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Private Enterprise- To mars

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Author Topic: Private Enterprise- To mars  (Read 23526 times)
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HereForNow
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HUH?


« Reply #45 on: August 22, 2007, 08:50:58 am »

What they are attempting to do next is;
A number of new technologies will be required to carry out this pioneering mission. These include the landing system on Mars, the Mars ascent vehicle, the rendezvous system in Mars orbit and the Earth re-entry vehicle or capsule. In principle all of these can be tested in a near-Earth environment except for the final qualification of the rendezvous and docking system, which should preferably be carried out in a Mars orbit. The technology required for this Flagship mission will be developed during a series of technology-driven arrow missions.

Some important factors influencing the design and development of the mission are:

Landing site This may remain open for some time until knowledge of the Martian geochemical, biological and environmtnal characteristics progressively improve, through previous missions to the planet. This means that the spacecraft design will have to be sufficiently robust to cope with a variety of different landing sites that will be selected at a later stage of the programme.

Sample size A soil sample of 500 grammes is being considered in line with the recommendations of the International Mars Exploration Working Group (IMEWG).

Sample collection A miniature drill will be needed to collect samples of Martian soil at a certain depth. Samples will be taken from underneath the upper layer of soil as this is expected to be completely sterile due to the high level of radiation. The level will be high because unlike the Earth’s atmosphere, that on Mars does not filter radiation. Signs of past forms of life will probably not be found on the surface due to the high oxidisation levels, which destroy identifiable bio-signatures.

Sample protection Careful measures will be needed to protect the sample. On the one hand it will be necessary to avoid contamination of Mars by organisms from Earth and on the other, it will be essential to ensure that no Martian organism – if any exist – contaminates the Earth.
If all goes according to plan, this challenging and complex mission could be launched as early as 2011.

How much of this science could be carried out by a larger manned mission in the event, that our giant flying bucky ball could be created in the next three years?
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