February 7, 2015
Vega and Venera Landers:
One of the most unexplored planets of our Solar System is Venus. Venus is the second planet from the Sun. Being so close to Earth, one might wonder why it is very unexplored. But, if you look at the conditions on Venus, you will see why it is so unexplored. Venus has a layer of clouds around it all year. Sunlight passes through these clouds before hitting the surface and bouncing back towards space. But, the reflected sunlight is trapped in the could, heating up the planet. On average, the temperature on Venus is 864 Degrees Fahrenheit! That's hot enough to melt some metals! The landers that landed on Venus were only there for a few hours before they died. The Venera Landers were the first landers to land on Venus. They landed on Venus in 1975. It discovered that Venus has clouds that were dozens of kilometers thick. Radio contact was lost with Venera 9 (The first of the Venera missions) 53 minutes after it landed. Then came the Vega Landers exactly 10 years later in 1985. These landers discovered what the surface of Venus was made of. Vega 1 (The first of the Vega missions) sent data back to Earth for 56 minutes before contact with the lander was lost. That is the history of Landers on Venus!
Vega and Venera Landers:
One of the most unexplored planets of our Solar System is Venus. Venus is the second planet from the Sun. Being so close to Earth, one might wonder why it is very unexplored. But, if you look at the conditions on Venus, you will see why it is so unexplored. Venus has a layer of clouds around it all year. Sunlight passes through these clouds before hitting the surface and bouncing back towards space. But, the reflected sunlight is trapped in the could, heating up the planet. On average, the temperature on Venus is 864 Degrees Fahrenheit! That's hot enough to melt some metals! The landers that landed on Venus were only there for a few hours before they died. The Venera Landers were the first landers to land on Venus. They landed on Venus in 1975. It discovered that Venus has clouds that were dozens of kilometers thick. Radio contact was lost with Venera 9 (The first of the Venera missions) 53 minutes after it landed. Then came the Vega Landers exactly 10 years later in 1985. These landers discovered what the surface of Venus was made of. Vega 1 (The first of the Vega missions) sent data back to Earth for 56 minutes before contact with the lander was lost. That is the history of Landers on Venus!
January 28, 2015
Voyager, Pioneer, and New Horizons:
Humans have always wondered what was out there in space. So we sent the Voyager probes, Pioneer probes, and New Horizons probe. The Voyager probes (Voyager 1 and 2). These probes visited the Gas Giants. Voyager 2 visited all of the outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune) while Voyager 1 visited all of them except Neptune. Voyager 1 became the first space probe to exit the Solar System in August of 2012. They have provided us with much information about the Outer Planets. An example is that Voyager 2 discovered Neptune's Great Dark Spot. Next we have the Pioneer probes. Not as well known as the Voyager probes, they were launched earlier than the Voyager probes. they studied the asteroid belt, solar wind, and cosmic rays. Next we have New Horizons. new Horizons will become the first probe to ever visit Pluto. After its flyby of Pluto, New Horizons will visit other Dwarf Planets.
Voyager, Pioneer, and New Horizons:
Humans have always wondered what was out there in space. So we sent the Voyager probes, Pioneer probes, and New Horizons probe. The Voyager probes (Voyager 1 and 2). These probes visited the Gas Giants. Voyager 2 visited all of the outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune) while Voyager 1 visited all of them except Neptune. Voyager 1 became the first space probe to exit the Solar System in August of 2012. They have provided us with much information about the Outer Planets. An example is that Voyager 2 discovered Neptune's Great Dark Spot. Next we have the Pioneer probes. Not as well known as the Voyager probes, they were launched earlier than the Voyager probes. they studied the asteroid belt, solar wind, and cosmic rays. Next we have New Horizons. new Horizons will become the first probe to ever visit Pluto. After its flyby of Pluto, New Horizons will visit other Dwarf Planets.
January 15, 2015
Mars Rovers:
Mars is one of the most well-explored places outside of Earth. Humans have sent so many probes and rovers to Mars that today we are focusing on rovers and the three most famous rovers: Spirit, