Abstract This paper provides a mission overview of the Mars Pathfinder mission ,launched in December 1996 as part of an ongoing series of Mars missions to prepare for the landing of a man on the 'red planet' in the next century. It gives a brief mission summary, followed by a scientific description focusing on how Pathfinder made it to Mars and how it surveyed Mars's atmosphere and Mars's surface. It looks at how Mars Pathfinder was not only a huge scientific success, but also gave the public, via Internet, the opportunity to participate at a space mission at a level never experienced before.
Outline
Title
Abstract
Chapter
Introduction
Mission Summary
Science Description
Spacecraft Description
Development and Manufacturing Structure
Launch Vehicle
Mission Costs
Summary
From the Paper "On December 4, 1996 the pathfinder mission was launched on a Delta II-7925 launch vehicle out of Cape Canaveral Air Station. After 211 days in space and a distance traveled of almost 300 million miles the spacecraft landed on July 4, 1997 at its destination (DLR, 2003). In order to fine-tune the flight path a series of four-trajectory correction maneuvers (TCMs) were performed throughout the journey. NASA used the Deep Space Network (DSN) for tracking, telemetry, and command operations. DSN is an international network of antennas that supports interplanetary spacecraft missions by using giant dish antennas (Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 2004)."
Abstract This paper describes the history of human observation of Mars, as well as the modern system of exploration and observation. The paper goes on to establish promotions and objections of future human development of Mars, as it would be accomplished through a process of terraforming.
Outline:
Physical Characteristics
History of Observation of Mars Modern Martian Exploration
The 'Life on Mars' Debate
The Moons of Mars Martian Geology
Terraforming Mars
From the Paper "Mars, Ares, Tiw, the god of war; the red planet has been revered as the bringer or bloodshed with its red color in the sky, like the color of blood. The planet adjacent to Earth has been an object of mystery and wonder from the time the first human turned his head skyward, to the time when the first telescope was used to observe Mars and its mysterious "canals," to the present day, as humans continue to send spacecraft to the red planet to expand on existing knowledge."
Abstract The paper discusses the Red Planet which has fascinated astronomers from early days. The paper states that as we began more missions to Mars we gained a greater understanding of our solar system. President George W. Bush has announced plans to send humans to Mars. The paper discusses the various missions to the planet and the possibility of living on Mars. The paper states that if we look into the future, we will see that soon we will run out of resources, and will be forced to stray from earth in order to survive. The paper further suggests that the best way to do this would be to colonize Mars as an important aspect of our survival, and we should now start to take steps toward a new frontier of life, off into the vast extreme of space.
From the Paper "The cost to send manned missions will be much higher than any ever before perceived, but we will soon find out that these missions will become necessary parts of the survival of our species. If we really want to get our money's worth, we must send humans to Mars instead of just robots. Robots can only do so much. For example, a robot must collect data, send it back to Earth, be analyzed by a team of scientists twenty minutes later, then receive the information regarding the path it should take for the next five feet another twenty minutes later. Thankfully, we do not need to be so meticulous in navigating the humans we send to Mars. These people can find their own way around, without the help or need of a computer, or a team of expert scientists twenty light minutes away. With a working system of spacecraft, we would be able to ferry people from planet to planet, always keeping a group of people on Mars. This way we could always be working there, not just a chunk of three months every two years. In this manner, manned missions to Mars would prove to be much more effective than the alternative of robotic missions conducting experiments for limited amounts of time. We shouldn't necessarily be concerned with the effects of ourselves on the planet, but with the effects of ourselves on our own species."
Abstract The paper details the similarities between Earth and Mars explaining that Mars once had its own water cycle. The paper explains what an asteroid is and asserts that asteroids probably destroyed Mars. It speculates whether an asteroid can destroy Earth and discusses ways to prevent this from happening.
