion launch and curiosity and phoenix.
- Explains that the interview was with eddy the eco-dog and julie payette on kidswebtv. they discussed astronauts role in space and why we explore space.
585 wordsRead More - Life On Mars Essaycomparative essay“I think humans will reach Mars, and I would like to see it happen in my lifetime” was said by Buzz Aldrin, a NASA astronaut. The former American aeronaut from Montclair, New Jersey believes that since Mars does exist, it is waiting to be reached by humans. When this would happen, he says that the human race would “evolve into a two-planet species.” Present day Mars has a lot of canyons, mountains and volcanoes. Even though the surface is Mars is very old, scientists learned about different younger rift valleys, plains, hills and ridges. According to recent reports, there were lakes and rivers, along with an ocean billions of years ago. The low temperatures on the planet cause there to be polar ice caps and frozen water present. Scientists continue to notice several discoveries on the planet that lead them to think there was once life on the planet. Different clues have scientists wanting to find out about even more. Many scientists in the past few centuries have been curious if life on Mars is possible or if it has ever been before.
In this essay, the author
- Quotes buzz aldrin, a nasa astronaut, who believes humans will reach mars. the planet has canyons, mountains, and volcanoes.
- Explains that scientists have sent several probes and experimental vehicles to mars to prove that there is a possibility of life on the planet.
- Explains that mars has several distinctive features that have scientists thinking about a chance of surviving on the planet.
- Explains that people from earth are planning a trip to mars in 2023 to prove there is life on the red planet.
- Concludes that mars may have been a planet where there was life in the past and humans may be able to survive there now.
1081 wordsRead More - A View from Mars, A Theme Analysisanalytical essayIn the story, "The View of Me From Mars," Lee K. Abott writes a story about a father and son relationship. In this story the father realizes that he isn't perfect and tries to have his son cover up his own mistake. Lee K. Abott, though being subtle, makes it known, through the characters he uses, that a person can't believe everything he sees. The author successfully enlightens the reader with his use of point of view, characterization, and theme to make the reader feel sympathy and to give the story credibility.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how lee k. abott enlightens the reader with his use of point of view, characterization, and theme to give the story credibility.
- Analyzes how abott's choice of writing in the first person makes the story interesting because the reader knows how the father thinks and feels in certain situations.
- Analyzes how abott's description of the father adds credibility to the story.
- Analyzes how lee k. abott's the view of me from mars enlightens the reader with how he gets the point of view, characterization, and theme to flow.
321 wordsRead More - NASA and the Conquest of Marsexplanatory essaySituation NASA’s latest mars rover, Curiosity, is currently exploring mats, on a mission to determine wheather life could exist there. If we’re going to colonize mars - and some scientists say we must - its likely that we’ll start by terraforming. Terraforming, or planetary engineering, is the process of altering the climate of a planet to be more hospitable to life and human exploration. Of all the bodies in the solar system, Mars is by far the best candidate. Why mars?
In this essay, the author
- Explains that terraforming is the process of altering the climate of a planet to be more hospitable to life and human exploration.
- Explains why mars is the most attractive planet to terraform because of its similarities with earth.
- Explains that life on another planet will need to happen sooner rather than leaving it for too long and it would become too late. mars has been chosen by many sets of scientists.
- Explains that terraforming is the process of transforming an environment which is not suitable for human life to turn into a suitable environment.
- Explains the challenges of changing the planet's atmospheric pressure and surface temperature to make it suitable for life on mars.
- Explains that the only gas on mars is carbon dioxide, which is eliminated by a process of photosynthesis which occurs in plants.
- Opines that the surface must be made wet. there are many reasons why water is needed, but the main reason would be to have water to drink otherwise life on mars would last no more than a week.
- Explains that the first challenge is the rise of the surface temperature.
- Explains that infrared radiation keeps the planet warm and is best trapped by co2 and water, which is why creating greenhouse gasses on mars is important.
- Explains that the perfluorocarbons are the best choice as they do not eat at the ozone layer. the pfc’s chemical cousin is the chlorofluorids.
- Explains that using perfluorocarbons adds to the thickness of the layers in the atmosphere. earth's atmosphere used to be similar to what mars could look like in years.
