Destination Mars
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Munch, Guido, 101, 102
Murray, Bruce, 58, 67–71, 79
Musk, Elon, 292
Mutch, Thomas, 96
Naica Mountain. See Crystal Cave
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Ames Research Center, 247, 271, 273, 283
approving instruments to study Mars based on terrestrial environment, 103
cooperative efforts of, 267–70, 309–10n1. See also ExoMars probe; Mars Express mission; Mars Society, the; Phoenix lander
and the Deep Space Network, 70
finances, 124, 136–37, 139, 152, 155, 157, 231
budget cuts causing withdrawal from ExoMars mission, 306n4
budget in the 1960s, 73
cost of Pathfinder and Sojourner, 136
costs for large missions compared to cost of a Big Mac®, 121
difficult budget environment, 287–88
“faster, better, cheaper” as an approach for missions, 124, 136–37, 139, 152, 155, 157, 231
MSL as an expensive undertaking, 258–59
future of, 287–88, 293
a crewed mission to Mars, 288, 291, 294
fictional potential future, 289–90
potential future missions, 292–94
Jet Propulsion Laboratory as a part of NASA, 154, 267.
See also Jet Propulsion Laboratory
program of quarantine for Mars, 21, 297n2
and promoting missions, 245
running out of fuel for RTGs, 310–11n1
tendency to use redundancy (doing projects in pairs), 159, 307n1 (chap. 18)
See also longevity of Mars missions; names of specific missions, i.e., Apollo program, Mariner program, Voyager program etc. ; unmanned explorations sent to Mars
National Geographic (magazine), 9
Navarro-Gozález, Rafael, 275
Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous mission, 190
Near-Earth Object (NEO) mission, 293–94
NEO. See Near-Earth Object mission
Neptune (planet), 267
Nergal (Babylonian name for Mars), 37, 38
Neugebauer, Gerry, 58
Nix Olympica. See photo section
Noachian Period, 32
Noctis Labyrinthus, 204
See also photo section
northern hemisphere of Mars, 31, 32, 76, 163, 201, 206–207
See also polar caps of Mars
Nozomi (Planet-B) program (Japan), 150
occultation experiment, 53
oceans on Mars, 29, 41, 298–99n4
olivine, presence of on Mars, 161–62, 191
Olympus Mons, 30, 31
See also photo section
OMEGA spectrometer, 144
Open University (United Kingdom), 144
Ophir Chasma. See photo section
Opportunity (rover), 169, 171–87, 205, 213–28, 226, 262, 264
compared to MSL rover, 253
finding own heat shield, 217, 218
getting stuck in sand, 218, 220
mechanical problems, 224
still operational in 2012, 267
See also Mars Exploration Rovers mission; photo section
Opportunity Ledge (searched by Opportunity), 182
orbiting Mars
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter program, 195–207
MGS almost heading for impact with Mars, 118–20
polar orbits, 110, 159. See also photo section
radiation in Martian orbital path, 158, 164
orbit of Mars, 39–41
elliptical shape of, 157
measuring radiation in Martian orbital path, 158, 164
retrograde motion, 39, 40, 299n2
organics, search for (precursors to life), 233, 248–49
See also life on Mars
Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV), 270, 292–94
outflow channels, 35
oxidation process on Mars, 29, 34, 39, 51, 297n2
oxygen on Mars, 29, 45
panspermia theory, 299n5
Pathfinder mission, 202, 244, 261, 262, 307n1 (chap. 18)
compared to Mars Odyssey mission, 160, 166
compared to MER, 177
compared to Phoenix lander, 230–32, 234
JPL's robotics section report on, 304–305n1
landing of, 124
MER landing patterned after, 172
using different technique than Viking, 124–25, 135
outliving its primary mission, 131
providing knowledge for building MER rovers, 171, 173, 174
reasons for success of, 137–39
and Robert Manning, 133–41
See also Sojourner (rover)
