Running head: THE MARS CURIOSITY ROVER The Mars Curiosity Rover Li Yan (Lee) University of New Hampshire 1 THE MARS CURIOSITY ROVER 2 The Mars Curiosity rover Introductory statement The exploration of the planet for signs of life has been a major endeavor scientist. The great story of the massive exploration captures the interest of the scientists after what was a general exploration of the solar system captured the images of Mars. This picture created a point of interest among the scientists in the field of astronomy. NASA has been on the frontline in this voyage, creating and sending spaceships to carry out the expenditure. Various missions have been launched to Mars with some hit unsuccessful ends. There is about five orbiters spaceship going around the orbit of Mars and gathering data from the planet that only seems to qualify as the earth’s distant cousin. The picture, images, and the data collected from the spaceships could not provide sufficient evidence to determine whether Mars ever supported or can support life. For this reason, the scientist saw the need to send an explorer and land it at the surface of the red planet. Through this way more detailed data on the capabilities of the planet to support life especially on the aspects of water and air qualities. The two successful landers and rovers are Mars exploration rover (Opportunity) and the Curiosity of the Mars Science Laboratory. This paper will be developed to describe the mission of the Curiosity Mars rover. It will analyze in details the capability of this ship that makes it well suited for the exploration mission. The primary functions that Curiosity was launched to perform. The paper will also report on the progress on the NASA main purpose on the attempts to determine ad gather evidence that Mars habitat supports life or once supported life. Mission The Curiosity rover was launched from the Cape Canaveral Air Force base on 26th November 2011. The rover was destined to land at the Gale Crater on the surface of Mars. The primary mission was destined to take 23 months. (NASA). The main goals of the THE MARS CURIOSITY ROVER 3 Curiosity were to gather evidence to help establish whether Mars had the ability to support life, to analyzes the role of water, and to explore the climatic and geological conditions of the planet. All this was seen as paving the way for future human exploration. To achieve these goals, the mission of Curiosity was subdivided into categories each representing objectives. These are biological, geological and the planetary process. The biological objective seeks to address the issues of organic carbon compounds, chemicals regarded as a basic block of life and the biological processes. In the geological objective, Curiosity was charged with to research on the rocks and mineral composition. The planetary process was meant to address the evolution process and the possible water and carbon dioxide cycles (Trebi, 2013). Major Curiosity Rover’s technological components Curiosity Rover developed by the Mars science laboratory was comprised of 77% of its total mass as gears destined to ensure its safe transfer from the earth and to ensure a soft landing on the surface of the earth. Only 23% of the total mass of the spacecraft was to be used for carrying out the exploration mission. The active weight of Curiosity Rover including the technological and scientific apparatus is 80kgs. The powering of the Curiosity is conducted through radioisotope thermoelectric generator (Trepi, 2013). These systems generate electricity to power the rover ad is systems from the decomposition of radioactive isotopes mostly used being plutonium. The systems were developed by Rocket dyne and Teledyne energy systems. The electricity is used to recharge batteries to supply power. The stored energy facilitate to fulfill high peak power demands of the systems when the same can be attained through the operation of the generators optimal functionality and output level (Serafim, 2012). The Curiosity Rover has advanced communications devices. According to Serafim (2012) describes these communication devices. The Rovers bear’s three antennas; the X-band transmitter with an ability of 400 megahertz. It also has a UHF electro-life controlled radio. THE MARS CURIOSITY ROVER 4 These communications systems facilitate sending of signals back to earth