A new probe as part of the InSight mission will be sent to Red planet in 2016. The device will be equipped with a drilling rig, seismic laboratory and motion study equipment Mars in orbit around the sun. Having studied the internal structure of the Red planets, geologists hope to understand how the Earth was formed.
A photo from open sources PHOTO: NASA “InSight mission possible call a real geophysical expedition, – quotes the publication Space Flight Now words by Bruce Banerdt – a scientist working for NASA as part of the project. – We will study the seismic activity of Mars and hear his heart beating. We will build a temperature gradient subsurface layer and understand how much heat comes from its bowels. we let’s see how the tidal forces of the Sun and satellites act on Mars, and observe the tiniest vibrations of its orbit. “Scientists are sure that studying the internal structure of Mars will help to understand how formed the planets of the solar system of the terrestrial group. Specialists hope to solve some puzzles: for example, it is still not clear the structure of the core of Mars, it is also not clear why on this planet, in Unlike the Earth, there is no drift of tectonic plates. Built on the basis of proven in 2008 Phoenix, the new probe will be actually a stationary drilling platform equipped with additional equipment. Main probe tool – a drill that can go deep into Martian soil on 5 meters. The launch of the launch vehicle is scheduled for March 2016, landing on Mars – on September 20, 2016. Engineers are counting that the probe will work on the surface of the planet 720 earth days, or 700 solos (Martian days). However, the Opportunity rover, designed for 90 solos of work, has been working for more than nine years. The cost of the entire InSight mission, not including the cost of bringing the device to space valued at $ 425 million. It is believed that such a modest the budget was achieved through the use of developed earlier systems. The platform and most of the equipment will be assembled NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which created the famous Mars rovers Spirit, Opportunity and Curiosity. However the rig itself installation will be built by German engineers working on aerospace German agency. In early February, the Curiosity rover is already used a drilling rig on Mars, however a hole made a few centimeters deep can be called drilling rather than real drilling. However, the stone powder obtained in the result of this operation is very important for scientists – so in the automatic laboratory on board the robot first entered the sample rocks not exposed to weather and sun radiation. Chemical analysis of soil samples collected by the apparatus Curiosity showed that several million years ago on Red There were living conditions on the planet. Andrey Sidelnikov
Mars NASA Sun Mars Rover Curiosity