Pavonis Mons (shield volcano), 30
Pearson's Magazine, 48
perchlorate, 95–96, 240, 273, 275–76, 278, 284, 290
permafrost
on Earth, 248, 277, 285
on Mars, 163, 235, 248, 285. See also weather on Mars
Phobos (fear) (one of Martian moons), 38, 43, 77, 294
Phobos-Grunt mission, 297n1
Phobos Mission (possible future mission), 294
Phobos program (Soviet Union), 149
Phoenix lander, 167–68, 229–41, 256, 264, 275, 277
ceasing operation, 241
mechanical and communication problems, 235–36, 238, 239–40, 249
MRO photograph of lander, 205, 206, 235
and Peter Smith, 243–51
See also Sojourner (rover)
photographing Mars, 85–87, 90, 128, 144
attempts to de-Lowellize beliefs about Mars, 101–103
infrared photo taken at Mount Wilson, 101
by Mariner programs, 20, 52–54, 57–59, 61, 65, 70–71, 77, 81, 104, 126
by Mars Global Surveyor, 110, 112, 112, 118, 153
by Mars Odyssey, 112, 159, 160
by Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter using HD, 195–207, 206, 255
by Pathfinder and Sojourner, 127, 128, 131–32, 140
taken by the MER rovers, 178, 184–85, 186
by the Viking mission
taken by landers, 21–24, 22, 89–90
taken by orbiters, 20, 21, 25, 85, 110, 125
See also mapping of Mars; photo section
photosynthesis on Mars, search for, 88–89
phyllosilicates, 202
Pioneer program, 152, 243, 267
“Planetary Patrol,” 85
planetary quarantine of Mars, 21, 297n2
Planum Australe (Southern Plain) (southern polar cap), 33–35
Planum Boreum (Northern Plain) (northern polar cap), 33
Plaut, Jeffrey, 165–69
plutonium 238, 310–11n1
polar caps of Mars, 145
denser air found over, 199–200
need for further study of, 269–70
northern polar cap, 33, 202. See also photo section
Phoenix lander visiting polar regions, 230, 248, 250
southern polar ice cap, 33–35
See also northern hemisphere of Mars; southern hemisphere of Mars
polar orbit, 110, 159
See also photo section
Pot of Gold (rock examined by Spirit), 213–14
Power PC chips®, 257
Project Skylab, 291 Ptolemy, 39
Pyroeis (Greek name for planet Mars), 38
Pyrolitic-Release experiment (Viking landers), 88–89, 95, 101
quarantine. See planetary quarantine of Mars
RAD. See Radiation Assessment Detector
radar, 255
laser-powered radar, 234
radar altimeter, 124, 144, 145–46
subsurface radar, 197
use of to find landing sites for Viking, 19–20, 86, 87
Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD), 256–57
radiation in Martian orbital path, 158, 164
Radioisotope Thermal Generators (RTGs), 121, 310–11n1
radiometric analyses of Mars, 62
radio waves, mea
suring Mars's atmospheric effect on, 53
Ranger program, 73
RAT. See Rock Abrasion Tool
Rawlings, Pat. See photo section
reaction wheels, 198
red color of Mars, 29, 34, 39, 40
redundancy in planning, 159, 307n1 (chap. 18)
regolith. See soil on Mars
REMS. See Rover Environmental Monitoring Station
Remus and Romulus (Mars's two sons), 38
retrograde motion, 39, 40, 299n2
Rhea-Silvia (Roman goddess mother of Mars), 38
robotic arm. See sampler arms
Rock Abrasion Tool (RAT), 173, 179, 180, 182, 213, 258
“rocker-bogie” system, Sojourner's used by MER, 308n1 (chap. 20)
Rock Garden (area to be explored by Sojourner), 130
rocks on Mars, 30, 33, 131
cooling rates of rocks, 162
drilling rocks as part of Mars Science Laboratory project, 263–64, 285
finding crystals, 182
found by Opportunity, 184, 185, 215–17
found by Sojourner, 121, 127–31
found by Spirit, 179–82, 213–14, 225
naming of, 237–38
Romulus and Remus (Mars's two sons), 38
rotational period of Mars, 27, 40
Rover Environmental Monitoring Station (REMS), 257
rovers
creating an astrobiology-laboratory rover, 269
See also 10-K rover at FMARS; Curiosity (rover); Opportunity (rover); Pathfinder mission; Sojourner (rover); Spirit (rover)
