3…2…1…TAKE OFF!

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 https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-selects-10-scientists-for-international-mission-to-martian-moons/

This week, NASA has chosen 10 scientists from across the United States to take a mission to two Martian moons. (Martian means an inhabitant of the planet Mars).



These 10 scientists will join the Science Working Team of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Martian Moon Exploration mission to expand our knowledge of Mars’ moons. This mission is scheduled to launch in 2024 and will visit the two Martian moons named Phobos and Deimos. The scientists plan to research things like the terrain of the moons, their dust, changes in data from past missions, gravity fields, minerals, gases, and more.

The astronauts plan to collect samples of Phobos and Deimos and those are planned to be delivered to Earth in 2029. There has not been any Mars missions in 2023 thus far and the Martian Moon Mission will be the first trip to these moons since 2020.

Looking at the order of our planets, Mars is the next one in line after planet Earth. Despite the fact that it is next to Earth, it still will take the astronauts seven months to make it to Mars! According to NASA, Mars is about 300,000,000 miles away from Earth. During the trip, astronauts have the ability to change the direction of the space ship and to make sure they are traveling at an adequate speed to safely land on Mars.  

Although there have already been missions to Mars, I am still blown away by the fact that our technology is so advanced that people are able to travel into our galaxy, land on a whole other planet, stay long enough to collect artifacts and do research, and make it back alive.

Remember to be on the lookout for the announcement of the Martian Moon Mission next year - it will be a fascinating one!

Comments

  1. Tyler JonesApril 26, 2023 at 10:19 AM

    This is astonishing. I hear all the Space-X talk about sending people to Mars, but to see it coming from NASA is actually shocking. I was not aware that they had any interest or the funding to do so. Could we be in a new "Space Race" between the private sector and the government?

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