MAVEN close to the orbit of Mars

Through 2 days, 16 hours and 25 minutes about Mars will be more human presence. By the close orbit satellite MAVEN .

For 10 months the satellite crossed 711 million kilometers. What is interesting in its wake comes the first Indian interplanetary spacecraft Mangalyaan, who also successfully overcome all the way and will arrive in orbit two days after MAVEN.

The task of the American system - the study of the current state and evolution of the atmosphere. It should help to understand how Mars evolved from a warm peace with plenty of water and microbial life in the cold lifeless planet.

MAVEN launched November 18, 2013 in the framework of the mission with a budget of $ 671 million.

The device is equipped with a cubic type of solar panels and weighs about 2450 kg. On it is set to 8 devices, including the solar wind ion analyzer, analyzer electrons of the solar wind sensor Langmuir waves, steam magnetometers set of distance learning atmosphere, ultraviolet spectrometer, ion and neutral mass spectrometer.

MAVEN - another machine NASA designed to search for traces of water. The probe also measured the rate of loss of the atmosphere. But there is an unexpected bonus - soon to 132 thousand. Km from Mars will pass Comet Siding Spring, discovered only last year. Scientists fear that the tail of a comet can cover MAVEN, but now believe that this risk is minimal. Nucleus of a comet will pass by Mars on October 19, and the probe can explore the upper atmosphere before and after the passage of a comet, it is also interesting information.

Scientists believe that comets are so close around Mars about once in a million years, so it can be called a great success, that just at this moment, here we probe for the study.



Currently revolve around Mars three terrestrial satellite, one European and two American. The surface of the study two rover. All this - the necessary preparations before planting rights and the creation of the first Earth's colonies on other planets.

Source: habrahabr.ru/post/237383/