Introduction
From the time space exploration was discovered, the main issue has always been to try to find out if there is extraterrestrial life in this solar system. The distinct features that enable the Earth to sustain life, such as oxygen, availability of water, gravity, and soil are the aspects that the space explorers have tried to find in the other planets. This mission is similar to other space explorations that have been conducted to determine whether life exists on the planet Mars.
This mission will use a robotic rover with a mass spectrometer, X-ray diffractometer, color cameras, alpha-particle X-ray spectrometer, and an active neutron spectrometer. The mission will analyze the soil, the soil’s composition, organic life present in the soil, the presence of water, and the nature of the water if in solid or liquid form. Past studies reveal the availability of water on Mars. An analysis of Martian soil and water will help compliment the other space exploration that the United States conducted and the findings of the NASA orbiter to mars. The project is important in finding another planet that can support life apart from the earth.
Mission Profile
The goal of this mission is to study and determine whether life exists on mars using a rover that will be launched in the USA to Mars. The probe will stay on the surface of mars after finding the best place to land and try to discover if the soil in mars has any signs of present or past life. It will also try to determine the composition of the soil in mars, whether there are still complex organic molecules present in the soil. In addition, the probe will determine whether there is water and energy that can sustain life in the planet. Again, it will find out if the water is currently in liquid form, or it was in liquid form in the past. Finally, it determines the composition of the atmosphere if any. The study proves the existence of life in the planet with a particular focus on the soil, water, and the atmosphere.
Planetary Science
Currently, Earth is the sole planet known to sustain life. However, scholars and some observers claim that life exists on the planet Mars (Portman, 2013). Portman (2013) explains that they observed evidence of life during his research. Nonetheless, it is impossible to view the finer details of the composition of the surface or biological activity that may take place on Mars (Duffett-Smith & Straker, 2013). The spacecrafts that have been sent to Mars have provided a positive response like the presence of water in mars which indicates that life might exist in the planet. The United States has also sent many spacecrafts to the planet Mars. The results of NASA reveal that there are signs of water in the planet which shows that life on mars is possible (NASA, 2014).
From the past attempts to discover life on the planet Mars, it is apparent that the Earth shares many features with the Mars. For instance, mars has signs of water and gases (NASA, 2014). This fact makes Mars the best planet to study whether life exists on it. Although past studies have shown similarities between Mars and the Earth, the two planets are different. On Earth, the compass will always point to the North (Duffett-Smith & Straker, 2013). On the contrary, Mars does not share these features with the planet Earth. In addition, the magnetic fields present on earth have the ability to repulse away dangerous particles of space radiation but Mars has less air and no magnetic field, so, the dangerous space radiation reaches its surface. Some studies also reveal that there is water on Mars. The water on Mars is less compared to the Earth; the water in mars is so cold and is in solid ice (NASA, 2014).
The mission focuses on improving on the past study findings and strengthens on the weaknesses of the earlier studies. It is still unclear whether Mars can support life. NASA once launched a huge spacecraft to Mars called Viking 1 and Viking 2. It was in the year 1976. The spacecraft were put there for nearly four years for the Viking 1 and six years for Viking (NASA, 2014). Much time was spent studying Mars with no positive result due to the composition of the soil that is highly oxidative; hence breaking down organic molecules. It is apparent from the database of the NASA 1976 spacecrafts that there are no signs of life in the planet (Portman, 2013). The experiment showed images of changing seasons and the planet’s rock details. The cameras did not reveal any animal wandering on the land although it was not part of the study (Portman, 2013).
The mission will probe will be launched to land where there is signs of water. The planet mars is very big that the probe is directed to a specific location. It is apparent that life exists where there is a sign of water although tangible water has not yet been identified in Mars. Water will provide a guide of the likelihood of life within the land of mars (Scott, 2008). The mission also focuses on whether there used to be life in the planet even if the previous study found that life does not exist. The mission will provide more insights into the past missions and finds more that the past missions did not.
Spacecraft and Instrument package
The mission will use a rover. The rover is an automated vehicle. It is an instrument that can travel outside the earth to other planets and heavenly bodies to investigate and come back with findings on the topology and the landscape (Portman, 2013). This will involve the use of certain instruments such as Microscopic Electrochemistry and Conductivity Analyzer. The mission is to study the soil, the atmosphere, and the water available on mars.
