Prafull Koli
05-26-2003, 08:44 AM
Close brush with Mars offers red world of opportunity
BY CAROLE RUTLAND
Special to the Ledger-Enquirer
All telescopes are tuned to Mars as it draws nearer Earth than at any time in recorded history. The record-setting date is Aug. 27.
At the same time, an earthly invasion of the red planet nears completion, as rovers of all shapes and sizes are launched toward our next-door neighbor in space.
If everything goes as planned, by January 2004 there will be a total of seven spacecraft sniffing around Mars. Four will survey the situation in orbit, while three others will scratch around the rocky red surface.
It's no accident there are so many Mars missions occurring simultaneously.
The mass exodus to Mars has been strategically planned over many years to make the best of the closest opposition of Mars in more than 60,000 years.
Even so, I would be remiss if I didn't note there are relatively close Martian approaches on a regular basis. Because the orbit of Mars is not a perfect circle, Mars, at times comes closer to Earth than others. But, all oppositions are not equal.
In other words, as Mars swings around the sun, it provides great launch opportunities every couple of years.
We'll get our best close-up views from Earth and space-based telescopes near the Aug. 27 opposition while our robots and probes save energy and time by taking advantage of a window of opportunity which comes around about every 26 months.
It's all part of the NASA Mars Exploration Program.
Among the cadre are twin robot geologists who will comb the surface while searching for any history of water on Mars. It's part of the Mars Exploration Rover Mission.
Scientists hope to unveil Martian secrets as rocks and soils are examined for telltale clues that hint of an early presence of water. The Mars Exploration Rover Mission is on schedule for a June/July launch, which means the twin automatons should be rock hounding by January 2004.
The Japanese spacecraft Nozomi will get its third and final gravity assist from Earth in June. Nozomi picked up some war injuries when a solar flare damaged its components on the way but that shouldn't keep it from studying the Martian atmosphere's interaction with the solar wind.
The Mars Express Mission will carry the Beagle 2 to the surface of Mars. Leaving Earth in June 2003, Beagle's landing is set for next December -- and then some real fun begins. Snooping for any possible signs of life that may remain on Mars, Beagle 2 may determine once and for all if there is -- or ever was -- life on Mars.
Go to http://mars.jpl. nasa.gov/funzone_flash.html for more fun than you can imagine learning about the planetary missions as well as missions connected to the red world. Get the latest information at http://mars. jpl.nasa.gov/.
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BY CAROLE RUTLAND
Special to the Ledger-Enquirer
All telescopes are tuned to Mars as it draws nearer Earth than at any time in recorded history. The record-setting date is Aug. 27.
At the same time, an earthly invasion of the red planet nears completion, as rovers of all shapes and sizes are launched toward our next-door neighbor in space.
If everything goes as planned, by January 2004 there will be a total of seven spacecraft sniffing around Mars. Four will survey the situation in orbit, while three others will scratch around the rocky red surface.
It's no accident there are so many Mars missions occurring simultaneously.
The mass exodus to Mars has been strategically planned over many years to make the best of the closest opposition of Mars in more than 60,000 years.
Even so, I would be remiss if I didn't note there are relatively close Martian approaches on a regular basis. Because the orbit of Mars is not a perfect circle, Mars, at times comes closer to Earth than others. But, all oppositions are not equal.
In other words, as Mars swings around the sun, it provides great launch opportunities every couple of years.
We'll get our best close-up views from Earth and space-based telescopes near the Aug. 27 opposition while our robots and probes save energy and time by taking advantage of a window of opportunity which comes around about every 26 months.
It's all part of the NASA Mars Exploration Program.
Among the cadre are twin robot geologists who will comb the surface while searching for any history of water on Mars. It's part of the Mars Exploration Rover Mission.
Scientists hope to unveil Martian secrets as rocks and soils are examined for telltale clues that hint of an early presence of water. The Mars Exploration Rover Mission is on schedule for a June/July launch, which means the twin automatons should be rock hounding by January 2004.
The Japanese spacecraft Nozomi will get its third and final gravity assist from Earth in June. Nozomi picked up some war injuries when a solar flare damaged its components on the way but that shouldn't keep it from studying the Martian atmosphere's interaction with the solar wind.
The Mars Express Mission will carry the Beagle 2 to the surface of Mars. Leaving Earth in June 2003, Beagle's landing is set for next December -- and then some real fun begins. Snooping for any possible signs of life that may remain on Mars, Beagle 2 may determine once and for all if there is -- or ever was -- life on Mars.
Go to http://mars.jpl. nasa.gov/funzone_flash.html for more fun than you can imagine learning about the planetary missions as well as missions connected to the red world. Get the latest information at http://mars. jpl.nasa.gov/.
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