For NASA is 2015 a special year. It is, in fact, exactly fifty years ago that the U.s. space agency began sending satellites to Mars. And NASA is NASA, if there’s no epic movie is to celebrate.
The first satellite of NASA to the red planet sent was Mariner 4. The space agency launched the unmanned spacecraft in 1965 to Mars. The purpose of the mission was to capture images of the planet. Also did the Mariner 4 investigation of the radiation belts near the planet.
Ten years later, the United States, the Vikingprogramma on the rope. This would allow the country of the former Soviet Union trump. That country, that several Mars missions it had sat, walked in regards to technique at the rear of the Americans, and had the hope of more success specified.
The Vikingprogramma consisted of two spacecraft: an orbiter, that Mars had to go and circling, and the landingsmodule, either the lander. Both devices, respectively, Viking 1 and Viking 2, have proved to be successful. Thanks to the program received NASA the first color photos of Mars. Also got the organization of the data within about dust storms and pressure changes.
Recent missions include the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, a satellite that is in orbit around Mars turns and camera equipment on board to create beautiful images. There is, for example, the Phoenix lander, which is a model for a new spacecraft, and Curiosity rover.
Curiosity did this year, some special discoveries. So thought the explorer traces that indicate zuurrijk water on the red planet. And at the end of last year discovered Curiosity a few clues that life on Mars in the distant past been possible.
After fifty years, the NASA missions to Mars are still far from over. In fact, the scientists intensified their research, while ‘competitors’ also a spot to try to claim. Next year begins a new NASA mission, Insight, and in 2020, the Mars 2020 Rover. The intention is that sometime after 2030, the first people to Mars.
Movie of NASA, put online by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory