Exploring Mars

Exploring Mars

Author: Scott Hubbard

Publisher: University of Arizona Press

Published: 2011

Total Pages: 224

ISBN-13: 0816528969

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The Red Planet has been a subject of fascination for humanity for thousands of years, becoming part of our folklore and popular culture. The most Earthlike of the planets in our solar system, Mars may have harbored some form of life in the past and may still possess an ecosystem in some underground refuge. The mysteries of this fourth planet from our Sun make it of central importance to NASA and its science goals for the twenty-first century.ÊÊ In the wake of the very public failures of the Mars Polar Lander and the Mars Climate Orbiter in 1999, NASA embarked on a complete reassessment of the Mars Program. Scott Hubbard was asked to lead this restructuring in 2000, becoming known as the "Mars Czar." His team's efforts resulted in a very successful decade-long series of missions--each building on the accomplishments of those before it--that adhered to the science adage "follow the water" when debating how to proceed. Hubbard's work created the Mars Odyssey mission, the twin rovers Spirit and Opportunity, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, the Phoenix mission, and most recently the planned launch of the Mars Science Laboratory.Ê Now for the first time Scott Hubbard tells the complete story of how he fashioned this program, describing both the technical and political forces involved and bringing to life the national and international cast of characters engaged in this monumental endeavor.Ê Blending the exciting stories of the missions with the thrills of scientific discovery, Exploring Mars will intrigue anyone interested in the science, the engineering, or the policy of investigating other worlds. Ê


NASA's Journey to Mars: Pioneering Next Steps in Space Exploration

NASA's Journey to Mars: Pioneering Next Steps in Space Exploration

Author: National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Publisher: Government Printing Office

Published: 2016-02-05

Total Pages: 36

ISBN-13:

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This document communicates NASA’s strategy and progress to learn about the Red Planet, to inform us more about our Earth’s past and future, and may help answer whether life exists beyond our home planet. Together with NASA’s partners in academia and commercial enterprises, NASA’s vision is to pioneer Mars and answer some of humanity’s fundamental questions: • Was Mars home to microbial life? Is it today? • Could it be a safe home for humans one day? • What can it teach us about life elsewhere in the cosmos or how life began on Earth? • What can it teach us about Earth’s past, present, and future?


Planetary Landers and Entry Probes

Planetary Landers and Entry Probes

Author: Andrew Ball

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2007-05-10

Total Pages: 313

ISBN-13: 1139461613

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This is a concise, broad overview of the engineering, science and history of planetary landers and atmospheric entry probes designed to explore the atmospheres and surfaces of other planets. This will form an important reference for professionals, researchers and graduate students in planetary science, aerospace engineering and space mission development.


The Atmosphere and Climate of Mars

The Atmosphere and Climate of Mars

Author: Robert M. Haberle

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2017-06-29

Total Pages: 613

ISBN-13: 1107016185

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This volume reviews all aspects of Mars atmospheric science from the surface to space, and from now and into the past.


The Sun, the Earth, and Near-earth Space

The Sun, the Earth, and Near-earth Space

Author: John A. Eddy

Publisher: Government Printing Office

Published: 2009

Total Pages: 316

ISBN-13: 9780160838088

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" ... Concise explanations and descriptions - easily read and readily understood - of what we know of the chain of events and processes that connect the Sun to the Earth, with special emphasis on space weather and Sun-Climate."--Dear Reader.


Working on Mars

Working on Mars

Author: William J. Clancey

Publisher: MIT Press

Published: 2012

Total Pages: 345

ISBN-13: 026201775X

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Beginning in 2004, a team of geologists and other planetary scientists did field science in a dark room in Pasadena, exploring Mars from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) by means of the remotely operated Mars Exploration Rovers (MER). Clustered around monitors, living on Mars time, painstakingly plotting each movement of the rovers and their tools, sensors, and cameras, these scientists reported that they felt as if they were on Mars themselves, doing field science. The MER created a virtual experience of being on Mars. This book examines how the MER has changed the nature of planetary field science. NASA cast the rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, as "robotic geologists," and ascribed machine initiative to remotely controlled actions. Clancey argues that the actual explorers were not the rovers but the scientists, who imaginatively projected themselves into the body of the machine to conduct the first overland expedition of another planet. The author investigates how the design of the rover mission enables field science on Mars, explaining how the scientists and rover engineers manipulate the vehicle and why the programmable tools and analytic instruments work so well for them.


Introduction to Embedded Systems, Second Edition

Introduction to Embedded Systems, Second Edition

Author: Edward Ashford Lee

Publisher: MIT Press

Published: 2017-01-06

Total Pages: 562

ISBN-13: 0262340526

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An introduction to the engineering principles of embedded systems, with a focus on modeling, design, and analysis of cyber-physical systems. The most visible use of computers and software is processing information for human consumption. The vast majority of computers in use, however, are much less visible. They run the engine, brakes, seatbelts, airbag, and audio system in your car. They digitally encode your voice and construct a radio signal to send it from your cell phone to a base station. They command robots on a factory floor, power generation in a power plant, processes in a chemical plant, and traffic lights in a city. These less visible computers are called embedded systems, and the software they run is called embedded software. The principal challenges in designing and analyzing embedded systems stem from their interaction with physical processes. This book takes a cyber-physical approach to embedded systems, introducing the engineering concepts underlying embedded systems as a technology and as a subject of study. The focus is on modeling, design, and analysis of cyber-physical systems, which integrate computation, networking, and physical processes. The second edition offers two new chapters, several new exercises, and other improvements. The book can be used as a textbook at the advanced undergraduate or introductory graduate level and as a professional reference for practicing engineers and computer scientists. Readers should have some familiarity with machine structures, computer programming, basic discrete mathematics and algorithms, and signals and systems.


Faster, Better, Cheaper

Faster, Better, Cheaper

Author: Howard E. McCurdy

Publisher: JHU Press

Published: 2001-12-26

Total Pages: 202

ISBN-13: 9780801867200

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McCurdy examines NASA's recent efforts to save money while improving mission frequency and performance.".


The Martian Surface

The Martian Surface

Author: Jim Bell

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2008-06-05

Total Pages: 652

ISBN-13: 9780521866989

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Phenomenal new observations from Earth-based telescopes and Mars-based orbiters, landers, and rovers have dramatically advanced our understanding of the past environments on Mars. These include the first global-scale infrared and reflectance spectroscopic maps of the surface, leading to the discovery of key minerals indicative of specific past climate conditions; the discovery of large reservoirs of subsurface water ice; and the detailed in situ roving investigations of three new landing sites. This an important, new overview of the compositional and mineralogic properties of Mars since the last major study published in 1992. An exciting resource for all researchers and students in planetary science, astronomy, space exploration, planetary geology, and planetary geochemistry where specialized terms are explained to be easily understood by all who are just entering the field.