with a delay of only 13 minutes and 46 seconds. The computer component of the curiosity is one that is slow, with little storage capabilities even less than that of a smartphone but well adapted for the rugged terrain on the surface of the Mars (Harwood, 2012). The computer described as the PowerPC RAD750 is built to withstand extremely high temperature and to deal with a large amount of radiations that would cripple other computers. This computer is also built with chips that are long lasting thereby not demanding intervention from earth which may sabotage the mission. The Curiosity rover has an inbuilt heat rejection system. Mars records varied temperature levels ranging from -127-40 degrees Celsius. Mostly the heating system will require warming the system. Heating in the rover is achieved by strategic placing electric heaters close to the key components and working the heat rejection systems. This system operates by using a fluid around the essential components that absorb heat and helps maintain their temperature at optimal. The mobility of the Curiosity rover has six wheels with rocker-bogie suspension. Every wheel has cleats, and gearing is done independently to ensure the movement on the soft sand and rocky surface. The vehicle is well adapted for making arch turns with the ability to steer each front and back wheel independently (Harwood, 2012). Serafim (2012) describes the cameras installed in the Curiosity rover. The rover has 17 cameras. The best of them are the Mast Camera instrument that bears a 100-mm focal length and a 34mm focal-length camera. It also carries four pairs of hazards avoidance cameras known as Hazcam and navigation cameras. The Curiosity rover is also fitted with a robotic that is very flexible with three joints at the shoulder, elbow, and the wrist. The arms can extend for 7 feet. The end of the arm has a THE MARS CURIOSITY ROVER 5 turret used to hold five devices; an alpha particle x-ray, a hand lens imager and on an addition to three devices for gathering samples. To ensure the performance of its core functions, the Curiosity rover is made to operate many instruments. Among then include alpha-particle X-ray, chemical and mineralogy device, sample analysis, assessment radiation tracker, the dynamic albedo of neutrons, an environmental monitoring station equips with a meteorological package and a UV sensor. The Curiosity Rover touchdown The Curiosity used a guided entry for the atmospheric to improve the landing accuracy (Trebi, 2013). The landing is initiated with the cruise separation from the spacecraft. This is then followed by a deceleration towards the surface of the Mars leading to heating. The guided entry has followed a path that was a horizontal flight. During the parachute descent, there was the separation of the heat shield and the back shell from where the spacecraft underwent a powered descent from the sky crane that designed a place for the rover’s touchdown. The findings of the Curiosity Rover. The curiosity made a discovery that some years back, Mars had the right conditions to support life. The chemical conditions were found to have been suitable for living microbes to survive. The chemical elements included sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and carbon which are key element required to sustain life (NASA, 2015). Some samples collected some clay particles with low levels of salt a possible indication that there once flowed fresh water on those zones. The Curiosity rover also discovered elements of organic carbon on the rocks from the surface of Mars. The organic components are considered to be the building blocking of living organisms. This sample was gathered by the sample analysis at Mars. Although this is not THE MARS CURIOSITY ROVER 6 conclusive evidence of present or past life, it portrays the availability of essentials of life (NASA, 2015). Another key finding on this red planet by Curiosity rover was the presence of preset and active methane in the atmosphere (NASA, 2015). This was discovered by the Tunable laser spectrometer in the SAM, and it recorded an increase of ten-fold within a period of two months. This was an intriguing discovery as one possible source of methane is living things or a reaction between rock and water. The radiation levels on Mars were rated as a big health risk for a human. The radiation