Tag: Mars exploration

Categories
Quick Analysis

Probing Mars

November of 2018 promises to bring far more than just the start of the Christmas season.

On November 26, NASA’s  InSight spacecraft is expected to touchdown on the Elysium Planitia section of Mars (sometimes called the planet’s “biggest parking lot”) for an unprecedented exploration of the Red Planet. “InSight” is short for Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport.

According to NASA, the Mars lander is “designed to give the Red Planet its first thorough checkup since it formed 4.5 billion years ago. It is the first outer space robotic explorer to study in-depth the ‘inner space’ of Mars: its crust, mantle, and core.”

The InSight Mars lander has two key science objectives:

Formation & Evolution: Understand the formation and evolution of terrestrial planets through investigation of the interior structure and processes of Mars.

Tectonic Activity: Determine the present level of tectonic activity and meteorite impact rate on Mars.

Past Mars missions have investigated the surface history of the Red Planet by examining features like canyons, volcanoes, rocks and soil. However, signatures of the planet’s formation can only be found by sensing and studying its “vital signs” far below the surface. NASA notes that The mission can open a window into the “inner space” of Mars, because Its instruments peer deeper than ever into the Martian subsurface, seeking the signatures of the processes that shaped the rocky planets of the inner Solar System, more than four billion years ago. InSight’s findings are expected to shed light on the formation of Mars, Earth, and even rocky exoplanets.

In comparison to the other terrestrial planets, Mars is neither too big nor too small. This means that it preserves the record of its formation and can give us insight into how the terrestrial planets formed. It is the perfect laboratory from which to study the formation and evolution of rocky planets. Scientists know that Mars has low levels of geological activity. But a lander like InSight can also reveal just how active Mars really is.
As such, usage of this drug means applying a low expenses drug with a electric power to let the a man perform well his best in bed. tadalafil 5mg no prescription Overnight oil and 4T Plus capsules http://davidfraymusic.com/events/los-angeles-chamber-orchestra-romantic-chopin/ effects of levitra professional can be taken. One can get the pills buy viagra uk delivered at the address on time. All the studies have concluded that most of the patients tested without cialis online from canada fear of worsening their heart condition.
The mission’s interplanetary journey began last May, when an Atlas V-401 rocket blasted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base. The mission is expected to last for about 728 Earth days.

According to the U.S. space agency, “InSight will teach us about the interior of planets like our own. The mission team hopes that by studying the deep interior of Mars, we can learn how other rocky worlds, including Earth and the Moon, formed. Our home planet and Mars were molded from the same primordial stuff more than 4.5 billion years ago but then became quite different. Why didn’t they share the same fate? When it comes to rocky planets, we’ve only studied one in detail: Earth. By comparing Earth’s interior to that of Mars, InSight’s team members hope to better understand our solar system. What they learn might even aid the search for Earth-like exoplanets, narrowing down which ones might be able to support life. So while InSight is a Mars mission, it’s also much more than a Mars mission.”

The Atlas rocket that started InSight’s journey also launched a separate NASA technology experiment: two mini-spacecraft called Mars Cube One, or MarCO. These briefcase-sized CubeSats fly on their own path to Mars behind InSight.

Their goal is to test new miniaturized deep space communication equipment and, if the MarCOs make it to Mars, may relay back InSight data as it enters the Martian atmosphere and lands. This is the first test of miniaturized CubeSat technology at another planet, which researchers hope can offer new capabilities to future missions.

If successful, the MarCOs could represent a new kind of communication capability to Earth.

Several European space agencies, including France’s Centre National d’Études Spatiales (CNES) and the German Aerospace Center (DLR), are supporting the InSight mission. CNES provided the Seismic Experiment for Interior Structure instrument, with significant contributions from the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research in Germany, the Swiss Institute of Technology in Switzerland, Imperial College and Oxford University in the United Kingdom, and JPL. DLR provided the Heat Flow and Physical Properties Package instrument, with significant contributions from the Polish Space Agency (CBK) and Astronika in Poland. Spain’s Centro de Astrobiología supplied the wind sensors.

Illustration:  InSight spacecraft (NASA)

Categories
Quick Analysis

Trump Restores and Expands NASA’s Key Missions

President Trump’s signing of the NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2017, the first comprehensive NASA authorization passed by Congress in more than six years, indicates again the White House emphasis on manned space flight, including a return to the moon and human exploration of Mars by 2033, and deep space exploration by robotics as well.  It confirms the President’s desire to reduce the Obama-era use of NASA for activities involving climate change issues. (See the New York Analysis of Policy and Government’s recent examinations of President Trump’s space proposals)

Under the measure, NASA is slated to receive $19.5 billion, a $.2 billion increase. Spending on the space agency only represents 0.5% of the federal budget.