From the Paper "A billion or so years ago, a frozen lake covered the plains that were alive. Most of the other volcanoes had stopped spewing gases, the temperature and atmospheric pressure on Mars were so low that ice from the lake surface sublimated. These formed into vapor without melting as water. The water vapor formed clouds that dropped snow onto the volcano's slopes. The volcano's magma chamber warmed the slopes enough to melt the bottom layers of the deep snow pack."
Abstract The paper looks at the Viking landing missions on Mars twenty years ago and their tests for biological processes on the Martian surface. It looks at how a recent series of orbiting Martian missions has yielded a good deal of chemical and geographic observations from afar. The most exciting possibilities have come from the analysis and interpretation of Martian surface formations seen by these missions. The paper includes a detailed description of these formations such as outflow channels, seepage gullies and several others. In further searches for definitive findings, several missions in the near future will land on Mars and hopefully provide the best data yet. This paper details some of the discoveries made to date, the strongest arguments for water on Mars and what the future holds for Martian exploration.
From the Paper "The thought of life on Mars has intrigued humans for centuries. As Martian astronomy has made incredible leaps in the past 100 years and many spectacular discoveries have been made, we are still not sure if life does or has ever existed on Mars. Over the last thirty years, as our knowledge of biological functions has increased, scientists have focused more and more on the existence of liquid water as the biggest single indicator of possible life. To that end, much work and controversy has surrounded man's efforts to find evidence of that all important ingredient for the development of life on Mars."
Abstract Of all the planets in our solar system, Mars has long seemed to be the most habitable besides Earth. Many scientists believe Mars may have had oceans of water, a warmer climate, and rich vegetation billions of years ago. This paper examines the hazards that inhabitants would face if Mars was to be made habitable again and some of the solutions that scientists are working on to reduce problems of living on the Red Planet.
From the Paper "Mars' atmosphere is so thin, there is little protection from the ultraviolet radiation from the Sun, and this would pose yet another hazard to anyone who wanted to live on the planet. Anyone living on the planet would have to be protected from the constant radiation by either a space suit, or living inside a protective habitat. Clearly, colonizing Mars would be an extremely expensive endeavor, and until the first person actually steps on the planet, it is impossible to tell exactly what the conditions are like, and what threats they pose."
Abstract The paper reveals that Mars Incorporated is a multi-billion dollar global manufacturer of a wide range of consumer products. The paper explores the marketing options for the new Mars Bar Unlimited candy bar. The paper discusses the promising prospects of the new energy bar initiative and concludes that Mars Incorporated has an establish track record of recognizing what its consumers want and in providing them with quality and good tasting products.
Outline:
Introduction: Briefing
Situation Analysis
SWOT Analysis
Review of Consumer
Advertising Strategy
Creative Solution
Media Solution
Other Ideas
Conclusion
From the Paper "In a suburb of Washington, D.C., there sits a modest, red-brick office building on a street with a number of similar buildings such as real estate agents, banks, doctors, law offices, construction companies, and other businesses typical of a residential community. The red-brick building in question, though, is a business owned and managed by two brothers now more than 70 years old, who are also assisted by their sister is this family-owned, privately held business. The nondescript building also holds some of the richest people in the United States and they got there largely by selling chocolate. According to Anderson (2004), the Mars family inherited the business from their father and grandfather."
Abstract In this article, the writer notes that the solar system is a unique combination of many different types of planets, which has many different things that it can offer to humans. However, the the writer points out, planet Earth offers the most beneficial climate and diversity for human life. The writer notes that many of the other planets are entirely devoid of life. The writer discusses that despite the fact that there are eight planets in our solar system, only Mars (other than Earth) seems to be capable of containing human life at all. The writer maintains that Mars has many of the requisites that are needed to sustain human life, such as the possibility of water, small amounts of oxygen, and a possibility of life. The writer concludes that if humans were to ever colonize another planet in the solar system, Mars would be the most intelligent choice.
