Robotic armada
is invading Mars
from all directions
By Ken Kremer
The Red Planet is getting a whole lot of attention
from Earthlings right now, and it’s like never before
in the history of humanity and space exploration.
Currently, an armada of five spacecraft from
Earth are actively exploring the vicinity of
Mars, including a trio of orbiters and a duo
of rovers.
All but one of those space probes is
from NASA. The lone exception being
the Mars Express (MEX) orbiter from ESA,
the European Space Agency. And
later this Fall, two additional probes
- NASA’s MAVEN and India’s Mars
Orbiter Mission (MOM) - will blast off
to embark on long interplanetary
voyages in search of new Martian
discoveries beginning late in 2014.
Joining MEX, NASA has two
orbiters and two surface rovers
plying the Martian skies and
plains. Circling overhead are
Mars Odyssey (MO) and Mars
Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO).
Trundling below are the Martian
sister rovers, Opportunity and
Curiosity.
The spacecraft literally form
an invasion fleet embarked on
a coordinated attack plan that’s
directed by an elite group of highly
talented engineering and science
‘Generals’ so as to reap every last drop
of scientific research possible - and for as
long as possible.
Every one of these unique spacecraft
is a ‘priceless asset’ as Prof. Steve Squyres,
Opportunity’s Principal Investigator of Cornell
University, or lead scientist, is fond of saying.
Besides conducting breathtaking science in
their own right, the MO, MRO and MEX orbiters relay
and transmit virtually all of the gorgeous photos and
unprecedented research data collected on the
ground by NASA’s Curiosity and Opportunity rovers
back to huge dish antenna receiving stations spread
across Earth.
So let’s briefly review the history, goals and results
of the current quintet of our Martian fleet and learn
what’s new and upcoming in the near term.
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