Chris C Posting #4
Science and Technology
A bold new chance for Mars exploration! by: Dirk Schulze-Makuch
Huffington Post 5/11/12
In recent years, several space programs have been launching missions to find life on Mars as well as find if the planet can be suitable for future human colonization. NASA being the leading space program has proposed a new operation dubbed BOLD. This stands for Biological Oxidant and Life Detection. The mission will consist of sending six probes to various locations on Mars. The cones, each weighing approximately 130 pounds, are shaped like inverted cones and will parachute down to the surface. On impact each probe will shoot a soil sampler a foot into the ground and run various tests on the soil, relaying data to a nearby orbiter. The sampler will test for inorganic ions, PH values, and the concentration of oxidants. Scientists have concluded that it may be possible for organisms to survive the harsh environment by having internal fluids consisting of water and oxidants such as hydrogen peroxide. Other instruments on the probes will look for terrestrial micro-fossils as well as strands of nucleic acid created by life. Even with the latest technology, each probe has only a 50% chance of a successful landing, but having six probes brings the probability that at least one will work to 98%. The entire project will likely land in the price range of several hundred million dollars and will be ready to go around the year 2018. The BOLD project comes at an optimum time with space exploration funding steadily decreasing and the possibility of cutting future Mars mission. This mission could bring vital information needed to rejuvenate NASA and future space exploration programs. I feel that it would be very plausible to have humans on Mars within the next 50 years. We have the technology, what is needed is the political will to continue to explore the solar system.
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ReplyDeleteNASA is planning to start a new mission to Mars, called BOLD, which stands for Biological Oxidant and Life Detection, which will be searching for inorganic ions, oxidants, and possible nucleic acids to determine whether the planet could be suitable for human habitants, which I think will be very important information for us when we try to build colonies and space stations on other planets or moons. These 130 pound probes will be cone shaped and use a soil sampler to do various tests on chemical compositions, such as pH levels and concentration of oxidants. Because the probability of having a successful landing is only 50%, NASA will send 6 of these probes to try to ensure that at least one makes it to the surface of Mars safely (6 probes would result in a 98% chance of success for at least one probe), which I think is a good idea since Russia's Mars satellite Phobos-Grunt recently failed to reach its destination. This new project will be ready by 2018 and has the potential to give us a lot more information about Mars and our Solar System, but like other space missions, it will be very expensive and cost us several hundred million dollars.
ReplyDeleteDespite the recent cancellation of NASA's famous moon program, they have begun a new project known as BOLD: Biological Oxidant and Life Detection. Humanity has faces many issues on Earth such as overpopulation and pollution, but the BOLD project is the first step to a very ambitious solution. The 130 pound probes will test for chemical compositions of a planets surface, retrieving data such as pH level and concentration of oxidants. This data may be used in the planing and execution of what may be the first step of man outside its Earthly bounds. Unfortunately, the success of implementation of the probes onto Mars' surface is around 50%, so NASA will be sending 6 probes on the launch. The estimated time window for the project is by 2018. With much international interest in space, this project may be what it takes to raise the morale of not only the American people, but the world as a whole. I believe that if this project is successful, it will lead to a wide range of possibilities in space. This possibility makes it well worth the hundreds of millions on the price tag.
ReplyDeleteI've heard about that there's water exist in Mars years ago, which means there's a large chance that human can live on it. The news continued about this topic and it becomes more and more important since many nature resource problems came out. Although there's a large probability that human will live in Mars, there are still many other issues to consider about like habits and different physical conditions. However, the large probability of success of the probes tells me the technology raises heavily and that means we can figure out more facts about Mars and maybe other planets. I'm very looking forward for the news about the mission.
ReplyDeleteNASA's new project, BOLD (Biological Oxidant and Life Detection), will send six probes to Mars to sample the planet's soil in order to determine if it's possible for organisms to survive the awful environment. It's an extremely risky mission, as each probe only has a 50% to successfully land, and NASA hopes that the increased count will allow at least one of them to land. Interest in space exploration has been decreasing steadily over Obama's administration, and NASA hopes that space exploration and funding will increase with the project's success. The operation is planned for 2018 and will cost millions of dollars, perhaps even billions.
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