During the 1960s, we set out on a journey to see what Mars has to teach us about space. Today, NASA is attempting to send the first human beings to the planet by the 2030s. But why is there so much fascination with the red planet? And, how does a satellite bus contribute to quenching our thirst for knowledge about Mars? Let’s find out.
The Undying Fascination with Mars
Is Earth unique? Yes, in a certain sense: Earth is home to a diverse ecosystem containing sentient life. However, how widespread are the geological processes that produced our planet, and how did they provide a suitable environment for life? Moreover, do they happen for other planets too? We can get the answers to these questions if we watch life on Mars, a close and comparable-sized planet.
The fascination with this planet did not start just a couple of decades ago. And in fact, it predates the development of space technology. Ever since humans have been around, the curiosity for the vast surfaces of Mars has existed. The concept of planets has always intrigued us, but when it comes to Mars, it finds itself amidst a special kind of attention.
At first, our ancestors were enamored with the planet’s reddish hue, which set itself apart from its shimmery and glowy counterparts. Fast forward to a couple of centuries, humans are determined on the Mars mission to explore whether it does contain life.
Today, scientists see the planet as a toxic and dry planet; however, they also believe it was once habitable, just like Earth is now. Even though it is doubtful that there is life on the planet today, especially on its ground, things could have been different in the past. Hence, one of the motivations for its exploration is the hunt for life, especially fossil life.
Scientists believe that Mars can be an incubator for microbial life. Till now, only unmanned spacecraft have been sent to the red planet. But, NASA is adamant about getting humans on the planet by the 2030s.
Today, several other missions, newly developed satellite bus details, and satellite camera usage are helping with this goal by constantly gathering data about the floating rock. Let’s see how satellites have helped with exploration.
How Satellite Buses and Cameras Help with Mars Exploration
In the past few years, especially with the aid of the most advanced satellite camera technology, some of the best photographs of Earth have been captured from space. However, satellites can also take stunning pictures of other planets, such as Mars.
Moreover, a satellite bus gives space explorers a head start by constantly providing them with data regarding the planet’s geographical processes. Is there a live view of Mars? What have we learned about the planet from these satellites? What equipment is on Mars? Let’s see how the planet’s exploration has evolved through time.
The First Satellites
Mariner 9 was the first spacecraft to orbit the red planet in 1971. At first, it couldn’t provide us with groundbreaking information since the planet was hidden under a dust storm that restricted the view of everything, except perhaps the tallest surfaces on the planet.
However, when the dust storm died down, Mariner 9 started mapping polar caps, volcanoes, and canyons. It offered us the first clear glimpse into the planet’s surfaces and provided the foundation for other satellites how to watch on Mars.
After that, from the mid-1970s, another set of satellites called the Viking Orbiters offered us a global perspective of Mars. The satellites discovered several landforms and geographical processes. They were the first of their kind to find out that water did once exist on the planet and carved several extensive features on the surface in the past.
Mars Global Surveyor was yet another satellite that helped explore Mars. This Mars observer satellite bus watched the planet for almost a decade, from 1997 to 2006. This long duration allowed the satellite to monitor the ongoing processes on the planet’s surface.
Moreover, the camera fitted on the bus called the Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC), gave us high-quality pictures. It also provided us with a topographic map that covered the entire planet and also proved that magnetic fields existed on Mars.
Recent Satellites
In recent years, Mars Odyssey has been a vital satellite mapping the processes on the red planet. Launched in 2002, the bus has offered groundbreaking data on the surface composition of Mars, along with information about the radiation environment.
The Mars Odyssey was a major jump toward understanding how the planet is since it warned us about the radiation hazards that could potentially harm future explorers. Mars Odyssey was fitted with a Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS). It provided infrared and visible images that gave us an idea about how the planet looked at different hours of the day.
Next up was the satellite Mars Express from Europe, launched in 2003. It mapped the surface terrain as well as the composition of the planet. Not only that, but it also studies the atmosphere and sub-surface.
Another satellite that has been orbiting Mars is the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. This Mars observer is perhaps one of the most renowned satellites that have provided us with data that were impossible to gather before.
It has been orbiting the planet since 2006 and offered high-quality images that tell us about the origin and evolution of the red planet and how it differs from Earth. The camera fitted on the satellite called (HiRISE) offers us images with great detail.
The satellite’s Shallow Subsurface Radar (SHARAD) provides us with details on geologic layering. Other equipment on the satellite offers us data on mineralogy, atmospheric properties, and global weather.
Final Thoughts
The curiosity over Mars has existed since time immemorial and will continue to exist and develop as we learn more and more about the planet. Satellites have offered us numerous data on the processes of Mars, and its cameras have provided us with high-quality glimpses into the intriguing landforms of the planet. As long as human civilization exists, the exploration of Mars will carry on.
