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Name: Michael M.
ProgramYear: 2004 Submit Date: Jul 11, 2004 Review Date: For my final project, I decided to further my knowledge on the history and design of the Mars rovers and spacecraft sent to observe and/ or research Mars. In choosing this subject, I read about the Mariner Missions, the Mars Observer mishap, and about general Mars spacecraft design.
The Mariner Missions, which began in 1960s were launched to further NASA and the US’ knowledge of the planet closest and probably most similar to Earth. The Mariner 4, launched in 1964, was the first spacecraft to take close range pictures of Mars, passing within 9844 km of the red planet. Despite that all the data from the Mariner 4 were not fully received until 1967, this mission was highly successful and the interest of NASA and other space agencies in Mars was furthered by these images and the date brought back from the Mariner Missions. Despite small setbacks like a failure of a Geiger counter, to measure the radiation of the planet, the Mariner 4 helped lay out and plan all future missions to land on the surface of Mars. The missions of Mariner 6 and 7 were entirely focused on Mars. They were identical spacecraft and they were sent on a flyby study of the planet and measurements of various aspects of it. Despite a short complication with the Mariner 7 spacecraft, the connection to the station was restored. Finally, the Mariner 9 was launched, basically to enhance the previous missions. Picture quality was improved (1 km per pixel), and the question of life on Mars sprouted around this mission.
Originally scheduled to launch on September 16 of 1992, the Mars Observer was one of the biggest faux pas in recent NASA history. Belatedly launched on September 25, 1992, the Mars Observer was going to collect data of the planet while attempting to orbit it also. Although the Observer was able to collect cruise mode data, most primary objectives were not completed. Connections to the spacecraft were kept open and listened to until 1994, but the craft was never heard from. The total cost of the Mars Observer’s construction, launch, ground support is estimated to be around $980 million.
To me, the most interesting part about the exploration of Mars is the vehicles and spacecraft that have to be designed to withstand the extremes of interplanetary travel and the creativity that goes along with this kind of design and engineering. Many ideas have been tossed around and more probably tossed altogether for spacecraft and rover designs. Rover designs, for example, range from what look like giant beach balls to the typical robot-like solar plated rover. To deal with the difficult Martian terrain, some rovers even have special tools built in just to help travel the terrain. Ideally, researchers and engineers would love to build an autonomous robot that could handle the rocky landscape itself without any human intervention for days.
In the future, mission to Mars will not be all that uncommon. In fact, by the year 2020 some scientists even believe space colonies on the moon will be up and running. With the ever growing knowledge of Mars and the growing interest and technology, Mars maybe the second planet attempted to land on. The spacecraft and rovers will play vital roles in helping us get there, and also helping us stay there if and when we do.
Name: Michael M.
ProgramYear: 2004 Submit Date: Jul 11, 2004 Review Date: For my final project, I decided to further my knowledge on the history and design of the Mars rovers and spacecraft sent to observe and/ or research Mars. In choosing this subject, I read about the Mariner Missions, the Mars Observer mishap, and about general Mars spacecraft design.
The Mariner Missions, which began in 1960s were launched to further NASA and the US’ knowledge of the planet closest and probably most similar to Earth. The Mariner 4, launched in 1964, was the first spacecraft to take close range pictures of Mars, passing within 9844 km of the red planet. Despite that all the data from the Mariner 4 were not fully received until 1967, this mission was highly successful and the interest of NASA and other space agencies in Mars was furthered by these images and the date brought back from the Mariner Missions. Despite small setbacks like a failure of a Geiger counter, to measure the radiation of the planet, the Mariner 4 helped lay out and plan all future missions to land on the surface of Mars. The missions of Mariner 6 and 7 were entirely focused on Mars. They were identical spacecraft and they were sent on a flyby study of the planet and measurements of various aspects of it. Despite a short complication with the Mariner 7 spacecraft, the connection to the station was restored. Finally, the Mariner 9 was launched, basically to enhance the previous missions. Picture quality was improved (1 km per pixel), and the question of life on Mars sprouted around this mission.
