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The 1 ton rover proves to be a huge success for NASA by Jennie Wood Here’s one of the first images of Mars taken by NASA’s Curiosity rover. Photo Credit: NASA Related Links Space ExplorationSpace Shuttle TimelineSpace Shuttle (Encyclopedia) Space AccidentsSpace MoviesOn August 6, 2012, NASA’s Curiosity, a SUV-size rover, was lowered to the surface of Mars by wire cables. Before Curiosity, only one other space craft had successfully landed on Mars. That spacecraft, Mars 3 from the Soviet Union, fell silent just after landing in 1971. Troubled Mission Ends Up a Success Originally, Curiosity was supposed to launch in the fall of 2009 and cost $1.6 billion. Technical problems delayed the launch and NASA had to wait 26 months—the next time Earth lined up with Mars in the right position for the landing. In the meantime, the cost of the mission rose to $2.5 billion. Still, the mission was a huge achievement for NASA, which has seen criticism in recent years that the agency will never be what it once was. At a news conference, science adviser John P. Holdren said, “If anybody has been harboring doubts about the status of U.S. leadership in space, there’s a 1 ton, automobile-size piece of American ingenuity, and it’s sitting on the surface of Mars right now.” President Obama praised the mission. In an official statement, he said, “It proves that even the longest odds are no match for our unique blend of ingenuity and determination.” Curiosity on Mars Curiosity will spend the next two years studying the biology, chemistry, and geology of Mars. The rover’s arm will take soil samples and analyze them onboard. Its chemical sniffers will examine the air on Mars for carbon compounds, which could provide signs of life. The rover also carries a long-distance laser to blast rocks up to seven miles away and the tools that will allow it to research the residue. Curiosity also has an X-ray spectrometer, which allows it to see what kinds of minerals are in the rocks as well as 17 cameras to take photos and send them back to Earth. Not bad for a project that costs less than seven dollars per U.S. citizen. NASA first plans to make sure the rover is functioning properly by running a series of tests. By late September 2012, the rover will take soil samples. Drilling is planned for the mid-fall. The rover’s research has been planned for the next two years, but since Curiosity’s electricity is powered by plutonium, it could be operational and provide insight into Mars for decades to come. More on SpaceSpace ExplorationTo the Moon and Mars
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The 1 ton rover proves to be a huge success for NASA
On August 6, 2012, NASA’s Curiosity, a SUV-size rover, was lowered to the surface of Mars by wire cables. Before Curiosity, only one other space craft had successfully landed on Mars. That spacecraft, Mars 3 from the Soviet Union, fell silent just after landing in 1971.
Here’s one of the first images of Mars taken by NASA’s Curiosity rover. Photo Credit: NASA
Related Links
- Space ExplorationSpace Shuttle TimelineSpace Shuttle (Encyclopedia) Space AccidentsSpace Movies
Troubled Mission Ends Up a Success
Originally, Curiosity was supposed to launch in the fall of 2009 and cost $1.6 billion. Technical problems delayed the launch and NASA had to wait 26 months—the next time Earth lined up with Mars in the right position for the landing. In the meantime, the cost of the mission rose to $2.5 billion. Still, the mission was a huge achievement for NASA, which has seen criticism in recent years that the agency will never be what it once was. At a news conference, science adviser John P. Holdren said, “If anybody has been harboring doubts about the status of U.S. leadership in space, there’s a 1 ton, automobile-size piece of American ingenuity, and it’s sitting on the surface of Mars right now.” President Obama praised the mission. In an official statement, he said, “It proves that even the longest odds are no match for our unique blend of ingenuity and determination.”
Curiosity on Mars
Curiosity will spend the next two years studying the biology, chemistry, and geology of Mars. The rover’s arm will take soil samples and analyze them onboard. Its chemical sniffers will examine the air on Mars for carbon compounds, which could provide signs of life. The rover also carries a long-distance laser to blast rocks up to seven miles away and the tools that will allow it to research the residue. Curiosity also has an X-ray spectrometer, which allows it to see what kinds of minerals are in the rocks as well as 17 cameras to take photos and send them back to Earth. Not bad for a project that costs less than seven dollars per U.S. citizen.
NASA first plans to make sure the rover is functioning properly by running a series of tests. By late September 2012, the rover will take soil samples. Drilling is planned for the mid-fall. The rover’s research has been planned for the next two years, but since Curiosity’s electricity is powered by plutonium, it could be operational and provide insight into Mars for decades to come.
- More on Space
.com/science/astronomy/mars-curiosity.html
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MESSENGER to Enter Mercury’s Orbit to Find Clues to the Mysteries of the Planet
- MESSENGER to Enter Mercury’s Orbit to Find Clues to the Mysteries of the Planet
TrendingHere are the facts and trivia that people are buzzing about.
Did Birds Evolve from Dinosaurs?
The Twelve Dancing Princesses
Current Events This Week: January 2023
African Americans by the Numbers
Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents
The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales
TrendingHere are the facts and trivia that people are buzzing about.
Did Birds Evolve from Dinosaurs?
The Twelve Dancing Princesses
Current Events This Week: January 2023
African Americans by the Numbers
Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents
The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales
- Did Birds Evolve from Dinosaurs?
- The Twelve Dancing Princesses
- Current Events This Week: January 2023
- African Americans by the Numbers
- Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents
- The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales
