Destination Mars
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Feynman, Richard, 58
Field Integrated Design and Operations (FIDO), 176–78
“fire star” (Chinese name for Mars), 38
Flammarion, Camille, 41–43, 45
Flashline Research Station (FMARS), simulating Mars missions on Earth, 271–73, 285
Florida State University, 283
FMARS. See Flashline Research Station
footpad, 22, 23
Fourier Spectrometer, 144
Friedmann, Imre, 283
frost heave, 203
fuel for Mars missions, 18, 21, 169, 212
need for extra fuel for braking into orbit, 74
use of aerobraking to save fuel, 109, 159, 199
for RTGs, 121, 310–11n1
running out of fuel, 56, 96
galactic cosmic rays, 164
Gale Crater (MSL landing site), 212, 257
See also photo section
Galileo program, 134
gamma-ray spectrometer, 158, 162, 247
Ganges Chasm, 161–62
Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer experiment (Viking landers), 88, 91–92, 95, 100
Gas-Exchange experiment (Viking landers), 88, 95
geography of Mars, 30–36
elevations of Martian topography measured, 111
See also craters on Mars; oceans on Mars; polar caps of Mars; volcanic activity on Mars
geology on Mars, 29, 31, 54–55, 90, 104, 110, 127, 128, 162, 204, 264–65
diversity of geology found, 262
Gusev as a geologic transition zone, 173
geologically active planet, 182–83, 217, 311n1 (chap. 29)
subsurface geology, 174, 219
molten core, 29, 111, 120. See also magnetic field on Mars
three geologic eras, 32–33, 145
See also rocks on Mars; volcanic activity on Mars; water on Mars
glaciers, 205
Glenn, John, 9–10
goethite, 216
Goldilocks (trench dug by Phoenix), 237
“Goldilocks Zone” (aka “habitable zone”), 28, 298n1
Goldin, Daniel, 137, 245–46
gravity of Mars, 28, 29, 77, 198
Great Galactic Ghoul and mission failures, 147–55, 157, 159, 202
JPL regaining public trust with Mars Odyssey mission, 162
timeline of mission failures, 148–50
Green Valley (Phoenix landing site), 234
Gulliver (used on Viking), 103
Gusev (crater, Spirit landing site), 173, 183, 216
Half Dome (rock Sojourner got stuck on), 130
Hall, Asaph, 41, 43
Halley's Comet, 218
Hank's Hollow (Spirit examined), 213
Hartley 2 (comet), 267
Haughton Impact crater (Devon Island), 273, 274
HD. See high definition, Mars seen in
heat shield, 18, 124, 253, 254 and John Glenn, 9–10
rovers finding their own on Mars, 183, 217, 218
Heat Shield Rock (examined by Opportunity), 217
Hecates Tholus (volcano), 31
Hellas Planitia (basin), 32
hematite (iron oxide), 38, 39, 215, 302–303n2
“blueberries” (hematite spherules), 182–83, 185–86, 213, 222–23, 262. See also photo section
relationship to water, 111, 181, 183, 213, 216, 262, 302–303n2
HEND. See High Energy Neutron Detector
Herschel, William, 40
Hesperian Period, 33
high definition, Mars seen in, 195–207, 255
High Energy Neutron Detector (HEND), 158
High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HIRISE), 196, 197, 204–207
Hobby, George, 101
Home Plate (examined by Spirit), 219
Horowitz, Norman, 99–105
Horus (Egyptian God). See photo section
Horus Am Akhet (Horus on the horizon), then Horus Her Deshur (Horus the red) (Egyptian name for Mars), 37–38
Hubbard, Jerry, 101
Hubble Space Telescope. See photo section
Humphrey (one of Spirit's rocks), 182
Huntress, Wesley, 135
Husband Hill (climbed by Spirit), 217, 219
Huygens, Christian, 40, 40
Huygens probe (of Titan, Saturn's moon), 243–44
hydrated materials. See water on Mars
hydrazine, 21
hydrogen on Mars, 158, 160, 167, 256
IBM, 232
ice. See permafrost; water on Mars, water ice
IMP (camera used by Pathfinder mission), 245
infrared imaging on Mars, 62, 64, 101, 111, 144, 162, 175, 176, 196, 262
See also Mars Climate Sounder; Thermal Emission Imaging System; Thermal Emission Spectrometer