assessment detector discovered two harmful rays on the deep space which could be hazardous to the astronaut’s health. These rays are the galactic cosmic rays and the solar energetic particles (NASA, 2015). Conclusion With the continued universe exploration, voyages to planet Mars have been considered as essentially important. The main agenda has been to evaluate the planet’s capabilities to support life. It is for this reason that the Curiosity Rover was commissioned and deployed to Mars. The rover was designed and built with advanced technical capabilities to facilitate a successful mission. The instruments installed allowed for the collection of data, and samples, testing them, capturing images and relying on the information back to earth. The rover was built with mobility capabilities to help in navigating on Mars’ rugged terrain. The computer in the Curiosity rover was built to withstand extreme heat and radiations. The major discoveries provided evidence pointing to that Mars may have at one time supported life. The discovery of organic compound and increasing the level of methane in the atmosphere. The rover also discovered that the radiation levels would be a threat to the health well-being of human. THE MARS CURIOSITY ROVER 7 References Harwood, W. (2012, August). Slow, but rugged, curiosity's computer was built for Mars. Retrieved from http://www.cnet.com/news/slow-but-rugged-curiositys-computer-wasbuilt-for-mars/ NASA. (2015). Results of Curiosity Rover. Retrieved from http://mars.nasa.gov/msl/mission/science/results/ Serafim, M. (2012, August). NASA's curiosity over- Technical specifications. Trebi, A. (2013, March). Robotic exploration of Mars: Curiosity Rover, Phoenix Mars Lander and Mars Exploration rovers (Spirit & Opportunity). OMT COURSE X 1 A Modern View of the Universe 1 1.1 The scale of the Universe 2 What is our place in the universe 2 con misconceptions The Meaning of a Lightyear 2 How is the universe? 6 con misconceptions Confusing very Dent Things tools of science in the Man 1.2 The History of the Universe 10 How did we come to be? 10 How do our lifetimes compare to the age of the universe? 12 THE PROCESS OF SCIENCE IN ACTION 13 1.3 Defining Planets 13 What planet? 14 3 Changes in Our Perspective 36 3.1 From Earth-Centered to Sun-Centered 37 How did the Greeks explain planetary motion 37 common misconceptions Columbus and a farth How did the Copernican revolution change our view the universe 3 3.2 Hallmarks of Science 43 tools of science scope 43 How can we distinguin scene from onscience? 46 content Fire 11 The Chorcanvi common misconceptions for on the rounox What is a scientific theory? 48 THE PROCESS OF SCIENCE IN ACTION 4 3.3 The Fact and Theory of Gravity 49 How does the fact of gravity differ from the theory of Bravity 50 2 Understanding the sky 18 21 Understanding the Seasons 19 What causes the seasonst 19 comic context. Foare 23. Seasons 20 common misconceptions me cause of seasons 22 common misconceptions: gh Noon 23 Why do the constellations we see depend on the time of year? 23 2.2 Understanding the Moon 26 Why do we see phases of the Moon? 26 common misconceptions: Shadows and the Moon 26 common misconceptions: Moon in the Daytime 27 common misconceptions: Me Dark Side of the Moon 28 What causes eclipses? 28 tools of science: Angular Sizes and Distances 29 THE PROCESS OF SCIENCE IN ACTION 31 2.3 The Puzzle of Planetary Motion 31 Why did the ancient Greeks reject the real explanation for planetary motion? 32 4 Origin of the Solar System 54 4.1 Characteristics of the Solar System 55 What does the solar system look like? 55 comic context Figure 4.1 The Sole System 56 What features of our solar system provide clues to how it formed? 61 tools of science: Conservations 2 4.2 The Birth of the Solar System 63 What theory best explains the orderly patterns of motion in our solar system? 83 How does our theory account for the features of planets moons and small bodies? 65 common misconceptions Solar Grity and the Density of planets 66 THE PROCESS OF SCIENCE IN ACTION 71 4.3 The Age of the Solar System 71 How do we determine the age of Earth and the solar system? 