NASA is sending out a new rover in 2020 called the ' Mars 2020'. Costing roughly $1.5 billion, looks a lot like the Curiosity rover. But with a few more advancements :
Radar Imager for Mars' Subsurface Experiment (RIMFAX)- a ground-penetrating radar that will provide centimeter-scale resolution of the geologic structure of the subsurface.- Scanning Habitable Environments with Raman & Luminescence for Organics and Chemicals (SHERLOC)-a spectrometer that will provide fine-scale imaging and uses an ultraviolet (UV) laser to determine fine-scale mineralogy and detect organic compounds. SHERLOC will be the first UV Raman spectrometer to fly to the surface of Mars and will provide complementary measurements with other instruments in the payload
- Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer (MEDA)-a set of sensors that will provide measurements of temperature, wind speed and direction, pressure, relative humidity and dust size and shape.
- SuperCam-an instrument that can provide imaging, chemical composition analysis, and mineralogy. The instrument will also be able to detect the presence of organic compounds in rocks and regolith from a distance.
- Planetary Instrument for X-ray Lithochemistry (PIXL)-an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer that will also contain an imager with high resolution to determine the fine scale elemental composition of Martian surface materials. PIXL will provide capabilities that permit more detailed detection and analysis of chemical elements than ever before.
- Mastcam-Z- an advanced camera system with panoramic and stereoscopic imaging capability with the ability to zoom. The instrument also will determine mineralogy of the Martian surface and assist with rover operations. "
Wth these instruments, the New rover will help scientist determine the hability of the environment, and see the signs of previous martian life. Since the 2020 will be able to pick up and store Mars' dust,scientist will be able use the planets dust in order to pin-point the risks provided by Mars and try to understand it. Mars 2020 will also demonstrate technology to convert carbon dioxide to oxygen which will help engineers learn how to use Mars' natural resources to create oxygen for Life.
The 2020 is almost exactly like the Curiosity that arrived on Mars in 2012, I'm hoping the 2020 will achieve great success like the Curiosity. I'm very anxious to know how the mission turns out.
http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/01/tech/innovation/mars-2020-rover/index.html?hpt=hp_t4
http://www.nasa.gov/press/2014/july/nasa-announces-mars-2020-rover-payload-to-explore-the-red-planet-as-never-before/#.VAvoSPBX-uY
*Features of the rover is copied word for word for accuracy and understanding.*
It's insane the amount of money they spend on their experiments. Can't wait to see the results of the new rover.
ReplyDelete-Blythe Taylor 3rd period