Over 8, 900 million km long journey, the United States “curiosity” Mars probe 32 in the U.S. Eastern time 86 at 1:00 pm (13:32 GMT) The successful landing of the Mars surface and return photos. The next two years, cost $ 2.5 billion, by far the most advanced Mars probe will explore the red planet has a suitable environment of life.

the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, confirmed that “curiosity” rovers landing on Mars Gaelic crater that day. This is the seventh of the American spacecraft landing on Mars.

In yesterday’s “journey” the most thrilling process was undoubtedly from the Martian atmosphere to landing. 7 minutes, the “curiosity” must be the speed from 21,200 kilometers per hour to zero. High risk because of the difficulty, the United States Space Agency, it was known as a “terrorist seven minutes.

is wrapped in a balloon “crushed” in the surface of Mars, landing on the smaller, lighter detector, but the big man weighing nearly one ton of “curiosity” No. inappropriate. “Curiosity” This the landing is known to be very bold.

In accordance with the procedures, 11 km away from the surface of Mars, “curious” start a parachute drop aid device called a “sky crane”; about 1.6 km away from the surface of Mars, detachment from the shell. Close to the surface of Mars, “Sky Crane start recoil engine, hover over a height of about 20 meters, and then stretched out a few cables, the” curiosity “hang on Mars, then cut the rope,” sky crane “Then at a distance of “curiosity” was a certain safe distance within the landing.

■ this week, will return color images

“Curiosity” Lander around the Mars Odyssey spacecraft relay to Earth returned signal, the fastest 14 minutes in order to pass to the Space Agency, the ground control center. Before landing, according to the traditional, share peanut hoping. When the control center announced that “curiosity” number after the successful landing, staff members have stood up clapping, hugging to celebrate.

Landing after a few minutes, “curiosity” made a few low-resolution black and white photographs, one showing the rover wheels contact the surface of Mars, the other showing the projection of the rover on the Martian surface. Alan Chen, “curious” landing team leader, exclaimed: “This is unbelievable!”

image by the Mars Rover at the bottom of a fish-eye wide-angle camera. According to plan, initially sent back images are low resolution. Expected this week, after the rising of the “curious” mast mast installed on high-resolution camera equipment will be returned higher resolution color images.

■ “curious” facing challenges

“Curiosity” close to the size of a car, about 2.8 meters long and weighing about 900 kg nuclear batteries as a power, is a human landing on other planets so far the most sophisticated mobile science laboratory.

Media to carry 10 kinds of “Scientific Weapon” and “curious” is equivalent to a standard field geologist, has enough capacity to make any previous Mars lander dwarfs. Powered by nuclear fuel plutonium “curiosity” in the continuous driving capability and mobility of the surface of Mars are stronger. In the next two years, it is to explore Mars is to have a suitable environment for life to exist, to find the clues of planetary change.

“Curiosity” sophisticated design, but scientists believe that a number of factors will limit its service time, such as airborne rover mechanical systems, the battery device, as well as its nuclear power radioactive thermoelectric generator system.

■ achieve a manned landing on Mars an important part of

By the Government to cut the budget impact, NASA canceled a large amount of the space shuttle program, the exploration of Mars as one of the major projects. According to the Obama administration announced a new space strategy, the United States would plan to the 2030 mid-transporting astronauts to Mars orbit. Therefore, the total investment of $ 2.5 billion of “curiosity” for Project No. has been given great significance.

“Curiosity” and the number after the successful landing, the U.S. President Barack Obama immediately sent congratulations. He said, “curiosity” is so far the most complex spacecraft landing other planets, marking an unprecedented technical feat “, and” a very long time to come will serve as a national pride.