RTGs. See Radioisotope Thermal Generators
Russian Federation, 306n1
and the ExoMars probe, 146
and the Mars Express mission, 143–46
and the Mars Science Laboratory project, 256
potential missions 2021–2030, 294
and Soyuz capsule, 293
See also Soviet Union's space programs
Sagan, Carl, 189, 190
Dr. Carl Sagan Memorial Station, 124
Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM), 256, 263
sampler arms, 85, 88, 92, 93, 144, 153, 167–68, 172, 180, 232, 239, 258, 263, 302n3
problems with, 214, 223, 224, 235, 239–40, 249–50
sand dunes on Mars, 218, 223
See also photo section
Saturn (planet), 33, 152, 267
data return from the Cassini probe, 309n1 (chap. 22)
Titan (a moon of Saturn), 33, 243–44
Saturn V (rocket), 291, 292
Saunders, Steve, 166
scanning calorimetry, 310n3
Schiaparelli, Giovanni, 41, 43–45, 44
See also photo section
Science (journal), 216
“Scout missions” (low-cost missions), 249, 311–12n2
MAVEN scheduled for possible launch in 2012, 267–68
Phoenix lander as an example, 230. See also Phoenix lander
seasons. See weather on Mars
sedimentation exploration, 174, 182
“bathtub ring” in Victoria Crater, 222
buried in lava, 191
finding “cross-lamination,” 185
using CTX camera to study water-deposited sediments, 197
See also soil on Mars
seismometer, 91–92
“Send Your Name to Mars” outreach program, 175
Shackleton, Ernest, 214, 295
Shallow Subsurface Radar (SHARAD), 197
Shark (rock found by Sojourner), 129
Shenzhou/Soyuz (Chinese mission), 293
shock sensor causing MPL lander crash, 230
Sinus Meridiani (Meridian Bay), 33
size of Mars, 41
Skycrane (system to land MSL), 254
Sleepy Hollow (basin near landing site of Spirit), 174
SLS. See Space Launch System
Smith, Peter, 243–51, 277
Soderblom, Laurence, 79–81
soil on Mars, 33–34
able to support some earthly crops, 238–39
equipment for testing. See Microscopy, Electrochemistry, and Conductivity Analyzer; Thermal and Electrical Conductivity Probe; Thermal and Evolved Gas Analyzer
examined at microscopic levels, 233
and the Mars Odyssey program, 162
measuring soil movement, 111
and the MRO, 205
need for deep-soil drilling, 269–70
oxidants in, 95–96
and Phoenix, 235–37. See also photo section
sampling procedures, 235–38
search for life-forms in, 85, 88–89, 93–95
and Sojourner, 127, 130
and Spirit, 179
water ice in soil. See permafrost
See also perchlorate; sedimentation exploration
Sojourner (rover), 127–32, 134, 176, 232–33, 245, 253, 256
getting stuck in sand, 130
length of successful operations, 172
providing knowledge for building Spirit and Opportunity, 171, 173, 174
“rocker-bogie” system, 175, 308n1 (chap. 20)
See also Pathfinder mission; photo section
sol (a Martian day), length of, 27, 40, 124, 238
solar flares, 164, 168, 196
solar panels, 222, 254, 310–11n1
and the Mars Global Surveyor
broken strut, 108, 109, 117–18
solar panel failing after ten years, 114
Phoenix lander's panels cracking from the cold, 241
used on MER, 172
See also photo section
solar radiation on Mars, 164, 297n2
solar wind, 18, 55
southern hemisphere of Mars, 32, 42, 62, 64, 69, 201, 219
See also polar caps of Mars
Soviet Union's space programs, 293
attempts to probe Mars, 21, 52, 57, 76, 79, 86, 107, 143, 147, 297n1, 306nn1–2, 300n1 (chap. 4), 301n1 (chap. 10)
timeline of attempts, 148–50
attempts to probe Venus, 57, 107, 143, 297n1, 306n1, 300n1 (chap. 4)
Sputnik program, 57, 148
See also Russian Federation
Soyuz capsule (Russian), 293
Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX), 292
Space Launch System (SLS), 292, 293
space shuttles, 107, 291
Challenger, 302n1 (chap. 12)
