[ad_1]
Washington, Berlin, Graz – A glimpse into the deepest structure of the planet Mars wants to get NASA's "InSight" mission. The provincial inquiry must be interrupted Monday night on the red planet and take up its function of geophysical observatory in the coming months. The Graz Institute for Space Research (IMF) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences participates in the evaluation of the data.
NASA's "InSight" mission probe (Inside Exploration for Seismic, Geodesy and Heat Transport) wants to get to the bottom of the planet. If all goes well, the lander launched in May will land at 21:00 in the Elysium Planitia region, north of the equator on Mars, after a trip of about 485 million kilometers. For two years, he will conduct geophysical research on the internal structure of Mars. The researchers hope to draw conclusions about the early history of the red planet and ultimately about the formation of the Earth more than four billion years ago.
On board are scientific instruments that researchers use to study the interior of Mars. The last Nasa 2012 brought the "Curiosity" rover successfully to Mars. Landings on the Red Planet are considered extremely difficult: according to NASA, only about 40% of previous global missions worldwide have been successful.
The construction of the planet is to explore
"InSight" weighs 360 kilograms and has completed its seven-month journey to the planet next to Earth, at a speed of up to 10,000 kilometers at the time. After entering the Martian atmosphere, the flying object should descend with the help of missiles and a parachute braking. Researchers control the robot from a control center in Pasadena, California.
Through a combination of specialized instruments, InSight can hear the depths of the surface of Mars. Among other things, the "pulse" (seismic), the "fever curve" (planetary heat flux) and the reflexes (rotational fluctuations) of the planet are examined, as described by Günther Kargl of the & # 39; 39, Institute for Space Research of the ÖAW. Austrian researchers are also involved in the mission: the IMF in Graz is responsible for evaluating some of the scientific data collected during the mission.
First of all, the extraction of the "heat flow and physical properties package" (HP3) must be carried out by means of a special mechanism reminiscent of a hammer nail. With his help, you dive into the Martian soil. Subsequently, in December, it will be really interesting for IMF experts: they will draw conclusions on the mechanical properties of the Martian surface soil on the Martian soil based on the measurement data recorded during the penetration of the Martian surface. 39; device.
"We want to reach at least three meters of soil, the depth of the target would be five meters," Kargl told APA. To reach this depth, about 10,000 results are needed. It will take about two months, "he said.The IMF's contribution is to study the mechanical properties of the soil, which can be deduced from the penetration behavior of HP3 mole in the Martian soil. IWF has also benefited from the technical support of the Institute of Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering of Graz University of Technology, funded by the Austrian Agency for the Promotion of Research. FFG.
In addition, manipulations of the surface with the blade of the instrument deployment arm are also performed in order to be able to determine other mechanical parameters of the regolith soil with an independent investigation, as was called by the IMF.
After landing, the signal "I did it" is sent
At present, Mars is about 146 million kilometers from Earth and terrestrial stations need about eight minutes to receive radio signals. "At" InSight ", two small satellites were sent for the first time, they fly behind the provincial probe and, so to speak, observe the immersion of" InSight "in the atmosphere and sequence of Next landing from the front row, without a foot, "Kargl said. As soon as the landing gear landed safely on the ground, it sends the signal "I did it".
Since the provincial probe can not communicate directly with the Earth, the existing space probes in orbit must act as relay stations. However, because of their web geometry, the transfer may be delayed. At the time of landing, the space probes "Mars Renaissance" and "2001 Mars Orbiter" should be used. (APA / dpa)
Source link
