Our future presence in space is undoubtedly still in the works! NASA launched its next rover to Mars on 11/26/2011. The rover named “Curiosity” is currently flying freely and is separated from its Atlas II rocket in route to Mars, with an expected landing date of August 2012. This rover, which is about the size of a motor vehicle, will be an important part of continuing the research on the surface of Mars. The timeline, specs, and mission information can be followed here on the NASA website as well as on twitter and Facebook. The main mission of this rover also referred to as the Mars Science Laboratory is to determine if Mars ever was or could be habitable. The outcome of this mission could prove or display the ability to land larger craft on the mars surface, which eventually could fly to mars and then have the ability to return to Earth with samples. These are the type of missions that would first need to take place before a manned mission would ever be possible, but if successful these missions would be an extraordinary step in the right direction of making this possible.
From science perspective, I personally support and encourage NASA's current and future planned space exploration and research missions because the benefit of such missions often outweigh the cost (e.g. technological, educational, etc). Simultaneously, due to our current state of the economy, we expect NASA to mange its resources and budget wisely.
ReplyDeleteThe Mars project is an exciting and cool but when I think a little deeper into the reasons for the exploration I grow a increasingly concerned about the possibility/reality that the earth will someday be inhabitable for humans. Which in the short we are creating our own demise. I digress....
ReplyDeleteI love to see that NASA is still reaching out into the Universe. Sure private corporations have the potential to help in the space effort, but like this. No one will spend billion to go out with no evidence that there could be something there. Proving that it is possible to go to this plant with maned mission would be a way to do that. The further we go out into space, the more we can find out about what is there, and what possibilities the universe may hold.
ReplyDeleteGreat and very current update...just a little short.
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