Mars exploration is currently attracting increasing interest, especially with the first sample return mission and a manned flight forecast for sometime in the 2030s. Wants to continue. The importance of these missions in deepening our understanding of the planet and its potential for life. Rovers, space probes and flying machinesEnvironmentEnvironment These are essential not only for collecting data on the Martian surface and atmosphere, but also for studying geological and meteorological phenomena in real time. Also, research RoboticsRobotics Helps reduce the risks associated with manned missions by testing technologies and strategies that could be used by future astronauts.
So it’s in this exciting context for Mars that NASA has just released a report on its robotic exploration strategy, emphasizing smaller, more frequent missions to answer these pressing questions. It is worth it. The report, released on December 11, outlines a roadmap for the next 20 years, advocating for low-cost missions at every launch opportunity and encouraging commercial and international partnerships. has been done It also recommends purchasing commercial data from the private sector, primarily communications and imaging services. However, a major challenge for trade missions is establishing a viable economic model. NASA will likely need to invest upfront through public-private partnerships to make these missions cost-effective and efficient.
Targeted and scientific missions
These upcoming mini-missions, with budgets between $100 million and $300 million, will focus on specific scientific questions. NASA plans to alternate these missions with less frequent but larger projects, with budgets approaching one billion dollars. An example would be the lander concept. Mars Life Explorerincluded in the Decennial Survey of Planetary Sciences. NASA may also collaborate with other space agencies’ missions.
NASA’s report is structured around three main themes: the search for life on Mars, supporting human exploration, and the study of Mars as a dynamic planetary system.
Exploring the potential for life on Mars
The search for evidence of life on Mars is at the center of scientific concern. The questions that arise are whether life has already appeared on the planet and, if so, whether it still exists. The proximity of human exploration still offers the opportunity to study Mars in its original state. PollutionPollution Biological by astronauts.
Although previous missions have reported that Mars has habitable conditions, these results are localized to specific regions and geologic periods. Analyzing the geological history of Mars can reveal the extent of its habitability and how it has changed over time. This includes exploring existing habitable environments, possibly in the ice-rich subsurface or elsewhere, and the ways in which habitable environments on Mars and Earth may differ.
Discoveries of ancient organic matter on Mars may also shed light on the evolution of organic chemistry. PrebioticPrebioticA parallel drawing with suchappearanceappearance of life on earth. Unlike our planet, which has lost all geological traces of the first thousand years of its formation. Plate tectonicsPlate tectonics and erosion by water, Mars retains valuable information about its past.
Scientists also believe that many prebiotic and life-supporting scenarios may have occurred on Mars. Discoveries related to climate and geological data will provide important clues to determine which of these evolutionary paths Mars followed. In short, these missions could not only broaden our understanding of the Red Planet, but also shed light on the origins of life in the Solar System.
Supporting human exploration of Mars
With human exploration of Mars expected to begin in the 2030s, NASA is preparing to use this human presence to accelerate its scientific research.
With the arrival of the first manned missions, scientific laboratories and instruments will be brought to Mars, which will be far more powerful and efficient than the ones on robotic missions. They will be able to study in real time, even inside. TransitTransiti orbitorbit or on the surface of Mars, which will accelerate discoveries studying the scientific theme.
The report issues a series of recommendations to support and prepare for a human presence by identifying the best-sizing requirements for infrastructure to be brought to Mars. The latter has to meet the needs of these future explorers, particularly with regard to resource utilization. On the siteCivil engineering and research in agricultural science and bio-production in the long termPolymerPolymer For local manufacturing. In this context, the report emphasizes the need for systematic data collection on the Martian atmosphere. ClimateClimateits underground and potential hazards, such as dust, extreme weather and radiation.
Better understand Martian weather.
One of the priorities of these advance missions is the mapping of surface ice and snow down to a few meters below the surface. This data will be used to study life on Mars as well as its history. Climate changeClimate change and geological on Mars. Finally, water ice, as a local resource, can be used for a variety of things. ApplicationsApplications : ThrusterThruster For return to earth, life support, materials for civil engineering (e.g. preparation of ConcreteConcrete orImpression 3DImpression 3D of structures) and even forAgricultureAgriculture.
Additionally, characterizing candidate sites for human missions using high-speed imaging is critical. ResolutionResolution and predict environmental conditions that may affect critical events, such as the landing of a human crew or a launch operation from the surface. Although Mars has been almost entirely mapped at a resolution of five meters per second. PixelPixelhigh resolution is needed to identify potential hazards, such as rocks, and to map around landing sites.
It is also important to better understand climate processes in regions targeted for human missions. So NASA has a plan.to implementto implement Missions aimed at vertical profiling of atmospheric temperature and AerosolAerosolas well as retrieving missing data, such as on winds. This information is important for improving environmental models, allowing MeteorologyMeteorology More reliability and predictability FrequencyFrequency and the intensity of extreme weather events, e.g StormStorm of dust
As for the mission of Return of Mars samples.Return of Mars samples.this will help characterize potentially harmful effects. RegolithRegolith Mars to design mitigation practices related to human health and safety equipment and infrastructure.
Mars: A dynamic planetary system
Finally, the third and final topic of this report, NASA wants to gather as much information about Mars as we know about our own planet. Although Mars shares some geological similarities with Earth, its fundamental differences provide a unique opportunity to explore planetary evolution. Although Mars retains evidence of its earliest conditions, our knowledge of the diversity of its atmosphere is still limited.
Despite the extensive data collected by past missions, NASA has only explored a fraction of the surface of Mars. Understanding the complexity of Mars as a dynamic system requires understanding the processes at finer scales.
