"火星快车"轨道器简介

“火星快车”选在今年5月底或6月份发射,考虑的是这时火星和地球的相对位置。此时发射可使探测器的飞行路线最短,而这样的机会每26个月才出现一次。探测器脱离地球踏上飞往火星的旅程后,将以相对于地球10800公里/小时的速度进行6个月的行星际巡航飞行。2003年12月抵达火星前5天,它将把“猎兔犬”2弹射出去,由其自己飞向火星表面上的正确着陆场。轨道器则将通过机动进入一条大椭圆轨道,使之能由此进入其近极工作轨道。“火星快车”项目经理鲁迪·施密特称:“这次任务是一项令人激动的挑战。‘火星快车’将先在太空中长时间飞行,然后完成关键…     

随“MAVEN”一起呼吸火星大气

美国“火星大气与挥发演化”（MAVEN）探测器于2014年9月22日进入火星轨道,开始了其为期1年的科学探测任务。MAVEN的主要使命是调查火星大气失踪之谜,并寻找火星上早期拥有的水源及二氧化碳消失的原因。为完成使命,MAVEN的研制者在充分继承之前火星探测器的研制经验基础上,为其精心打造了各项独具功能的探测设备。     

Astrobiology through the ages of Mars: the study of terrestrial analogues to understand the habitability of Mars

Mars has undergone three main climatic stages throughout its geological history, beginning with a water-rich epoch, followed by a cold and semi-arid era, and transitioning into present-day arid and very cold desert conditions. These global climatic eras also represent three different stages of planetary habitability: an early, potentially habitable stage when the basic requisites for life as we know it were present (liquid water and energy); an intermediate extreme stage, when liquid solutions became scarce or very challenging for life; and the most recent stage during which conditions on the surface have been largely uninhabitable, except perhaps in some isolated niches. Our understanding of the evolution of Mars is now sufficient to assign specific terrestrial environments to each of these periods. Through the study of Mars terrestrial analogues, we have assessed and constrained the habitability conditions for each of these stages, the geochemistry of the surface, and the likelihood for the preservation of organic and inorganic biosignatures. The study of these analog environments provides important information to better understand past and current mission results as well as to support the design and selection of instruments and the planning for future exploratory missions to Mars.     

A facility for long-term Mars simulation experiments: the Mars Environmental Simulation Chamber (MESCH)

We describe the design, construction, and pilot operation of a Mars simulation facility comprised of a cryogenic environmental chamber, an atmospheric gas analyzer, and a xenon/mercury discharge source for UV generation. The Mars Environmental Simulation Chamber (MESCH) consists of a double-walled cylindrical chamber. The double wall provides a cooling mantle through which liquid N(2) can be circulated. A load-lock system that consists of a small pressure-exchange chamber, which can be evacuated, allows for the exchange of samples without changing the chamber environment. Fitted within the MESCH is a carousel, which holds up to 10 steel sample tubes. Rotation of the carousel is controlled by an external motor. Each sample in the carousel can be placed at any desired position. Environmental data, such as temperature, pressure, and UV exposure time, are computer logged and used in automated feedback mechanisms, enabling a wide variety of experiments that include time series. Tests of the simulation facility have successfully demonstrated its ability to produce temperature cycles and maintain low temperature (down to -140 degrees C), low atmospheric pressure (5-10 mbar), and a gas composition like that of Mars during long-term experiments.     

Human exploration of Mars

The human exploration of Mars has the potential to return a rich harvest of scientific information about that planet, its possible past biological history and the prospects for future habitation by Earthly life. The realization of that potential will require new approaches and new technologies--a whole new paradigm in space exploration. Picture yourself exploring the surface of Mars, where your task involves conducting a detailed investigation of features larger than the United States in order to uncover a record of planetary history spanning over four billion years.     

