The InSight probe is preparing to drill a 5 metre hole on Mars
Source:
Research InSight lander space Agency NASA continues to prepare for the early science phase of its mission. According to the official website of the Agency, the lander deployed on the surface of the red planet the second tool, with which you plan to learn more about the internal structure and composition of Mars. We are talking about the device Heat Flow and Physical Properties Package (HP3), which was set to meter from .
Device HP3 ("Set the study of Heat Flow and Physical Properties") is a scientific instrument designed to measure heat flow under the surface of Mars. Thanks to the data collected by this apparatus, scientists can better understand how the Red planet formed. To solve the problem the unit must be installed deeply into the ground.
After a few days, InSight will start drilling at a depth of 5 meters, significantly more than the results that were achieved by other machines working on Mars. For example, the landing module "Phoenix" and "Viking 1" was able to drill holes with a depth of only 18 and 22 cm, respectively. After HP3 will be released at a given depth in the hole will be placed a device called a "mole." It is a 40-centimeter probe pointed shape with a pneumatic mechanism, a power which will be supplied through the cable connected to the lander.
the Device tool HP3
Yet integrated into the cable sensors will perform measurements of temperature, the mole will deal with measurement of heat flow. Being under the ground, the tools will be isolated from effects of external temperature fluctuations caused by changing time of day or seasonal changes.
"Our probe designed for measuring temperatures below the surface of Mars. Temperature changes on the surface associated with seasonal transitions and cycles of day and night, can lead to "noise" in our data, so we want to go deeper under the surface as deep as possible", — says the Deputy head of mission InSight sue Smrekar from the jet propulsion Laboratory (JPL).
To Carry out drilling plans to gradually step by step and has a depth of 50 inches below the surface. Between each phase of drilling is planned to take two days break to created by the friction of the drill on the breed heat has time to dissipate without creating additional heat «». Then in the hole for 24 hours would be artificially maintained temperature of 10 degrees Celsius and carried out measurements of the thermal conductivity of the planet.
The Researchers hope that the path of the drill will not be of large stones. If the probe cannot reach the minimum required depth is 3 meters, to carry out accurate measurements can take a whole Martian year (two earth).
the probe Testing HP3 in Germany
"We have chosen in our opinion the perfect place to land, where almost no stones on the surface — says scientist and engineer at JPL Troy Hudson, who helped design the probe HP3. — It gives us hope that also should not contain large stones, but what awaits us actually – will show time".
"the weight of the probe HP3 is less than the weight of the Shoe. It consumes less power than Wi-Fi router. Development of a device that can withstand tens of thousands of hits when drilling and not to fall apart, require huge amount of time and work. Some installation options are unable to achieve the target of 4.88 meters, but the installation version, which ultimately went to Mars, has proven its efficiency and reliability," — adds the expert.
To Discuss the news in our .
Recommended
The Americans on the moon: what everyone should know?
the Upcoming cosmonautics day is my favorite holiday. It marks the triumph of the human mind: in just four thousand years Homo Sapiens went from hunter-gatherers to space explorers. 12 April 1961 Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first man in ...
Why are some galaxies spiral shaped?
you Know what surprised me the most? The fact that we perceive the surrounding world as it is. Animals, plants, the laws of physics and the cosmos are perceived by many people as something so mundane and boring that they invent fairies, ghosts, monst...
Astronomers were able to see the death of another star system
In the cosmic ocean drifts a lot of mysteries about the existence of which we are unaware. One of these was uncovered five years ago, when astronomers have discovered a lonely star at a distance of 570 light years from Earth, the brightness of which ...
Related News
An economical method of delivering multi-ton loads on Mars
The heaviest spacecraft brought to Mars, is the Rover "Curiosity". Weight Autonomous science laboratory is about one ton. Sending more ambitious missions to the Red planet, and in the future people will require the use of heavier ...
What will the Mars satellite MAVEN in 2020?
For the past four years, the spacecraft is carefully studied the atmosphere of Mars. All this time he flew a distance of 196 6 km from the planet's surface, but in 2020 he will take on the additional task, for which she needs to f...
Elon Musk has sounded the approximate cost of moving to Mars
According to the founder and head of the private space company SpaceX, once the flight to Mars will be available a lot number of people. Suffice it to sell their homes on the Land and invest the money in space move. In addition, M...
