Mars Science Laboratory
The Mars Science Laboratory, commonly known as the Curiosity Probe is an ongoing mission designed to last for at least 1 Martian year (667 Earth days).[1] The objectives of the Mars Science laboratory mission is to study the possibility of life on Mars now or in the past, monitoring the climate and geology, and collecting data for future manned missions to Mars. The mission was funded by the United States government via NASA, but carries an array of instruments from an international coalition. [2]
Curiosity
The probe, Curiosity is nearly twice as long as the Spirit and Opportunity rovers, and weighs nearly 5 times more (900 kilograms). The probe landed in the Gale Crater, Aeolis Mons. It contains several new pieces of equipment to aid it's mission. The probe also used new methods to land on mars, including the famous "Sky-Crane". Curiosity is equiped with a plutonium RTG, which should be enough to power it for at least 10 years.
Mission objectives
The mission objectives of the MSL are simple. Determine whether Mars could have ever supported life, study the climate, and geology, and collect data for future missions to Mars. To do that, it will
- Determine the mineralogical composition of the surface and nearby structures
- Attempt to detect chemical building blocks for life
- Determine the processes that have formed the rocks and soils
- Assess longterm (4 billion years) evolution of martian atmosphere
- Assess the state and distribution of water, carbon dioxide, and how it cycles
- Characterize the broad spectrum of radiation on mars
- Part of this mission was done on the journey, while in space.