 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Moscow (UPI) Sep 11, 2010 Russian scientists say they're preparing to test an unmanned lander for a 2011 mission to Phobos, one of the moons of Mars. The Phobos-Grunt spacecraft will land on the surface of Phobos, take soil samples and return them to Earth, RIA Novosti reported Friday. "The aim of the test is to narrow down the lander's projected impact location on the surface of the Earth," a statement by Russia's Central Aerodynamic Institute said. "As far as the lander ... does not include any signaling equipment ... narrowing down its projected impact area will make the search for it easier," the statement said. The project was conceived in 1999, and in June 2006 the Russian aerospace company NPO Lavochkin started manufacturing and testing the development version of the spacecraft's on-board equipment. The mission is expected to begin in November 2011 and last some 330 days, RIA Novosti said.
earlier related report "When you are in isolation you tend to feel closer to all the other people who are living, or who have lived, the same kind of experience," volunteer "astronaut" Romain Charles said in a diary entry released by the European Space Agency (ESA) in Paris on Friday. "In particular, all our thoughts go to the 33 miners in Chile who are trapped beneath the ground. Their living conditions are really tough and I hope that our message... will reach them." The six -- an Italian, three Russians and a Chinese in addition to Charles, a Frenchman -- were locked up in a 550-cubic-metre (19,400-cubic-foot) mock spaceship in a Moscow research institute on June 3. The idea is to simulate the effects on humans of a 520-day mission to the Red Planet. The crew has to survive on limited food rations and their only communication with the outside world is by email, with a delay of up to 40 minutes. Charles said he had sought counsel from submariners and other people experienced in living in isolation. This advice was offered to the miners: "Stay busy, be careful with your health and keep a normal day-night schedule."
Share This Article With Planet Earth
Related Links Mars News and Information at MarsDaily.com Lunar Dreams and more
Orcus Patera - Mars's Mysterious Elongated CraterBonn, Germany (SPX) Aug 30, 2010 Orcus Patera is an enigmatic elliptical depression near Mars's equator, in the eastern hemisphere of the planet. Located between the volcanoes of Elysium Mons and Olympus Mons, its formation remains a mystery. Often overlooked, this well-defined depression extends approximately 380 by 140 kilometres in a north-northeast to south-southwest direction. It has a rim that rises up to 1800 metre ... read more |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2010 - SpaceDaily. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
YahooMyWeb
Google
Facebook