“好奇”号登陆火星——奔向“盖尔”的梦幻舞步

2012年8月6日，“好奇”号在经过8个多月的星途旅行后，成功登陆火星，开始火星探测工作。作为美国第一辆采用核动力驱动的火星车，“好奇”号开启了一个新的火星探索时代。     

火星常识知多少

为什么火星看上去是红色的?人们都知道,火星看上去就像是一个大大的红色火球,火星似火一般在夜空发出火红色的光芒。从望远镜中看去,火星宛若一团燃烧的火球。这一现象曾一直使古人迷惑难解,因此在中国古代,人们把这颗火红的星星称为荧惑,莹就是莹莹似火的意思。那么火星为什么会呈火红色呢?对于这个疑问,答案也是众说纷纭。一直以来,     

火星旅行吃什么?

人类在不久的未来就要实施从地球飞向火星的计划。人类也终将飞向火星,这一点已经没有什么疑问。技术难关也迟早会被攻破,但还有一个问题似乎不太引人注目,那就是航天员火星之行吃什么呢?从表面上看,这一问题好像已经解决。航天员仍然可以按照多年实践形成的惯例,吃些经过干燥处     

“单程车票”飞火星

科学家们认为,单程航天飞行总会便宜一些,即使前往火星也是一样。美国华盛顿州立大学教授德克·舒尔策·马库奇和亚利桑那州立大学物理学家保罗·戴维斯两位科学家在一篇有争议的文章中提出,如果航天员能够像来到北美大陆的首批移民那样,不考虑回家,那么人类移居     

火星极区着陆器丢了

怎样登陆才能成功?火星极区着陆器重580公斤,高1.06米,由洛克希德·马丁公司制造,项目耗资1.65亿美元。它是去年1月3日由德尔它2型运载火箭从美国佛罗里达州的卡纳维拉尔角航天发射场送上旅程的,到12月3日,它已在太空中飞行了11个月,行程数亿公里。如能成功登陆,它将开展?..     

是分开月球和火星的时候了

给出了国外对于载人深空探测的另外一个角度的看法，指出必须充分认识到载人火星探测的风险和成本，应优先考虑发展空间能力，解决社会民生问题。     

"火星探测漫游者"降落伞的研制

概述了“火星探测漫游者”探测器的降落伞系统,并介绍了降落伞系统的组成和性能,以及降落伞的研制过程的主要工作,尤其是设计人员解决和处理的一些细节问题。     

Public perceptions of the Mars sample return program

In 2014 NASA may bring back a sample of Mars rocks, soil and atmosphere to Earth. The most likely location for returning this sample will be somewhere in the central USA. The purpose of the project is to understand the history of Mars; the samples may also reveal evidence of previous or existing life on Mars. Confirmation of this possibility would rank as one of the most profound discoveries in human history, yet to date it is unclear how the public in the USA actually views the mission. This study addresses this issue by examining the views of 70 residents of Cincinnati, OH. These perceptions are examined in light of the conceptual ideas and theories presented in the risk perception and communication literatures. While respondents were generally favourable towards a Mars sample return mission, and largely unworried by possible risks, they did have concerns about the use of plutonium for electrical propulsion and were somewhat ill-informed about the issues.     

火星探测器进入阶段稳定性分析

文章针对＂火星探路者＂,对火星探测器在进入火星大气减速过程中的运动稳定性问题进行了研究,分析了质心位置、进入条件、大气参数等因素对火星探测器运动稳定性的影响。分析结果表明,在马赫数大于1.2时,探测器处于一个比较稳定的状态。     

博尔登称火星仍是终极目标

<正>NASA局长博尔登2月24日在参院商业、科学与运输委员会科学与航天小组委员会的预算听证会上为该局的新航天规划进行了辩护,称送宇航员前往火星仍是美国载人航天的终极目标。他说,他认为火星仍是太阳系内     

The space station and Mars

This article presents a plan for reconfiguring the US-international Space Station, which could be used to undertake exploration of Mars. The author believes that there is an urgent need to give a unified purpose to the US Shuttle, Space Station and space science activities, and that planning for an international Mars sample return mission along the lines outlined here could start the US space programme moving again within budgetary requirements.