It is apparent that the rover will give the correct findings of the mission because it will include good and effective instruments operated by experts. The robotic rover is small and light in weight, therefore, it will easily travel fast to the planet mars.The rover will help to study the soil, the atmosphere, and the water on Mars. The rover will target the area in mars that the former study showed that had signs of water such as presence of methane as identified by NASA (2014). The landing area of the rover, therefore, will land at Gusev Crater. The Gusev Crater is a place that past studies reveal might have been a lake evidenced by tunnels present in the microscopic scanning of meteorites from Mars (Jakosky, 2006). The place shows that the planet mars might have been wet in the past. The wet area leads to the chance of life existence on the planet.
Photographs will be taken by the rover after it lands on Mars. These will help scientists in their attempt to discover life on the planet. The rover is remotely driven to the on-site locations to perform observations of the places trying to identify any sign of current life or a sign of the past life such as presence of bacteria, water and gases. The rover will carry mass spectrometer, X-ray diffractometer, color cameras, alpha-particle X-ray spectrometer, and an active neutron spectrometer. The instruments are necessary to investigate the availability of life on the planet. The spectrometers and X-rays will capture the images of objects on Mars.
Each instrument carried by the rover has a function. The camera is for finding out the mineralogy, terrain, structure, and the texture of the soil on mars. It does that by taking photographs of the required points of study. The miniature thermal Emission Spectrometer (Mini-TES) focuses on the soil particles that require more study. The mini-TES is used to investigate skyward and provide the temperature of the soils and the rocks. This will help in investigating life on Mars by telling whether the temperatures of the soil and rocks can support life. In addition, the X-ray Spectrometer analyzes the composition of the soils and the rocks. The soil composition will help in the determination whether the life exists in the soil currently or if life existed in the past (Jakosky, 2006). This involves measuring the amount of bacteria in the soil. Moreover, microscopic imager obtains high-resolution images and pictures of the landscape of the planet mars.
Discussion
The camera will take photographs of the terrain, structure, and the texture of the soil on mars. The miniature thermal Emission Spectrometer (Mini-TES) focuses on the soil particles that require more study. The mini-TES will investigate the skyward and provide the temperature of the soils and the rocks (Harland, 2005). The temperature determines the availability of life on the planet such that very high and very low temperatures such as 500 degrees and -500 degrees will indicate that it is impossible for the soil to support life. In addition, the X-ray Spectrometer will analyze the composition of the soils and the rocks, the soil composition will help in the determination whether the life exists in the soil currently or if life existed in the past. Moreover, microscopic imager will obtain high-resolution images and pictures of the landscape of the planet mars (Scott, 2008). The instruments will determine if the soil can sustain life currently or in the past. The instruments will also show if there is water and energy that can sustain life in the planet. The results by the instruments will provide a base for the missions’. The instruments will show whether there is water and energy on Mars by measuring the presence of gases such as methane and carbon dioxide, and also identifying whether there is bacteria on the planet. This will be shown by the photographing and microscopic scanning done using the instruments.
Conclusion
The mission aim is to find out the existence of life on mars. The mission considers the soil, the soil’s composition, organic life present in the soil, the presence of water, and the nature of the water if in solid or liquid form. The mission needs the probe called the robotic rover, carrying mass spectrometer, color cameras, alpha-particle X-ray spectrometer, and an active neutron spectrometer to record the findings. Although studies on the subject have been done, the mission seeks to reveal more insights and complement the past studies. This will be done by measuring various components of soil and the surface of Mars in search of some evidence of life on Mars. This will include search for bacteria, methane, and carbon dioxide through photographing and microscopic scanning.
References Cited
Duffett-Smith, J., & Straker, B. (2013). A curious robot on Mars!. New York: Sky Pony Press.
Harland, D. M. (2005). Water and the search for life on Mars. Berlin: Springer.
Jakosky, B. M. (2006). Science, society, and the search for life in the universe. Tucson: University of Arizona Press.
Portman, M. (2013). Is there life on Mars?. New York, NY: Gareth Stevens Pub.
Scott, E. (2008). Mars and the search for life. New York: Clarion Books.
