Program
13, Episode 303
Behind
the Scenes
 In
recent years, there has been
renewed public interest in
the planet Mars. This increased
awareness is due in large part
to the success of the NASA
Rovers which have been used
to explore and unlock the mysteries
of the red planet.
Although wheeled Rovers and
stationary Landers have been
successful it's becoming apparent
that more of the Martian surface
needs to be explored to provide
a better understand of the
chemistry of the surface and
the atmosphere. Understanding
these conditions will prepare
scientists and astronauts for
future manned missions to Mars.
One idea now being studied
for future Mars trips is a
revolutionary type of Rover
called the Mars Tumbleweed.
This ingenious new Rover will
not use engines, but will travel
across the Martian surface with
the help of the wind.
Additional Information
http://robotics.jpl.nasa.gov/~behar/
JPLTumbleweedAlaska.html |
