Curiosity on Mars. Who / what will be next?

There is no limit to knowledge, in our world this limit is limited either by the capabilities of the tools and methods used to acquire knowledge, or by the finances needed to create those very tools. So far, NASA is doing well with tools and finances (everything is relative, of course, funding is constantly cut). And so NASA scientists can plan the continuation of the study of Mars, carrying out the project of creating a new generation apparatus. He was even given the name: InSight.

The new device will differ significantly from Curiosity, but this difference is not in a more advanced design or number of scientific tools introduced by developers into the system. No, it will be a relatively simple lander, the purpose of which is to study, as far as possible, the geological structure of Mars. For example, try to obtain data on the presence or absence of lithospheric plates (according to some information, Mars has them, according to others - it does not).
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As in the case of similar projects, equipment for InSight will be provided by the international scientific community, and not just by American organizations. So, the French will provide a tool that allows you to capture even the most imperceptible marshmaks. Based on these data, you can get very interesting conclusions. The Germans will provide a drilling tool that allows you to find out what the structure of the surface rocks of Mars is at a depth of 10 meters. The laboratory of jet engines (USA) will present a manipulator and some cameras.

It is worth noting that the cost of this project is much lower than the cost of the project of creating and delivering Curiosity to Mars. The total amount allocated for the implementation of the project InSight is only 425 million (everything is relative of course, but by the standards of the aerospace industry, this amount is small).

InSight will be created on the basis of its ancestor, Phoenix, this device was widely heard in 2008. The differences will not be very large, and InSight will also be static, it will not move on the surface of the planet. So no more "heavenly cranes", no airbags. Everything is simple and practical. Flight InSight to Mars will take place no earlier than March 2016. If it takes place, then in September. The design period of operation of the device is two years.



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