5 interesting future space missions
Technologies / / December 19, 2019
Information about current research space rarely enters the field of view of the media generalists. Layfhaker presents five major missions, in the course of which new facts about distant cosmic bodies can be opened.
1. The mission to the sun (Parker Solar Probe)
The first announcement of this mission, the media picked up the big headlines in the style of «NASA plans to touch the sun." Of course, this is not true: in the course of the mission will be achieved not touch, but the closest approach to the sun.
The probe of about 3 meters in diameter and sun shield of about 2 meters in length is planned to run distance to 6.2 million kilometers away from the sun, which is equivalent ⅑ Mercury orbit or solar 10 radii.
This is an absolute record, if everything goes according to plan, the probe will be seven times closer to the sun than any other spacecraft launched from Earth.
During the mission, it is planned to study the structure and dynamics of the magnetic fields to understand the mechanism of acceleration of the solar wind and explore the movement of energy in the solar corona. Mission Parker Solar Probe, may give the answer to why the corona of the sun the temperature greatly exceeds the temperature its surface, and will help to make forecasts regarding the potential threat to our coronal mass ejections planet.
Probe Parker Solar Probe will be more protected than any previously known apparatus built by man. This is due to high levels of radiation: during the approach to the Sun it exceeds the earth 475 times. NASA plans to carry out the launch of 31 July 2018.
Go to the mission at NASA → page website
Go to Parker Solar Probe → official website mission
2. Mission to Psyche
Mission to Psyche, also known as a mission to "metal world" - a set of operations on the study of the asteroid Psyche, consisting of metal. Of particular interest is the cosmic body is due to the fact that during its existence it has acquired no crust from other breeds. As is known, the metal contained in the core, which suggests that the asteroid may be failed planet.
NASA is interested in a thorough study of the asteroid, the possibility of their diversion to other motion vectors and production of subsurface resources. During the mission to the Psyche will be clear whether an asteroid truly - unformed core of the planet, and if the answer is affirmative, a detailed study may shed light on the early stages of formation of the solar system.
The device is intended for the study of Psyche, NASA plans to launch in 2022. The orbit of the asteroid it will reach in 2026, after which it will conduct studies for 20 months.
Go to the mission at NASA → page website
3. Mission to Europe (Europa Clipper)
Europe - the sixth moon of Jupiter, and one of the main candidates for the detection of traces of extraterrestrial life. It is known that under the surface of Europe there is a vast ocean of salty water it releases from the bowels of the satellite were discovered telescope "Hubble". It was also found that the dark stripes on the surface of Europe - it is nothing like the salt deposits.
Europe to study directly with the satellite's orbit is not possible due to the aggressive environment of Jupiter, so NASA decided to launch into orbit the gas giant. The satellite will be studied during 45 spans a distance of from 2 700 to 25 kilometers (comparable to some aircraft flight altitude reconnaissance).
The mission will explore Europe's ability to maintain life, as well as a potential site for planting devices in the future will be selected. NASA plans to launch no later than 2022, the duration of the mission - three and a half years.
Go to the mission at NASA → page website
4. Mars 2020
Mars Rover 2020 - an improved version of the rover Curiosity, designed to search for traces of life on Mars, including signs of microbial life.
The rover is equipped with a drill, which will be drilled samples of the most promising species. In addition, methods have been tested receiving oxygen from the atmosphere of Mars, will be studied dynamic weather, dust storms and other environmental conditions.
Starting the rover is planned for the summer of 2020, he had landed in 2021 the first in February. The minimum period of work (rovers tend to work much longer than planned) - one year on Mars (687 Earth days).
Go to the mission at NASA → page website
5. ExoMars 2020
The study of the surface of Mars using the ExoMars rover - a joint mission of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Russian state corporation "Roscosmos". The main objective of the mission is similar to NASA's project: the search for evidence of past and present life on Mars.
In addition, the rover will explore the water and geochemical distribution of the planet's surface, study the environment and to identify potential risk for future manned missions.
The launch is planned for 2020, the mission duration - 6 months.
Go to page mission on ESA website →
Go to page mission at the Institute of Space Research →
Selection is made on the release of a podcast based on The Big Beard Theory "5 most interesting space missions of the future". In writing the article Layfhakeru helped author and a permanent leader podcast Anton Pozdnyakov (@kuingul).