2024-03-29 06:16:28
The National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA) is funding the development of the MAGGIE Mars plane, which is designed to detect methane on the surface of the Red Planet.
The Space portal reports this.
This task, while difficult, is considered key to missions to Mars, and although MAGGIE will not go there yet, the creation of such vehicles is considered an important step in Mars exploration. The future Mars aircraft was named MAGGIE, which stands for Mars Aerial and Ground Intelligent Explorer.
This project is in the early stages of development and is still just a concept. The aircraft is planned to be able to operate on Mars for a Martian year, which is almost 2 Earth years, and will be capable of carrying out missions anywhere on the Red Planet. It will fly at an altitude of 1 km above the surface of Mars.
One of its main tasks will be to search for methane in the atmosphere. This elusive molecule may be a sign of life, but detecting it in the atmosphere of Mars poses a challenge for scientists. Methane appears periodically in the Martian atmosphere, and its presence has been detected by both rovers and orbiters.
For example, the Curiosity rover has repeatedly detected methane in the Martian atmosphere in varying concentrations. Methane levels can change over time, sometimes rising and sometimes falling. Before sending the plane to Mars, extensive testing must be done to prove its ability to operate in the Red Planet’s thin atmosphere.
This includes testing its aerodynamic performance, power consumption, and navigation and data collection capabilities. Before prototyping and testing begins, it is necessary to ensure that all technical and engineering aspects of the design are well thought out and supported by preliminary testing.
Earlier, Cursor wrote that Elon Musk’s SpaceX is moving forward with ambitious plans in the field of space flights. The successful test launch of the Super Heavy launch vehicle with Starship is an important step in the development of a more powerful and large-scale system for future space missions to Mars.
2024-03-29 06:16:28