- Explains that earth's atmosphere is 78.1 percent nitrogen, 20.9 percent oxygen, 0.8 percent argon, and 0.1 percent carbon dioxide and other gases. photosynthetic bacteria built up on earth caused all of the co2 to turn to breathable air.
- Opines that releasing nitrous oxide would increase the warmth of the planet, but it is allergic to uv radiation.
- Opines that the solution to the problem of nitrogen on mars is the heating of the planet.
- Explains that by heating the planet up, water would melt and make its way up to the surface. mars already has clouds on it, so adding water to its atmosphere would turn to vapor and rain down.
- Explains that in order for life to exsist on mars there has to be oxygen. earth's oxygen is produced by plants in a process called photosynthesis.
- Explains that the flux of uv radiation is very high and needs to be reduced by the oxygen that is created by plants that would exist on the planet.
- Explains that life on mars is not easy. it takes time to produce the necessary gasses that will warm the planet up and change the ozone layer and make the air breathable.
1827 wordsRead More - What does a Martian Look Like by Jack Cohen and Ian Stewartanalytical essayCohen, Jack, and Ian Stewart. What Does a Martian Look Like?: The Science of Extraterrestrial Life.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that we’ve all heard, seen or read about sci-fi stories about communicating with the aliens.
- Analyzes how god made the world. how long did that take? how did he do that?
- Explains cohen, jack, and ian stewart's the science of extraterrestrial life. what does a martian look like?
- Analyzes how cohen and stewart try to achieve a more realistic viewpoint on alien life and to un-hollywood-ize the prospect of other life in our universe.
- Explains that the book's purpose was to theoretically lay out the findings of what is or can be considered an "alien" and truly analyze what society deems an alien.
- Explains that the definition of life is changing daily. how can something be alive without any sun?
- Analyzes how cohen and stewart have phds in science and science fiction. they ruined star wars, star trek, and aliens for readers.
- Argues that knowing what earth can provide as life can help in the search for life elsewhere. cohen and stewart mention that life does not necessarily need a star like the earth has the sun.
- Explains that most of what makes us a society was invented or thought up. to aliens, it would be completely different than ours.
- Explains that stewart mentions superstition to show the differences in culture that will also pop up; when discussing aliens, the most likely life form to be discovered is a bacteria.
- Explains that both cohen and stewart, while professors, aren't as nearly qualified as they should be on this subject. popular science novels are rewritten verbatim, based on lab results and studies with an opinion twist.
- Analyzes how the book does not add anything substantial to the field of biology or bring to light anything the reader doesn't already know. the theory on aliens is not a new one.
- Analyzes how cohen and stewart's argument that god does not exist and christianity is false has absolutely nothing to do with alien life.
- Opines that stewart belittles the religion and basically every religion that does not believe in evolution and xenoscience. this puts off the primarily christian audience, but also any reader.
- Analyzes how cohen and stewart bash on other science fiction writers, blaming their extensive knowledge which was close to none, and ruins the experience for them.
1707 wordsRead More - Space Exploration - We Must Explore Marsanalytical essayHave you ever looked up in the sky and wondered if there is life elsewhere in the universe? Have you ever looked at a photograph of Mars and wondered if there really was ever life on it? People have a wide variety of opinions regarding these questions and with good reason. As far back as the broadcast of H. G. Well's novel, "The War of the Worlds", the world has been fascinated with the possibilities of what Mars may hold. Over time, the majority of people have come to realize that there is no way that life can currently be on Mars. Those who are uncertain think there may be microscopic bacteria underground.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes britt, robert roy salty sea covered part of mars.
- Quotes britt, robert roy, "the growing case for water on mars". space.com.
- Describes mars info's 18 july 2000, space.com, 23 march 2004.
- Explains graham, john f., "chapter 4 -- the solar system", university of north dakota.
- Explains planet mars, mars exploration and mars missions.
- Explains that williams, dr. david r., "mars 2005 missions and beyond" 17 nov. 2003.
- Explains that people have a wide variety of opinions regarding the possibility of life on mars. they will describe mars, present evidence of ice and water, and explain why it is important.
2978 wordsRead More - Mars Science Projectexplanatory essayMars Surface is rocky, with canyons, volcanoes, dry lake beds, and it also has craters all over it. Mars also is mostly covered with dust that looks kinda like red dust that floats all the way around, on the edge. It also has winds and clouds and other things just like Earth.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that mars surface is rocky, with canyons, volcanoes and dry lake beds, and it's covered with red dust that floats all the way around.