From the Paper "Apart from the cold at its poles (which is far more extreme than Earth's), Mercury shares very little in common with Earth. It would be very difficult for humans to inhabit Mercury. The temperature extremes, the lack of water, and the lack of a protective atmosphere would quickly decimate human life attempting to live there. Current space craft could succeed in landing humans on Mercury, but it is unlikely that there would be a way to maintain proper oxygen levels for survival.
"Venus is another planet that is very inhospitable. Yet, for several reasons, it is known as the sister planet to Earth: Venus is similar to Earth's size (95% its diameter, 80% of its mass. Both planets do not have many craters, which points to young surfaces."
Tags: solar, system, temperature, conditions, human, life
Abstract This paper discusses The Red Planet, Mars. The author examines the conditions, life, and gives detailed information about the planet's atmosphere and its two moons. The paper also looks at the possibility of life surviving on Mars' desert-like environment.
From the Paper "Mars, it is the fourth planet from the sun. It is closet planet to the planet that we live on. Mars is the planet with more solar exploration than any other planet in our universe. Mars is the one planet that has an atmosphere similar to ours. Mercury, Venus, and Pluto have had all of their atmospheres burned off and Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune all have atmospheres that are hundreds of time more violent than the calm atmospheres of Earth and Mars. Mars is also the only planet in which we have identified that there was once water on the surface of the planet. We have discovered huge canyons that resemble the ones on Earth. This is also the reason why we believe that the Red Planet might have once had or still does have life on it."
Abstract Intelligent systems are becoming increasingly important in deep space missions, especially missions to Mars. This paper covers three intelligent technologies: (1) The intelligent space ship 'Deep Space One' and its autonomous navigation system; (2) The Mars global surveyor and the deep space terminal and (3) The 'Sojourner' and Rocky 7 and 8 rovers.
The paper includes illustrations.
From the Paper "Deep Space One marked the first mission of NASA's New Millennium Program which is aimed at testing highly advanced technologies for low-cost planetary missions [3]. The key component being tested by the mission was its AutoNav system. AutoNav is made up of three main tools: the Nav Main (simply Nav), the Nav Executive (NavExec) and the Nav Real-Time (NavRT). Nav and NavRT have architectures very similar to those of expert systems where decisions are based on algorithms built on sets of well defined rules. As well its decisions are supported by information gathered autonomously. In that respect it is very similar to the path planning software used in planetary rovers, which will be discussed later."
Abstract This paper examines recent developments in understanding of and research into Mars with the emphasis on the Canadian role. This includes excellent observation in the summer of 2003 and involvement in the Mars exploration program.
Abstract This paper examines the recent interest in life on Mars. Since the discovery of an asteroid of Martian origins with potentially organic fossils in it in the Antarctic in 1996, this theory has been revived. Scientists now cast doubt on this theory but five missions to Mars are still planned for 2003.
Abstract This six-page graduate-level paper examines and analyzes manned missions to Mars, and concludes that sending human crews to explore our neighboring planet would not be a wise choice at this time. There are better alternatives, such as establishing a commercial presence in near-earth orbit and the Moon, and exploring Mars with unmanned probes.
Abstract This paper examines how the Mars Habitat Control and Monitoring System makes use of robotic, simulation technology to gather data regarding Mars and also understands how the human frame and functions might interact with the planet's circumstances.
Outline
Introduction
Description of the System
Data Acquisition and Storage
Graphical User Interface (GUI)
Notification Service
Conclusion
From the Paper "The current simulation system also retrieves data regarding the planet, not only as it pertains to human life in the future, but about the systems existing upon Mars in general. Currently, the Mars system has a library retrieval system with remote access. The drives in the system that are organized into data banks. These drives contain sensors. The sensors are striped across all the drives in so that lost data can be retrieved using algorithms. The use of such functions increases the reliability of the system and also allows for owner-specified identification. Also, with its built-in security system, a user, after displaying identification, can obtain information on particular tapes."