Columbia, 174, 192
discontinuing program, 292, 295
Space Station, 311–12n2
SpaceX. See Space Exploration Technologies
Spear, Tony, 134–35
spectroscopic analyses of Mars, 45, 62, 64
Alpha Proton X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS), 121, 131, 172
Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometers for Mars (CRISM), 196
Fourier Spectrometer, 144
gamma-ray spectrometer, 158, 162, 247
Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer experiment (Viking landers), 88
laser spectrometer, 258
mass spectrometer, 19
Mössbauer spectrometer, 173, 262
OMEGA spectrometer, 144
SPICAM spectrometer, 144
Thermal Emission Spectrometer, 172
thermal infrared spectrometer, 262
spherules. See “blueberries” SPICAM spectrometer, 144
Spinrad, Hyron, 101, 102
Spirit (rover), 164, 171–87, 213–28, 262, 264
ceasing operation, 193, 227–28
compared to MSL rover, 253
finding own heat shield, 183
getting stuck in sand, 226, 227
re-creation of the entrapment. See photo section
mechanical problems, 214, 216–17, 225–26
See also Mars Exploration Rovers mission (MER)
“Spirit Point” (Opportunity's point of arrival at Endeavor Crater), 228
Sputnik program (Soviet Union), 57, 148
Squyres, Steve, 189–94
SSI. See surface stereo imager Stanford University, 267
sulfates, 248, 258
sunset on Mars. See photo section
surface stereo imager (SSI), 232–33
surveying Mars. See mapping of Mars; photographing Mars
Surveyor program (targeting the Moon), 73–74
Syrtis Major Planum, 31, 33, 40, 40
TECP. See Thermal and Electrical Conductivity Probe
TEGA. See Thermal and Evolved Gas Analyzer
telescopic exploration of Mars, 43–44, 47
measuring upper atmosphere, 19
misinterpretation of, 41
See also mapping of Mars; photo section
Tempel 1 (comet), 267
temperatures. See weather on Mars
10-K rover at FMARS, 274
Terra Sirenum (crater), 112, 113
“terrestrial” planets, 32, 298n3
Tharsis Bulge (volcanic region), 29–32, 76, 210
THEMIS. See Thermal Emission Imaging System
Thermal and Electrical Conductivity Probe (TECP), 233
Thermal and Evolved Gas Analyzer (TEGA), 233, 235–40, 310n3
See also photo section
Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS), 158, 167, 175
Thermal Emission Spectrometer, 172, 175
thermal information from Mars Odyssey program, 162–63
thermal infrared spectrometer, 262
Thomas Mutch Memorial Station, 96
Time (magazine), 147
Titan (a moon of Saturn), 33, 243–44
Titan (rocket), 107, 302n1
Titanic (movie), cost of, 136
Tomasko, Martin, 243, 244
TUMS®, 240
UCLA. See University of California, Los Angeles
United States Geological Survey (USGS), 79
Universe, The (JPL newspaper), 133
University of Arizona, 267
and Phoenix program, 229–41, 309–10n1
and Peter Smith, 243–51
University of California, Los Angeles, 261
University of Colorado, 267, 273
University of Leicester, 144
University of Southern California, 115
University of Washington, 210
University Valley (Antarctica), 284–85
unmanned explorations sent to Mars, 126, 300n1 (chap. 4)
budget for in the 1960s, 73
“faster, better, cheaper” as approach to, 124, 136–37, 139, 152, 155, 157, 231
future potential missions, 292–94
Great Galactic Ghoul impact on failures, 147–55
timeline of mission failures, 148–50
use of “Big Dumb Landers,” 20, 126
See also longevity of Mars missions; Mariner program; Mars Climate Orbiter; Mars Exploration Rovers mission; Mars Express; Mars Global Surveyor program; Mars Observer program; Mars Odyssey program; Mars Polar Lander; Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter program; Mars Science Laboratory project; Pathfinder mission; Phoenix lander; Soviet Union's space programs; Viking program
Uranus (planet), 267