NASA has selected several mission proposals for future missions to Mars. They include missions where NASA is the primary driver, as well as participation by NASA on the ESA's ExoMars project.
Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution mission, or MAVEN: The mission would provide first-of-its-kind measurements and address key questions about Mars climate and habitability and improve understanding of dynamic processes in the upper Martian atmosphere and ionosphere. The principal investigator is Bruce Jakosky, University of Colorado, Boulder. NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md., will provide project management.The Great Escape mission: The mission would directly determine the basic processes in Martian atmospheric evolution by measuring the structure and dynamics of the upper atmosphere. In addition, potentially biogenic atmospheric constituents such as methane would be measured. The principal investigator is Alan Stern, Southwest Research Institute, Boulder, Colorado. Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, will provide project management.
And several others.
One candidate for NASA's Scout Mission program (a series of low-cost probes) is THOR, or Tracing Habitability, Organics, and Resources. The probe would certainly use a unique method of exploring Mars: a projectile would be sent at high speed into the martian surface while the impact and aftermath are studied carefully. One possible result might be signs of underground water or ice or even organic materials.
Mars has undergone a remarkable evolution since the first probe from Earth went sailing past the planet, sending back a few shots. Given what we saw, Mars was declared a dead planet, somewhat like our Moon, not really worthy of our attention.
Continue reading "The Changing Face of Mars"
NASA Administrator Mike Griffin has been criss-crossing the country, visiting various NASA centers. Here's an account of his visit to Dryden Flight Research Center and a visit to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Continue reading "Crossing the Country"
NASA is developing a "master plan" for the exploration of Mars. Some changes are already being hinted at: for example, the Mars Science Laboratory might slip from a 2009 launch to a 2011 launch.
NASA is considering a number of proposals for future unmanned missions to Mars. One of them is a proposal from Pioneer Astronautics. The owner, you ask? Why, Robert Zubrin of The Mars Society!
An article from Design News about the Phoenix Mars lander (first of NASA's Scout Missions), scheduled to be launched in August 2007 (landing in May 2008).