“intelligent Martian” club, 41–49, 54
and face in the Cydonia area, 112, 303n3
International Space Station, 164, 293
iPhone®, 198, 311–12n2
iron on Mars, 38, 173, 217, 262
iron oxide. See hematite
lack of an iron-rich core, 111
oxidized iron, 29, 39
James Webb Space Telescope, 267
jarosite, 183, 216
Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), 17, 23, 24, 297n2, 304–305n1
ability to extend missions, 113
Bruce Murray as director of, 68
cooperative efforts of, 267–70, 309–10n1. See also Phoenix lander
Deep Space Network, 61, 69–70
future of, 267–70
impact of government frugality on, 108
internal review on software error ending MGS mission, 303–304n4
“JPL'ers.” See Brooks, Robert (Bob); Crisp, Joy; Horowitz, Norman; Leighton, Robert; Manning, Robert (Rob); Murray, Bruce; Plaut, Jeffrey; Smith, Peter; Soderblom, Laurence; Squyres, Steve; Zurek, Richard
measuring atmospheric effect on radio waves, 53
mission failures, 147–55, 157, 159, 202. See also Great Galactic Ghoul and mission failures
regaining public trust, 162
timeline of mission failures, 148–50
publishing the Universe (JPL newspaper), 133
See also longevity of Mars missions; National Aeronautics and Space Administration; unmanned explorations sent to Mars
Jupiter (planet), 267
Kaplan, Lew, 101, 102
Karatepe (Black Hill) (Opportunity's entry point in Endurance Crater), 215
katabatic (gravity-fed) winds (aka drainage wind), 276, 312n2
Kepler, Johannes, 39–41
Labeled-Release experiment (Viking landers), 88, 95
Lahonten Crater (examined by Spirit), 213
Langley Research Center, 133
La planète Mars (Flammarion), 45
laser-powered radar (LIDAR), 234
Last Chance (rock examined by Opportunity), 184, 185
Late Heavy Bombardment (period of impacts), 32
Lee, Pascal, 271
Legos®, 174–75
Leighton, Robert, 57–60, 67
Levin, Gilbert, 103
Li, Fuk, 303–304n4
LIDAR. See laser-powered radar life on Mars, 35–36, 55, 59
attempts to keep Earth microbes off of Mars, 21, 297n2
chemical reactions mimicking life, 95
conditions necessary for, 298n1. See also
“Goldilocks Zone”
“dead Mars” group not believing in, 34, 81. See also photo section
early misunderstandings about (“intelligent Martian” club), 41–49, 54
and face in the Cydonia area, 112, 303n3
importance of finding water, 181, 204
looking at extremophiles on Earth as a way to study, 283
Mars Odyssey search for, 160, 162
MSL project's search for, 263
Norman Horowitz's efforts to find, 99–105
panspermia theory, 299n5
and presence of perchlorate, 34, 240, 250, 278
search for life-forms in so
il, 85, 88–89, 93–95
search for organics as precursors to life, 233, 248–49
Viking program's search for, 83–97
experiments planned, 84, 88–89, 93, 95, 100–101
See also microbes on Mars; photo section
light-toned deposits (LTDs), 204
Lockheed Martin, 108, 158, 171, 195, 231, 244
longevity of Mars missions, 77, 96, 114, 120–21, 164, 168–69, 259, 267, 301n1 (chap. 8)
Lowell, Percival, 23–24, 34, 41, 45–49, 47, 56, 58, 101
See also photo section
Lowell Observatory, 85
“Low Power Fault” (safe mode for Mars rovers), 222
low thermal inertia, 298–99n4
LTDs. See light-toned deposits
Ma'adim Vallis valley, 174
Macintosh® computer. See Apple Macintosh®
Magellan, Ferdinand, 219
Magellan Venus project, 190, 309n1 (chap. 22)
magnetic field on Mars seeming lack of, 29, 120 weakness of, 55, 111
magnetometer, 111
magnets, use of to study ferrous metal, 175
MAHLI. See Mars Hand Lens Imager
Malin Space Science Systems, 255
Mangala (Hindu name for Mars), 37
Manning, Robert (Rob), 9–11, 133–41, 281–82
mapping of Mars
from Earth
Antoniadi's work. See photo section
composite of telescopic images of Mars. See photo section
Flammarion's work, 41