- Explains that mars can get as low as -195 degrees fahrenheit 125 degrees celsius during the winter and on a summer day as high as 70 degrees
- Explains that mars' atmosphere is about 100 times thinner than earth's atmosphere. mars is 95 percent carbon dioxide and about 2.7 percent nitrogen.
- Explains that mars has a size of 2,106 mi diameter = 6,787 km and is the second smallest planet out of all the planets.
- Explains that the distance from mars to the sun is 141.6 million miles. witch makes mars a warm planet since it is not very far away.
- Explains that it takes 687 days for mars to get around the sun. that's 322 more days than earth takes for earth.
- Explains that mars has two moons, phobos and deimos, which take 7 hours and 39 minutes to travel all the way around mars.
- Explains that mars is often described as the " red planet" due to its red like appearance.
- Explains that when you are on mars and looking at the sun it looks half the size than when on earth.
472 wordsRead More - Argumentative Essay On Marsopinion essayWho knows what kind of opportunities can come from Mars? We can use the many resources that have already been found on this planet, it could help us in many ways beyond space exploration, and it could even be a new place for us to live. That’s why I believe that the government should fund space exploration to Mars.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that the government should fund space exploration to mars.
- Explains that there are resources on mars that could be useful to humans. magma under the surface of the planet has produced ores of iron, nickel, copper, and chromium. solar and wind power are practical forms of energy.
- Opines that pushing mankind to its limits, to the bottom of the ocean or into space, will make discoveries in science and technology that can be adapted to improve life on earth.
- Explains that if the ice is melted, the water could be used to grow plants, supply oxygen to the things that need it, and supply food for humans or livestock.
- Opines that although the cost is high, the government should fund a trip to mars.
476 wordsRead More - Mission To Mars Research Paperopinion essayWould citizens really give up everything and move to the red planet? A company called Mars One is sending four lucky or unlucky people to Mars to colonize the planet. The mission to Mars is full of threats such as medical and the risk of the toxic atmosphere; also since the citizens will be living together they could easily get sick of each other.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that mars one is sending four lucky or unlucky people to mars to colonize the planet. the mission is full of threats such as medical and the risk of the toxic atmosphere.
- Opines that astronauts will be trained for minor and major injuries, but will it really work? under pressure, the citizens could get nervous and forget what to do.
- Opines that mars one needs to find people that are perfect for this trip. it can lead to such a break down when one person overpowers the rest.
- Explains that the toxic atmosphere plays a big part in this mission. spectacular spacesuits have to be designed specially, so they can walk outside without getting alzheimer’s disease.
- Opines that mars one needs to consider the dangers more, like medical, toxic atmosphere, and the social perspective.
365 wordsRead More - Mars, The Red Planetargumentative essayMars, it’s where aliens come from, a Hollywood Sci-Fi mainstay, the mysterious red planet. But, what is Mars really? Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun, orbiting 227,940,000 km away. It’s diameter of 6,794 km and mass of 6.4219e23 kg, makes it the seventh largest planet in our solar system. Mars, which is the Greek name for the god of War, probably got this name due to it’s red color, and is often referred to as the red planet.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that mars is the fourth planet from the sun, orbiting mars.
- Explains that there is very little water vapor on mars, so dry winds pick up and create rust.
- Describes what they would see if they went for a nature walk on mars.
- Explains that olympus mons is classified as a shield volcano.
- Explains that the suits will have to be heated to protect them from the extreme cold.
- Explains that mars, the greek name for the god of war, got its name due to its red color, and is often referred to as the red planet.
- Explains that mars' atmosphere is thin, made almost entirely of co2 and known for its raging dust storms. the average surface temperature is -55c,-67f.
- Analyzes how liquid water runs in rivers, lakes, and seas, which makes the sci-fi preface of life on mars not so far.
- Explains that the polar ice caps contain a mixture of frozen water and co2.
- Opines that mars is more like earth than any other planet and will be the next planet on which man sets foot.
- Concludes that while the evidence is strong, it by no means establishes the fact of extraterrestrial life.
580 wordsRead More