71 VI 7. Extrasolar Planets and the Netheory 124 PROCESSO SECTION Do we need your of som Somont 124 5 Terrestrial Worlds 75 5.1 Terrestrial Surfaces and Atmospheres 76 What determines a world's level of geolocal common misconceptions For Me Lave How does an atmosphere we conditions for tools of science Properties of 5.2 Histories of the Terrestrial Worlds 82 Why did the terrestrial worlds out to me What unique features of Earth are mortato de78 common misconceptions why the sky e THE PROCESS OF SCIENCE IN ACHON 5.3 Global Warming 90 What is the evidence for global warming 8 The Sun and Other Stars 128 8.1 Properties of the Sun 129 Why does the sunshine 129 How does energy escape from the Sunt 130 common misconceptions The Sun Noon ols of science: Spectroscopy 132 2 Properties of other stars 134 How do we measure the properties of stars 134 common misconceptions Photos of Stars What patterns to we find in the properties of stars THE PROCESS OF SCIENCE IN ACTION 140 3.3 Visualizing Patterns Among Stars 140 How did we discover the patterns into propri comic context Figure 1.17. Reading an HR Dugan common misconceptions The Grect 6 The Outer Solar System 95 6.1 Jovian Planets, Rings, and Moons 96 What are joven planets? tools of science: Newton's version of pler's Third Law 97 Why are jovian moons so geologically active? 100 6.2 Asteroids, Comets, and the impact Threat 106 Why are asteroids and comes grouped into three distinct regions? 106 common misconceptions: Dodge Those Astenes 106 Do small boties pose an impact threat to Earth? 108 THE PROCESS OF SCIENCE IN ACTION 109 -3 Extinction of the Dinosaurs 109 Did an impact kw the dinosaurs? 109 9 stellar Lives 146 9.1 Lives in Balance 147 Why do stars shine so steadily? 147 Why do a star's properties depend on its mass? 9.2 Star Death 152 tools of science: Ouantum Laws and Astronomy What will happen when our Sunruns out of fuel? How to high-mass stars end their lives? 155 THE PROCESS OF SCIENCE IN ACTION 159 9.3 Testing Stellar Models with Star Clusters What do star clusters reveal about the lives of st cosmic context. Figure 9.25 Stellar Lives 162 10 The Bizarre Stellar Graveyard Planets Around Other Stars 113 Detecting Planets Around Other Stars 114 How do we detect planets around other stars? 114 tools of science: The Doppler Erfect 116 What properties of extrasolar planets can we measure? 117 cosmic context. Figure 7.6 Dicting Expo Planets 118 Characteristics of Extrasolar Planets 120 How do extrasolar planets compare with planets in our solar system? 121 are Earth-like planets common? 123 10.1 White Dwarfs and Neutron Stars 167 What are white dwarfs? 167 What are neutron stars? 169 10.2 Black Holes 171 What are black holes? 171 tools of science: Einstein's Theories of Relath What happens to space and time near a blac common misconceptions: Black Holes Don't CAUTION 1 Saching for Black Hole 176 Dar1 11 caden 11.1 Our Galaxy The Milky Way 13 What does outcally 183 tocis of science Commons How did the My Way Tom 187 11.2 Galaxies Beyond the Milky Way 189 What are the mor types of west 189 why does 101 THE PROCESS OF SCIENCE IN ACTION 19 11.3 Seeking Supermassive Black Holes 193 What is the evidence for supermasse black holes at the centers of galaxies? 194 12 Galaxy Distances and Hubble's w dobervations of the comic microwave bacon scoort the ant theory? 219 con contre 3. The caly uvese 220 How do the abundance of elements soport the Big Bang Theory z THE PROCESS OF SCIENCE IN ACTION 234 13.3 Inflation 224 Did the need any episode of inition 14 Dark Matter and Dark Energy 22 14.1 Evidence for Dark Matter 231 What is the evidence for dark matter? 221 tools of science The Velocity Formula 233 What might dark matter be made of? 236 14.2 Gravity versus Expansion 237 How did structures like galaxies form? 237 Comic contexte Evolution 2 Will the universe continue expanding forever? 2 THE PROCESS OF SCIENCE IN ACTION 243 14.3 Evidence for Dark Energy 243 What is the evidence for dalk energy? 243 Cosmic context roure 12 17 Dark Matter and Da Energy 245 15 Life in the Universe 250 15.1 The Search for Life in the Solar System What are the necessities of tey 25t Could there be life elsewhere in our solar syster 15.2 The Search for Life Among the Stars 2 How can we dentify habitable planets? 255 tools of science Planetary Spacecraft 255 is there intelligent life beyond Earth257 THE PROCESS OF SCIENCE IN ACTION 2 15.3 Evolution on Earth and Beyond 261 What is the evidence for evolution? 