National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) launched two similar twin robotic rovers, which were Spirit and Opportunity toward Mars on 10 June and 7 July 2003 (NASA 2012). Spirit and Opportunity landed in Gusev Crater on 4 January 2004 and in Meridiani Planum on 25 January 2004 respectively (NASA 2012). Opportunity is still operating and roving after 10 years on the Martian surface while final communication of Spirit to the Earth took place on 22 March 2010, which is around six years into its mission (NASA 2012). The rovers were thought to last 20 times longer as compared to its original design. As part of NASA’s Mars Exploration Program, the Mars Exploration Rover mission is a continuing multi-mission effort to study Mars as a possible habitation for past or present life and to look for signs of life as well as to prepare for human exploration. Primary objective of the Mars Exploration Rover mission is to explore and characterize a wide range of soils and rocks that possess clues or evidences to past water activity on Mars (NASA 2012).
It is hard to get to Mars and it is even harder to land on Mars, thus Spirit and Opportunity had to overcome numerous challenges in order to land on Mars and to carry out their missions. These two rovers were required to fly through approximately 483 million kilometers of deep space and a very precise landing spot had to be targeted (Jet Propulsion Laboratory 2011). Although their flight paths can be adjusted along the way, however, a minor trajectory mistake can lead to a big detour and/or complete missing of the planet. Besides that, the environment of space is full of hazards that are addressed as “single event upsets”, as when a stray particle of energy goes through a chip in the ...
... middle of paper ...
...cience, vol. 305, no. 5685, pp. 829-832.
• Goodrich, LJ, Mitchell, NL, Walker, R, Shaffrey MM and Dillin, K 2010, Exploring Space: The High Frontier, Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC, USA
• Jet Propulsion Laboratory 2011, Challenges of Getting to Mars, viewed 11 May 2014, http://marsrover.nasa.gov/spotlight/challengesRover01.html
• Kalvius, M and Kienle, P 2012, The Rudolf Mössbauer Story: His Scientific Work and Its Impact on Science and History, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, New York
• NASA 2012, Mars Artwork, viewed 16 May 2014, http://marsrover.nasa.gov/gallery/artwork/hires/descent.jpg
• NASA 2012, The Mars Exploration Rovers: Spirit and Opportunity, viewed 11 May 2014, http://marsrover.nasa.gov/home/resources/MERLithograph.pdf
• NASA 2013, Spirit examines its surroundings, viewed 16 May 2014, http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/posters/SpiritPosterBack.pdf
middle of paper ... ...2014. The 'Standard' of the 'Standard'. The "NASA History" Congressional Digest 90.7 (2011): 196-224. Academic Search Premier -. Web.
Bragg, Melvyn, On Giants' Shoulders: Great Scientists and Their Discoveries from Archimedes to DNA. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1998.
There is debate about whether the Opportunity Rover should be retired and taken out of the mission, but the space scientists are not convinced of that
Ferinad Puretz, Max. 'True Science', Review of Peter Medawar, Advice to a Young Scientist. N.p.: n.p., 1980. Print.
Dyson, Marianne J. Space and Astronomy: Decade by Decade. New York: Facts on File, 2007. 14+. Print.
The Martian starring Matt Damon depicts the horrific situation in which an astronaut is abandoned on the surface of Mars after an impossible storm sent his crew fleeing. While an enthralling story, there are moments when scientific accuracy is thrown out the window. The enormous storm which forced the crew to abandon their mission and the reduced gravity on Mars, were not depicted accurately in The Martian. Other aspects of the move like the necessity, use and number of solar panels used on the surface of Mars appear to be more accurate.
middle of paper ... ... NASA Marshall. Marshall: Launching the Future of Science and Exploration. 15 February 2010 http://www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall/home/index.html>. NASA Public Affairs.
When considering this topic, one might ask themselves why explore space? We explore space to compare other planets with the earth and to study the sun, to explore the universe while finding if intelligent life exists, for satellites to improve communications, weather forecasting, navigation, resource monitoring, and “to create a focal point for a new intellectual renaissance” (Ruzic).
47 million km of the sun. (1) The Luna II and III space probes landed on the surface of the moon and took the first photos of the far side of the moon in 1959. Another space probe called the Pathfinder was launched on December 4, 1996 and made a successful landing on Mars in July of 1997. Other space probes to reach Mars include the Mars Pathfinder and the Mars Global Surveyor. A few other past space probes include the Voyager II, which is the only space probe to reach Uranus, The Venera VII, which was the first space probe to
In Aphra Behn's “The Rover,” characters define relationships as a type of economy where value and use are key. This time period commodified love and sexuality, valuing financial success over meaningful relationships. The dowry system made rich women with a high status most desirable for marriage and their value was increased by their honor. Typical of seventeenth century literature, Behn plays with this ideology as “the language of love in Restoration comedies frequently draws on the language of commerce.”1 She expresses her beliefs on the “'interest,' 'credit,' and 'value'”2 associated with love and sexuality through the different prices placed on her characters. Where Behn differs from other seventeenth century writers is that she does not give in to the “world dominated by male writers working in specifically misogynistic forms.”3 She gives women the authority within this economy. Instead of having very little power in their relationships with men, Behn allows women to be dominant. They can create their own value and control the amount of access men have to them. Characters such as Moretta and Angellica Bianca are not forced into submission by their desire for marriage, they “ignore[s] patriarchal structure and exhibit[s] no remorse.”4 They force men into submission through their manipulation of the economy of love and sexuality. Aphra Behn's characterization of Moretta and Angellica Bianca using the language of commerce gives them authority that other woman did not have access to.
Space exploration can lead to the possibility to find useful resources throughout the galaxy for human gain. Many severe problems on earth could be solved through space exploration such as world hunger, overpopulation, and dwindling fuel sources. Things such as fuel could be harvested from planets for power generation and propulsion technology, and land to cultivate for growing food, as well as land for building living areas for the growing population. These potential resources...
Space has always been a pivotal and utmost important subject for many years. In the past, scientists have made monumental advances in this field such as sending people into orbit and landing a man on the moon. Of course, this has only barely been explored and we still have a lot more to see of the ever-vast outer space. One of the most significant topics of all of science has only been touched and there’s still more to come.
With a field as large as space is, metaphorically and literally, there is no end to all the advantages that can come of exploring the magnificent cosmos. One of the major questions we face currently is the possibility of life on other planets. “NASA's biggest ambition is the hunt for life and a habitat that can support life. Several planned or prepared missions will specifically explore the question of whether or not life exists, or once existed, elsewhere in out solar system” (Folger 3). That's exactly what we plan on using the Curiosity rover for. The MSL (Mars Space Laboratory) Curiosity rover was launched November 26th, 2011 and landed on Mars on August 6th, 2012 (Launch 2). “MSL Curiosity's mission is to analyze the climate, geology, and habitability of Mars to see if there is or has ever been life on Mars. Then, after gathering enough data, it will see if it's feasible to send a manned mission to Mars” (Anthony 2). We are already searching ...
(1)Meinzer, Dr. Carl. “Space Travel: A Waste of Our Money or a Necessary Investment in Our Future?” AMSAT-DL Journal, Nr. 1/19 March/May 1992. http://www.amsat-dl.org/space.htm
Anderson, E., Piven, J. & Tito, D. (2005), The Space Tourist's Handbook: Where to Go, What