Hall's work, 41, 43
Hugyen's work, 40, 40
Lowell's work, 45–48, 47. See photo section
naming features on Mars, 33, 44
Schiaparelli's work, 41, 43–44, 44. See photo section
from the Hubble Space Telescope. See photo section
on Mars
by Curiosity, 256, 257
by Sojourner and Pathfinder, 176, 178, 179
3-D mapping, 178, 179, 257
from orbit
by Mariner missions, 74–76, 80, 84
Mars Global Surveyor, 110, 111, 117
Mars Odyssey, 158, 159, 163, 167, 168
by Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter using HD, 197, 201, 206
Viking orbiters' analyses, 112. See also photo section
See also photographing Mars
MARCI. See Mars Color Imager
MARDI. See Mars Descent Imager
Mare Erythraeum (Erythraean Sea), 33
Mare Sirenum (Sea of Sirens), 33
MARIE. See Mars Radiation Environment Experiment
Mariner program
Mariner 1 (failure of), 52
Mariner 2 (flyby of Venus), 52, 57
Mariner 3 (failure of), 51–52, 148
Mariner 4 (NASA's first journey to Mars), 51–60, 73, 81, 102, 103, 137, 182, 198, 209–10. See also photo section
amount of Martian surface studied, 84
compared to Mariner 6 and 7, 61, 62, 64, 68
and Robert Leighton, 57–60
Mariner 6 (to Mars), 20, 61–66, 65, 81, 84, 209–10
Mariner 7 (to Mars), 20, 61–66, 65, 84, 209–10
Mariner 8 (failure of), 64, 74, 77–78, 80, 149
Mariner 9 (to Mars), 54, 64, 69, 73–78, 104, 110, 210. See also photo section
amount of Martian surface studied, 84
discovering volcanoes, 75, 76–77, 80
finding water channels, 191
first to orbit another world, 74, 79–80, 209
and Laurence Soderblom, 79–81
longevity of mission, 77, 301n1 (chap. 8)
quality of photos from, 20, 85, 126
showing volcanic activity, 31
Mariner 10 (to Mercury), 67–71, 78
total cost of, 78
Marley, Bob, 175
Mars (Lowell), 46
Mars (planet)
basic planetary information, 27–36
early misunderstandings about (“intelligent Martian” club), 41–49, 54
and face in the Cydonia area, 112, 303n3
early names for, 37–38, 38
fictional letter from, 289–90
future of explorations of a crewed mission to Mars, 288, 291
fictional letter from, 289–90
potential missions 2010–2030, 292–94
history of man's interest in, 37–50
as a “terrestrial” planet, 32, 298n3
See also northern hemisphere of Mars; polar caps of Mars; southern hemisphere of Mars; unmanned explorations sent to Mars
Mars (Roman name for Greek god Ares), 38
Mars and Its Canals (Lowell), 46
Mars as the Abode of Life (Lowell), 46
Mars Climate Orbiter (MCO), failure of, 150–52, 154, 211, 229, 231, 246, 249, 268
Mars Climate Sounder (MCS), 197, 202
Mars Color Imager (MARCI), 197
Mars Descent Imager (MARDI), 256
Mars Exploration Rovers mission (MER), 120, 161, 166, 171–87, 193, 212, 213–28, 232, 261, 262
compared to MSL rover, 253
finding own airbag, 184–85, 186
Sojourner as a first step toward, 132
and Steve Squyres, 189–94
use of Mars Odyssey as a relay station, 101, 164
use of as relay station for MER, 171
use of “rocker-bogie” system from the Sojourner rover, 175, 308n1 (chap. 20)
See also Opportunity (rover); photo section; Spirit (rover)
Mars Express mission (of Russian Federation and European Space Agency), 143–46, 166, 200, 267, 311n1 (chap. 29)
Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) program, 108–14, 112, 131, 151, 153, 161, 162, 200
end of mission, 113–14, 120–21, 303–304n4
and Mars Odyssey, 163
and Robert Brooks, 115–21
size of data return from, 309n1 (chap. 22)
use of as relay station for MER, 101, 164, 171
use of redundancy in planning, 307n1 (chap. 18)
See also photo section
Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI), 255–56
Mars Hill (Lowell's observatory), 46
MARSIS radar altimeter, 144–46
Mars missions by the Soviet Union. See Soviet Union's space programs, attempts to probe Mars