262 come context: Figure 15.11 A Universe of CREDITS 268 Law 198 12.1 Measuring Cosmic Distances 199 How do we measure the distances to gais? 199 tools of science Measuring stances with standard Cards 200 What is Hubble's law? 202 12.2 The implications of Hubble's Law 204 in what sense is the universe expanding? 204 How do distance measurements tell us the age of the universe? 206 common misconceptions: Wome Universe Expanding into 2016 THE PROCESS OF SCIENCE IN ACTION 205 12.3 Observing Galaxy Evolution 208 What do we see when we look back through time 208 common misconceptions: Beyond the Horizon 202 13 The Birth of the Universe 213 13.1 The Big Bang Theory 214 Appendixes A-1 A Useful Numbers A-2 B Useful Formulas A-3 C A Few Mathematical Skills A-4 What were conditions like in the early universe7 214 tools of science: Particle Acceleratons 215 How did the early universe change with time? 216 13.2 Evidence for the Big Bang 219 GLOSSARY G-1 INDEX 1 49,11 中国联通 ... 00:04 4G 000000.docx QQ浏览器文件服务 1/2 Research Paper (Physics 405 only) All 405 students, in lieu of the laboratory part of the course, will write a research paper. Th e due date for this paper is Monday, April 16. If you miss the deadline, your grade for the p aper will be reduced by 1 point out of a possible 15 for every day after the deadline. Ther esearch paper should be nine double-spaced pages in 12-point font (exclusive of figures o r references), with one-inch margins. 6 Physics 405n Spring 2018 What are legitimate topi cs? There are many possible topics so I urge you not to anguish over it. Pick something th at sounds interesting and go with it. Feel free to ask me or our TAs. I can offer suggestion s if you are unsure of your choice. You will undoubtedly find plenty of material work wit h. Here are some suggestions for general topic areas: Discussion of some current astronomical discovery. The Mars Curiosity rover, a future orc urrent space mission, New Horizons, Dawn, Juno, the Europa mission, the James Webb Sp ace Telescope, are all examples of interesting topics. There are tons on the web on these topics and many others. MESSENGER that orbited around Mercury until April of last year, Kepler spacecraft discoveries, extrasolar planets, future or current observatories, an observatory on the Moon; is it a good idea? Discussion of an astronomical system that you find particularly interesting. • The James Webb Space Telescope JWST) The world's largest radio telescope in China (Guizhou Province). The Hubble Space Tel escope (HST) The influence of astronomy on society, or the international space programs. • Historical pe rspective on some aspect of astronomy or the space program. Biographies are always go od. There are plenty of interesting figures in astronomy. · Politics and astronomy and/or th e space program or US space policy or the lack of one You should also feel free to pick a different topic of your own design. If you are having dif ficulty doing so, ask me or one of the TAs for help. There is plenty of fertile material out th ere, so don't stress-out or fear that someone else is covering the same topic. After choosing your topic, gather materials and information, synthesize the material and f ormulate what you would like to say. Don't just be a stenographer, parroting the material y ou find, but develop and express your own ideas and opinions. As you read the researched material carefully, your own observations and questions will arise. When drafting your pap er, follow the format of first introducing your subject, including a brief statement of what y ou are going to tell the reader. Then present the material that is relevant for your discussio n and make your main points, supported by sources with citations. Discuss why your topic and/or discussion is interesting or important, and finish with some concluding remarks. Be careful to avoid embarrassment through the cavalier use of auto correction and spell chec ker tools. Use your best grammar. Read the text aloud-you uncover many ghastly failings of your composition that way, and, have someone else you trust, read your paper before y ou turn it in. When you first draft your paper, don't worry too much about the formatting (i.e., figures, pro per bibliographic style, etc.). The point of your first draft is to get a coherent manuscript th at tells a story and holds water. After completing your first draft (or even before this point) Q查找(需下载QQ浏览器)