Mars is being explored by the space vehicle Curiosity rover. It has the size of a car and is equipped with the most advanced technology for space exploration. The vehicle is powered by a radioisotope power system that will provide energy for about 14 years. Curiosity has six wheels and a sophisticated suspension system so as to drive across the Martian landscape. It is equipped with state of the art computers, navigation and telecommunication systems, high resolution cameras, an infrared laser, a x-ray spectrometer, a radiation detector, a microscope and a multiple joint robotic arm which is able to manipulate rock samples. In addition, Curiosity has a built-in laboratory where samples can be analyzed (“NASA - Mars Science Laboratory, the Next Mars Rover”). This vehicle represents the accomplishments of modern technology and scientific breakthroughs. Curiosity was launched in
November, 2011, and it landed in a Martian crater almost nine months later. Several images, videos and data from the surface of Mars have been sent by Curiosity. This complex and expensive vehicle has gathered useful information about Mars' atmosphere, geology and chemical composition. Scientists are looking for evidence of water traces that can be related to early stages of life. It is a step further into space exploration which contributes to our understanding of the solar system. NASA has plans to launch another rover in 2020, prior to a manned mission to the red planet. It is a visionary initiative as future generations of humans may need to migrate to other planets in the solar system or beyond. Space is a hostile place and we know so little about it. Therefore, it is important to understand what Mars is made of, and if it has the minimum conditions to support life. The Curiosity exploration can also discover new resources or raw materials that may be scarce or inexistent on Earth. Knowledge about Mars can also open our eyes so as to realize how unique our home is. It may help understand climate change as a result of the green house gases like carbon dioxide. Future generations may greatly benefit from the outcome of this pioneering exploration.
Our planet is in constant evolution. Several millions of years ago, the continents as we know them today did not exist. Tectonic plates move and overlap which produces violent earthquakes. This interaction shapes the landscape, i.e. the Earth's surface. In addition, large bodies of water are displaced which generates tsunamis. Large scale volcanic eruptions expel lots of magma, ashes and harmful gases that compromise life. All this apocalyptic scenario would easily end with all forms of life on the planet, including human beings. These natural disasters happened before to some extent, so they have led to massive extinctions. Some ancient civilizations have also been damaged by geologic events. For instance, it is claimed that the Minoan civilization that settled in the island of Crete was severely devastated by a series of tsunamis, as a result of a volcanic eruption in the Mediterranean. Large asteroids and comets that may be on a collision path with Earth can be categorized as disastrous planetary events. Although it is a less likely scenario, it can lead to the demise of human civilization. Solar radiation can also affect life conditions on Earth. Harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun can affect life as a result of induced changes in the atmosphere's composition. Also, a very strong solar wind (particles coming from the sun) can affect telecommunication systems and our electronic gadgets. It may also cause the collapse of our modern civilization, and ultimately our extinction.
Work cited
“NASA - Mars Science Laboratory, the Next Mars Rover.” Web. 10 Mar. 2013.