At the signing, Trump stated “With this legislation, we support NASA’s scientists, engineers, astronauts and their pursuit of discovery “America’s space program has been a blessing to our people and to the entire world. Almost half a century ago, our brave astronauts first planted the American flag on the moon. That was a big moment in our history.  Now this nation is ready to be the first in space once again. Today we’re taking the initial steps toward a bold and brave new future for American space flight……It continues support for the commercial crew program, which will carry American astronauts into space from American soil once again — been a long time. It supports NASA’s deep space exploration, including the Space Launch System and the ORION spacecraft.  It advances space science by maintaining a balanced set of mission and activities to explore our solar system and the entire universe.  And it ensures that through NASA’s astronauts and aeronautics research, the United States will remain a total leader in aviation.”

The Act was passed unanimously by Congress. According to the White House, “It authorizes the development and execution of a long-range plan for deep space human exploration; invests in robust science, technology and aeronautics portfolios; and endorses the Agency’s successful efforts to nurture a new commercial market that will boost our economy and create more jobs. Additionally, it guarantees vastly improved health care for the heroes who risk their lives in the exploration of space.”

Demonstrating bipartisan support for the measure (and also for an important state industry) Senator Nelson (D-Florida): stated:  “It puts us on the dual track.  We have the commercial companies going to and from the International Space Station, and we have NASA going out and exploring the heavens.  And we’re going to Mars.”

NASA acting Administrator Robert Lightfoot stated “We would like to thank President Trump for his support of the agency in signing the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Transition Authorization Act of 2017. We also want to express our gratitude to a bipartisan Congress for its thoughtful consideration of the agency’s path forward. We are grateful for the longstanding support and trust of the American people, which enables our nation’s space, aeronautics, science, and technology development programs to thrive. Our workforce has proven time and again that it can meet any challenge, and the continuing support for NASA ensures our nation’s space program will remain the world’s leader in pioneering new frontiers in exploration, innovation, and scientific achievement.”

Business Insider outlined several key aspects of the measure, including:

  • An uncrewed launch of SLS and Orion (key elements in returning Americans to space) by next year ,
  • A crewed mission to the moon in 2021, and further trips to the moon and Mars after that date;
  • A road map to send people to Mars by 2033;
  • Expanding permanent human presence beyond low-Earth orbit;
  • Leadership in advanced avionics on Earth;
  • Sending a rover to Mars in 2020,
  • An orbiting satellite to Europa;
  • Hunting for exoplanets; and
  • Researching the use of nuclear-fueled spacecraft; and finding killer asteroids.

But the viagra on line sales is very costly and out of the reach of children.Why to Go for viagra. buy viagra online is the most loved amongst more unconstrained men. unica-web.com , another different option for and a PDE-5 inhibitor lives up to expectations 30 60 minutes after ingestion and keeps going 4-6 hours around the same time each day. And when sale of sildenafil tablets these disabilities intensify up to 90%, the procedure k?dni transplant becomes mandatory. Erectile Dysfunction is the most cursed viagra generika unica-web.com issue for men. You may simply stop using these pills and go for a visit to the doctor. buy cialis online
The measure also mandates that NASA “search for life’s origin, evolution, distribution, and future in the universe.”

Categories
Quick Analysis

Europe, Russia cooperate in space

The United States is starting to be closed out of key international space ventures, signaling future problems for American aerospace and high tech industries, and the valuable employment opportunities they offer.

Lev Zelyony, who heads the Russian Academy of Science’s Space Research Institute, has announced that Europe and Russia are working on an agreement to jointly explore the Moon.  The potential deal complements a previous arrangement penned in 2012 for exploring Mars, with an unmanned landing scheduled for 2018.  The latest discussion highlights the growing closeness between the European  Space Agency and Roscosmos, its Russian equivalent.

Spacetravel.com, which reported the deal, noted that a lunar landing is planned for 2030, “with subsequent deployment of a manned lunar base.”

Available Treatments For treating this condition there are some levitra pills for sale permanent surgical options available. All these ingredients are blended in right combination offer the best herbal cure for weak erection. viagra online cheapest Here, we are telling you some simple tips for coping with the negative Give time to each other- Until men manage some time for their partner, levitra 20mg price they cannot talk about the condition. So lets take a look at which one should take such pills but studies have shown that men above the age of 40 require outside help for satisfactory sexual activity. cheapest viagra tabs is a blessing for all men as some men feel ED only when they are sexually stimulated. Russia has also worked on a number of cooperative efforts both economic and military with China.

Increasingly, America’s failure to timely return to manned space flight and the stagnant NASA budget threatens the future of the U.S. economy. Far from being a “frill,” as detractors imply, the prosperity and national security of the nation is significantly tied in with the exploration and exploitation of space.

Particularly during the past several years, meaningless statements about support for NASA goals in the future while not providing the current funding to keep them alive have been made.