United States Aeronautics and Space Administration, Bolden said, “curiosity” No. Mars is an important part of the U.S. manned landing on Mars plan. “Curiosity” project engineer 斯特茨内尔 this early interview with the media when he said, “If we are willing, if it enough, I would like to say, we may be 10 to get there. To send humans not impossible to do so. it’s just very difficult and costly if the world has enough resources and willingness, we can do. “

Secret

“Curiosity” and the number four key words

■ unprecedented landing

Russia, the United States, Europe and countries such as Mars exploration missions, more than half failed. Some of them because the rocket launch fails, while the other is because during their flight or upon arrival of the Mars system error. Detector in the surface of Mars landing success rate is lower, only 30%.

the surface of Mars dust storms, sudden strong winds or other problems can make the landing failed. In particular, the Martian atmosphere is thin, not enough air resistance to reduce speed for landing detector.

Number for “curiosity”, the scientists chose to brake landing “sky crane”. Suspension landing is not a new idea, this is the first to apply the concept in aircraft. The sky crane is actually a soft landing buffer system, using the recoil rocket instant before landing further slow the rate of decline of hanging below the Mars Science Laboratory, and then detach.

■ carefully selected landing sites

How to ensure that the rover landed safely is an important consideration for landing site selection. In the first Mars Exploration Program, scientists in the choice of landing site basic luck, but with the master of information increased, the choice of location has become more accurate.

Smith Institute of Earth Planetary Research Center, Professor Grant said that the landing surface must be covered by smaller stones, stones too large to break the rover too small will be aroused a lot of dust. Second, the landing point on the steep slopes, let rover out of balance. In addition, the ground is also sturdy enough to support from the rover, or else will fall into the trap.

At first, the experts made dozens of alternative landing sites. 7, Gail crater “win.” Gail crater is located south of the equator of Mars, craters 154 km in diameter, pit Sharp mountain over 4800 meters high. “Curiosity” will be able to climb along the gentle slope, along the Martian rocks and soil. Gaelic crater ancient river sediments, as well as mineral-rich fault topography, can learn about past Martian environment by studying the geological information.

■ than ever, superior performance

“Curious” the weight of numbers is more than five times the 2004 landing on Mars “Opportunity” and “Spirit” rover, length about them twice, the first nuclear battery as a power detector.

Although solar power can also work on Mars, but will encounter some problems. Sometimes Mars dust will block 90% of the sunlight, dust will cover the panels. “Curiosity” equipped with a number of high-energy instruments, rely on solar power can not meet the electricity needs of the rover, used nuclear fuel plutonium to provide power to ensure their greater endurance.

“Curiosity” Use of radioisotope thermal generators to provide electricity. The principle is that the thermocouple device radioisotope plutonium-238 decay heat is directly converted to direct current to provide the rover driving and the equipment. Release of plutonium-238 alpha rays, it is easy to be blocked, this substance can not be used for nuclear bombs.

Road since 2003, the United States for all the plutonium in space probe -238 all purchases from Russia, purchased a total of about 16.5 kg. 2009 U.S. Department of Energy called for the re-start the manufacture of plutonium-238. But immediately began production, the five-time production of plutonium-238 only enough for a space probe.

■ “more than a stone carving of the exploration task

Mars has a special appeal to human. Many people believe that the neighbors of this Earth exploration operations will be able to help answer questions about Earth’s history, many basic issues.

United States Aeronautics and Space Administration “curiosity” project flight director Torsten Zorn accept the Xinhua News Agency reporters interview, said the scientists hope that by “curious” to know more about the geological history of Mars, hoping to find the surface of Mars from The warm and humid into the dry the cause and manner, and this process of change with time, these will become important reference to judge whether Mars suitable for human life.

Explore Mars in the past or whether there is suitable for the environment of the existence of life is a major goal of the “curious”. Found that organic molecules can prove the existence of ancient Mars had life. Billions before the surface of Mars may be the great oceans and thick atmosphere. Although liquids and gases would have gone a trace, but if ancient Mars had any organism, they will leave marks, that is, the carbon-based molecules.

“Curious” to ascertain the Martian surface that may exist in nature and content of organic matter to determine the content of the Martian surface carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and other elements of life, investigate the Martian surface and near surface the chemical, isotopic and mineral composition.

Scientists said that if life exists on Mars, the human may be the future generations of life on Mars. Mars and Earth are in close proximity to two on the planet life exists, one may be the seed of life to another one, this theory is called “the students said”.