On Saturday 26th November, NASA launched its recent $2.5 billion innovation to discover the planet Mars. At a weight of nearly one tonne, the rover is due to land on the planet in approximately eight and a half months time (August 2012). It has been nicknamed Curiosity which is exactly its purpose; NASA are intending to have many of their questions answers by using this invention – Are there any signs of previous microbial life? Is there potential for life on Mars? Curiosity has been sent on its mission to explore the area.
It has been designed using a plutonium battery which will allow its operation for more than 10 years; plenty of time for exploring the crater and climbing the summit of the mountain.
With its built in cameras, this smart innovation has the ability to assess its surrounding from a distance, search for sampling targets and examine surfaces and objects to study its chemistry. Also equipped with an infra-red laser system, this robot can ‘zap’ rocks to analyse its atomic elements and identify organic, carbon rich compounds. Other tools allow the Mars Rover to scoop up, sort and sieve samples – smart innovation!
Innovations such as these may come at a heavy cost but if providing a worthwhile return and increasing our knowledge of the World and Solar System, they are viewed as worthwhile investments; providing they work. Being innovative is all about taking risks which can be successful.
Was there life on Mars? Could there be life on Mars? Could we all be jetting off to Mars for our Summer holidays in the future? Only time will tell and now NASA awaits for Summer 2012 when their ‘Mars Rover’ reaches its destination…
References:
BBC News [online], Available from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15841893, Accessed 27th November 2011
BBC News [online], Available from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15904408, Accessed 27th November 2011
