Astrobiology Rover concept paper

[JonClarke]

<i>The Mars Program Plan includes an integrated and coordinated set of future candidate missions and investigations that meet fundamental science objectives of NASA and the Mars Exploration Program (MEP). At the time this paper was written, these possible future missions are planned in a manner consistent with a projected budget profile for the Mars Program in the next decade (2007-2016). As with all future missions, the funding profile depends on a number of factors that include the exact cost of each mission as well as potential changes to the overall NASA budget. In the current version of the Mars Program Plan, the Astrobiology Field Laboratory (AFL) exists as a candidate project to determine whether there were (or are) habitable zones and life, and how the development of these zones may be related to the overall evolution of the planet. The AFL concept is a surface exploration mission equipped with a major in situ laboratory capable of making significant advancements toward the Mars Program's life-related scientific goals and the overarching Vision for Space Exploration. We have developed several concepts for the AFL that fit within known budget and engineering constraints projected for the 2016 and 2018 Mars mission launch opportunities. The AFL mission architecture proposed here assumes maximum heritage from the 2009 Mars Science Laboratory (MSL). Candidate payload elements for this concept were identified from a set of recommendations put forth by the Astrobiology Field Laboratory Science Steering Group (AFL SSG) in 2004, for the express purpose of identifying overall rover mass and power requirements for such a mission. The conceptual payload includes a Precision Sample Handling and Processing System that would replace and augment the functionality and capabilities provided by the Sample Acquisition Sample Processing and Handling system that is currently part of the 2009 MSL platform.</i><br /><br />http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.h</safety_wrapper <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[3488]

Hi Jon,<br /><br />Most interesting, lets hope it actually happens.<br /><br />With the experience gained from the Vikings, Pathfinder & MERs, nine to eleven<br />years does seem a rather long time.<br /><br />We already have the technology to implement it right now.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[ashish27]

quote: We already have the technology to implement it right now<br /><br />But the people in the US congress don't have the understanding of the immediate need of such a mission.

 

[h2ouniverse]

In reply to:<br />"But the people in the US congress don't have the understanding of the immediate need of such a mission. "<br />---------------------------<br /><br />Or they have... <br />Generally speaking science missions in the Solar System are not specially urgent for mankind. Within some decades, the technological potential of our species should be such that the fraction of World GDP (GWP) needed to explore thoroughly the system will be very small. (as compared with today).<br />Scientific targets should still be there.<br /><br />But there is a huge exception IMO. Exobiology. In these times of return of obscurantism (on all continents) it is extremely urgent to re-open the horizons and the minds against all those comfortable with a "finite world".<br />Because finding life, even microbial, elsewhere than on Earth would have profound philosophical implications. And religious ones... especially for those with very litteral interpretations. Is everybody ready to take the risk?<br /><br />Best regards.

 

[ashish27]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p> Is everybody ready to take the risk? <p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br /><br /><br />more than the risk of having religious implications some people will be bogged down by the enormity of such a discovery. some people may then start to worship planet Mars!<br /><br />

 

[h2ouniverse]

True.<br />With a GDP equivalent to the US GDP, ESA members states spend far less. We had Mars Express. Now Exomars in the making (and not full-fledged yet btw). And... that's all!!<br />Sigh.