Mars 96 mission, failure of, 143
Mars Observer (MO) program, 115, 116
losing communication, 107–108, 149
Mars Odyssey program, 112, 145, 157–64, 171, 200, 232, 234, 247, 267, 307n1 (chap. 18)
comparing photos taken by MRO, 207
enabling selection of future landing sites, 161
and Jeffrey Plaut, 167–69
longest operational spacecraft at Mars, 164, 168–69
size of data return from, 309n1 (chap. 22)
use of as relay station for MER, 101, 164, 171
working with MGS, 163
Mars Polar Lander (MPL), failure of, 150–54, 166, 211, 229, 230, 246, 249, 268
See also photo section
Mars Program Independent Assessment Team, 154
“Marsquakes,” 91–92
Mars Radiation Environment Experiment (MARIE), 158, 164, 168
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) program, 113, 145, 166, 195–207, 200, 235, 267
comparing photos taken by Mars Odyssey, 207
photographing Phoenix lander, 205, 206, 234
and Richard Zurek, 209–12
size of data return from, 195, 309n1 (chap. 22)
See also photo section
Mars sample-return mission, 268–69
Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) project, 11, 96, 133, 169, 200, 212, 253–59, 277, 285, 310–11n1
Curiosity compared to other rovers, 253–54
and Joy Crisp, 261–65
planned landing for, 254–55
using RTGs, 310–11n1
See also Curiosity (rover); photo section
Mars Society, the, 271, 272, 285–88
See also Flashline R
esearch Station
Mars Surveyor Lander program (canceled), 166, 229, 247
Mars Surveyor Operations Project (MSOP), 115–16, 151–52
Martian Chronicles, The (Bradbury), 49–50
mascons (mass concentrations), 29, 198, 298n2
mass of Mars, 28, 66
mass spectrometer, 19
Mastcam (camera mounted to mast of rover), 255
MAVEN (Scout-class program), 267–68
McKay, Chris, 247, 273–77, 283–85, 286
MCO. See Mars Climate Orbiter
MCS. See Mars Climate Sounder
MECA. See Microscopy, Electrochemistry, and Conductivity Analyzer
MEDLI. See MSL Entry Descent and Landing
Instrumentation
meltwater, 34, 103
MER. See Mars Exploration Rovers mission
Mercury (planet), 111
Mariner 10 mission to, 67, 78, 267. See also photo section
as a “terrestrial” planet, 298n3
Mercury program, 9–10
Mercury Theater of the Air (radio program), 49
Meridiani Planum (intended landing site for Opportunity), 181, 183, 184, 192, 222, 227
See also photo section
meteor, first found on another planet, 217
meteorology on Mars. See weather on Mars
meteors on Earth originating from Mars, 36
methane on Mars, 145, 146, 233, 311n1 (chap. 29)
MGS. See Mars Global Surveyor program
microbes on Mars, 35–36, 55, 168, 248
attempts to keep Earth microbes off of Mars, 21, 297n2
Norman Horowitz's efforts to find, 99–105
and perchlorate, 250, 278
testing techniques on Earth for finding on Mars, 104, 275, 278–79
Viking program's search for, 83–97
experiments planned, 84, 88–89, 93, 95, 100–101
See also life on Mars; photo section
Microscopic Imager, 172
Microscopy, Electrochemistry, and Conductivity Analyzer (MECA), 233
Mid-Atlantic Ridge (on Earth), 30
Middle Ages characterization of Mars's influence on man, 38–39
Mini Cooper® car, 254
mission failures. See Great Galactic Ghoul and mission failures
MO. See Mars Observer program
moons of Mars, 38, 41, 43, 184, 294
photos of by Mariner 9, 77
Moses Lake, Washington, 282
Mössbauer spectrometer, 173, 262
Motorola Power PC® chip, 159, 196
Mount Wilson Observatory data that de-Lowellized beliefs about Mars, 101–103
MPCV. See Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle
MPL. See Mars Polar Lander
MRO. See Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter program
MSL. See Mars Science Laboratory project
MSL Entry Descent and Landing Instrumentation (MEDLI), 257
MSOP. See Mars Surveyo Operations Project
Muirhead, Brian, 134