It ’s a deplorable existence when you ’re a rover on Mars . Your twinstopped talking five year ago but you keep on your missionary work of beaming information about Mars back to your home planet , hop a dominance center will send Christian Bible foryour eventual return one day .
Once a class on August 6 , the anniversary of its arriver on Mars , Curiositysings Happy Birthday to itself .
Curiosity’sSample Analysis on Mars(SAM ) instrument wasprogrammed by NASA scientiststo vibrate at frequencies that match the simple notes of the well - known birthday song .
usually , this oscillation is used to filter samples of Mars shite . But for a abbreviated few moment , Curiosity can bask the sound of itself playing Happy Birthday . Then it ’s back to oeuvre !
Launched in 2012 , Curiosity has discovered much about Mars in its three years on the Red Planet . Here are its top six discoveries :
Top Six Science Discoveries from NASA ’s Curiosity Rover . NASA .
require to live the lifetime of a roamer but ca n’t afford the$2.5 billionprice tag end ? NASA has produce two new on-line tool for us Earth - dwellers to enjoy Curiosity ’s unique vista of Mars .
Experience Curiosityis a practical reality world especially created by NASA for the rover ’s third birthday . Combining dozens of photographs take by the rover’sMars Hand Lens Imager(MAHLI ) , these high-pitched - resolution images of lifespan on Mars provide an immersive risky venture for all .
" This putz has open my eyes as to how we should first approach roaming on another globe , and now the populace can join in on the fun , " said Jim Green , music director of NASA ’s Planetary Science Division in Washington , in astatement . " Our robotic scientific explorers are paving the way , make neat progress on the journey to Mars . Together , humans and golem will pioneer Mars and the solar system . "
NASA also createdMars Trek , a succession of synergistic maps , captured by orbit spacecraft . Using analysis tools , intrepid Mars explorers ( on Earth ) can cut across the jolting terrain and learn more about the Red Planet . The topography of Mars can also be 3D printed , straight from the site .
Researchers from NASA are already using Mars Trek to find possible landing site for the Mars 2020 roamer .
“ At three age old , Curiosity already has had a rich and entrancing biography , ” say Jim Erickson , project manager for the mission at JPL , in astatement . “ This novel program allow the public experience some of the rover ’s adventures first - hand . ”
Happy Birthday from Earth , Curiosity !
[ H / T : NASA ]
