Launched Maven, the probe will study the atmosphere of Mars - Il Sole 24 Ore

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Into This entry was posted on November 18, 2013 at 20:57.

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Into Maven, Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution , has to answer these questions, it cost $ 671 million, will have 10 months to get to Mars and then orbitargli around a long time and study its upper atmosphere , thin and light, almost imperceptible compared to ours.

Into The scientists want to know why the planet has gone from ‘be hot and humid during its first billion years to current conditions. The signs of the presence of an atmosphere thick and water to the surface, with conditions, on paper at least, good for developing microbial life are now too many: signs of soil erosion, various beds of streams and creeks found and photographed.

Into Maven, 2.4 tons, with its 8 scientific instruments will analyze the Martian upper atmosphere trying to measure the rate at which the molecules that form it go away permanently in space, continuing to impoverish the planet. This will tell us what happened to the Martian climate, because it’s changed so quickly because we are reduced to a world of dust and stones.

Into Needless to say, it also concerns us all, as many are now asserting that the ongoing climate change on Earth is rather worrying. The data Use the new satellite, which, thanks to a more favorable trajectory, will arrive on Mars a few days before the Indian, will obviously increase the already rich heritage of knowledge that the many satellites that are currently in orbit around that planet aa, together with its means to the ground, continue to enrich.

Into The planet is in fact literally under siege, and the two are on their way, Maven and the Indian satellite, will be added to the other two NASA probes in operation, MRO, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter , and Mars Odyssey , the veteran of the Martian probes. Europe takes part with Mars Express in orbit for years, and is working on two missions in which Italy is very committed, as well as science and industry: Exomars 1 in 2016 will remain in orbit around Mars and the ExoMars 2 2018, which will go down a very sophisticated rover on the planet.

Into the soil of Mars is also operating for almost 15 months, the NASA rover Curiosity, a kind of SUV space with a small chemical laboratory on board, while the other Nasa rover, Opportunity, had to work a few months, has exceeded ten years of operation. One might say, as for cars, stuff not so solid anymore.

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