Mars One is closed. The organization behind the project of colonization of Mars, went bankrupt
Remember the organization of Mars One? The same one that promised to send people to colonize Mars and make it a real reality TV show? So, it is bankrupt, according to the financial documents that were published online. They indica...
the SpaceX Company has applied to the Federal communications Commission (FCC), which describes a plan to create an unearthly infrastructure for its satellite network Starlink, according to GeekWire, citing relevant . As specified ...
A new mystery for scientists: why the asteroid Ultima Thule has a tapered shape?
At the beginning of 2019, the spacecraft New Horizons flew past the distant object, the studied people . In late January, researchers showed a quality of which everyone has the impression that it has the shape of a dumbbell. It tu...
Telescope "Hubble" showed incredible weather of Uranus and Neptune
As on Earth, Uranus and Neptune have a change of seasons, which is believed to the planetary community, identifies some characteristics of their atmosphere. However, the seasons on these planets lasts much longer than on Earth, st...
Roscosmos would like to send Russian cosmonauts to the moon in 2031, but there is a problem
the First manned flight to the moon Russian astronauts will take place in 2031, reports RIA Novosti news Agency, citing caught at his disposal the document, the Institute — the brain research Institute of the state Corporati...
Presented "the largest rocket engine", made by 3D printing
In the market orbital launches will soon be a new player. Until SpaceX or at least the same Blue Origin is far from it, but the start was quite cheerful. Private Scottish startup Orbex has introduced the world's largest rocket eng...
Engineers have proposed to explore Mars with the help of inflatable UAVs
to Explore Mars is not easy. On the surface of the planet at various times worked for several macromodel and landing modules, and on top of the red planet was observed by the orbiters. For example, downstairs now "" ("opportunity ...
Private Israeli company sent February 19 to the moon lander
In mid-February private of the Israeli nonprofit organization SpaceIL is going to send to the moon lander. The mission is designed to be the logical conclusion of the 11-year competition, aimed at stimulating the private sector in...
Japanese probe "Hayabusa-2" will land on the asteroid Ryugu 22 Feb
Japanese space probe "Hayabusa-2" February 22 will attempt to land on the surface of a 900-foot asteroid Ryugu, who it is from June of last year. Informs the Japanese aerospace exploration Agency (JAXA). Initially it was assumed t...
SpaceX has postponed the first flight of the Crew Dragon to 2 March
SpaceX and NASA have set a new target date for the first flight test of the Crew Dragon: 2 Mar. It was assumed that the capsule will fly atop the rocket will reach the ISS for the first time January 7, but the partners have since ...
#photo of the day | a Very rare photo of the back side of the moon on the background of the Earth
In January 2019, a monumental event happened — a Chinese probe "Chang'e-4" successfully got on , made the stunning panoramas and even slightly studied its surface. This mission would not be possible if not for the work of the sate...
A year ago Elon Musk sent into space vehicle. What's wrong with him now?
it has been exactly 12 months since super-heavy carrier rocket Falcon Heavy private aerospace company SpaceX. 6 February 2018 from the launch site Pad 39A, Kennedy Space center was sent into space in the private car of the company...
Seismometer Mars probe InSight received protection from wind and heat
In November 2018 historical event took place on the surface of Mars , designed to study the internal structure of the planet. His main instrument, the seismometer to monitor leaking inside the planet's processes have been installe...
#photo of the day | "Roscosmos" shared the Delta dried up Martian river
Russian state Corporation "Roskosmos" has published on its official website a recent photograph of the Martian surface. On a panoramic image obtained by the spacecraft Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) Russian-European mission «ExoMars...
SpaceX conducted the first test firing of a new engine for the Raptor ship Starship
the head of the company SpaceX via Twitter reported the first successful burn of the rocket engine Raptor that will be used in interplanetary spacecraft for missions to the moon and Mars. Previously, Musk said that the Raptor is i...
In Russia developed the first "reusable" rocket. Here's how it will look
Russia launched the first reusable aircraft. The creation of an unmanned rocket has been the company "ISON", which provided a picture of the new system edition of RIA Novosti. It is expected that with its help it will be possible ...
"Taxi" Boeing to deliver astronauts to the ISS ready for testing
NASA intends to deliver astronauts from Earth to ISS using small spacecraft. His assistants in this case it has chosen SpaceX and Boeing last developed spacecraft CST-100 Cockpit, which will be launched after a successful unmanned...
Comments (0)
This article has no comment, be the first!