Originally scheduled to launch on September 16 of 1992, the Mars Observer was one of the biggest faux pas in recent NASA history. Belatedly launched on September 25, 1992, the Mars Observer was going to collect data of the planet while attempting to orbit it also. Although the Observer was able to collect cruise mode data, most primary objectives were not completed. Connections to the spacecraft were kept open and listened to until 1994, but the craft was never heard from. The total cost of the Mars Observer’s construction, launch, ground support is estimated to be around $980 million.
To me, the most interesting part about the exploration of Mars is the vehicles and spacecraft that have to be designed to withstand the extremes of interplanetary travel and the creativity that goes along with this kind of design and engineering. Many ideas have been tossed around and more probably tossed altogether for spacecraft and rover designs. Rover designs, for example, range from what look like giant beach balls to the typical robot-like solar plated rover. To deal with the difficult Martian terrain, some rovers even have special tools built in just to help travel the terrain. Ideally, researchers and engineers would love to build an autonomous robot that could handle the rocky landscape itself without any human intervention for days.
In the future, mission to Mars will not be all that uncommon. In fact, by the year 2020 some scientists even believe space colonies on the moon will be up and running. With the ever growing knowledge of Mars and the growing interest and technology, Mars maybe the second planet attempted to land on. The spacecraft and rovers will play vital roles in helping us get there, and also helping us stay there if and when we do.
Name: Michael M.
ProgramYear: 2004 Submit Date: Jul 11, 2004 Review Date: For my final project, I decided to further my knowledge on the history and design of the Mars rovers and spacecraft sent to observe and/ or research Mars. In choosing this subject, I read about the Mariner Missions, the Mars Observer mishap, and about general Mars spacecraft design.
The Mariner Missions, which began in 1960s were launched to further NASA and the US’ knowledge of the planet closest and probably most similar to Earth. The Mariner 4, launched in 1964, was the first spacecraft to take close range pictures of Mars, passing within 9844 km of the red planet. Despite that all the data from the Mariner 4 were not fully received until 1967, this mission was highly successful and the interest of NASA and other space agencies in Mars was furthered by these images and the date brought back from the Mariner Missions. Despite small setbacks like a failure of a Geiger counter, to measure the radiation of the planet, the Mariner 4 helped lay out and plan all future missions to land on the surface of Mars. The missions of Mariner 6 and 7 were entirely focused on Mars. They were identical spacecraft and they were sent on a flyby study of the planet and measurements of various aspects of it. Despite a short complication with the Mariner 7 spacecraft, the connection to the station was restored. Finally, the Mariner 9 was launched, basically to enhance the previous missions. Picture quality was improved (1 km per pixel), and the question of life on Mars sprouted around this mission.
Originally scheduled to launch on September 16 of 1992, the Mars Observer was one of the biggest faux pas in recent NASA history. Belatedly launched on September 25, 1992, the Mars Observer was going to collect data of the planet while attempting to orbit it also. Although the Observer was able to collect cruise mode data, most primary objectives were not completed. Connections to the spacecraft were kept open and listened to until 1994, but the craft was never heard from. The total cost of the Mars Observer’s construction, launch, ground support is estimated to be around $980 million.
To me, the most interesting part about the exploration of Mars is the vehicles and spacecraft that have to be designed to withstand the extremes of interplanetary travel and the creativity that goes along with this kind of design and engineering. Many ideas have been tossed around and more probably tossed altogether for spacecraft and rover designs. Rover designs, for example, range from what look like giant beach balls to the typical robot-like solar plated rover. To deal with the difficult Martian terrain, some rovers even have special tools built in just to help travel the terrain. Ideally, researchers and engineers would love to build an autonomous robot that could handle the rocky landscape itself without any human intervention for days.
In the future, mission to Mars will not be all that uncommon. In fact, by the year 2020 some scientists even believe space colonies on the moon will be up and running. With the ever growing knowledge of Mars and the growing interest and technology, Mars maybe the second planet attempted to land on. The spacecraft and rovers will play vital roles in helping us get there, and also helping us stay there if and when we do.
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/features.cfm?feature=489
http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/mars/mariner.html
http://spacelink.nasa.gov/NASA.Projects/Space.Science/Solar.System/Mars.Observer/
I do not have a scanner and I did not know of any other way to send my picture of the rover I drew...so I am just planning to bring it with me to Houston.
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