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Farnborough, United Kingdom (AP) – The British Space Agency launches an online contest to designate a Martian rover who will visit the Red Planet in 2020.
Scientists have already nicknamed his prototypes "Bruno" and "Bridget", but now they are looking for an inspiring name worthy of a rover looking for signs of life on the Martian surface.
He officially calls himself "ExoMars", but scientists have dubbed his prototypes Bruno and Bridget. [19659005Nowthebrittanypatialstoriescalledthepublichelpingtooveregistered
"Behind me, you can see this robot, all right," says British astronaut Tim Peake.
"This one's called Bruno, it's a prototype for a rover that will go on Mars in about two years, summer 2020.
" This is currently called ExoMars. Now, we want to give ExoMars a name, so this morning's goal is to launch a naming competition for the ExoMars rover. "
Once on Mars, the six-wheeled rover will slowly traverse the Martian surface, it will pierce" Well, of course, the most astonishing discovery is to identify the signs of past life or even present on Mars ", says Peake
., we are talking about organic molecules or compounds or bacteria, for example, perhaps evidence of life forms to a single cllid.
" We are not talking about life forms smart, but even that tells us a lot about studying how life evolved on our own planet here on Earth, by studying Mars.
"So, this robot will drill under the surface of Mars in the permafrost and look at the ice-water, where these signs of life present."
Scientists hope that the rover will perform better than Schiaparelli's the European Space Agency. ander, who crashed on the surface of Mars during an attempted landing in October 2016.
British experts are still perfecting the robot's design. It will arrive at the red planet in 2021.
Unlike previous rover missions, this ExoMars rover will autonomously navigate the surface of the red planet, using 3D cameras to trace a safe course through the rocky surface of March.
"Our robot will be almost entirely autonomous, it will be driven this way most of the time," says Paul Meacham, lead systems engineer. "The reason is that the delay between Earth and Mars can be as important as" Instead, you want the rover to make the decisions as to where the safety is and where it is located. is not, and it's mainly to this that this prototype is intended. "
19659005]" So it starts with the cameras at the top of the mast, they see in 3D, in much the same way as we, which allows the rover to identify where are the rocks and slops, and if everything is out of its capacity – the rock is too big, the sl the ope is too steep – the rover is going identify him and bypass him, on the way to the target he's trying to reach. "
Peake announced the competition at the Farnborough International Airshow Futures Day, an awareness program designed to encourage young people" I'm looking forward to discovering space and science because discovering other forms of life that ours on Earth would be great, "said 14-year-old Jacob Whiting, who visited the aerospace show."
"I'm going with Bobby, just to keep up the trend of # 39; s use Bs and because Bobby is a great name, I guess, "says fellow Scout, Malachy Knights, 14.
" I'm leaving with Bob because of Bob the Builder and even, "says Whiting.
Astronaut Peake says he has some ideas to him, but for the time being he will keep them for himself.
"I'm keeping my thoughts quiet right now, I'm not sure. have some ideas, yes, but I will not influence "The competition is open until October, so people have all the time to think of that. "
The "Name the ExoMars Rover" contest is open only to people residing in member countries. Member States of the European Space Agency (ESA).
A jury chosen by the British Space Agency will choose the eventual winner.
The British Space Agency should move cautiously – two years ago, the British public voted to appoint a new polar research ship Boaty McBoatface.
He was finally named Sir David Attenborough, in honor of the eminent naturalist and broadcaster.
A submarine vessel that will support the crew and various research programs has been called Boaty McBoatface. The Farnborough International Air Show opens its doors to the public from July 21 to 22
The semiannual event welcomes more than 1,500 exhibitors and up to 100,000 visitors just for the days of scholarship
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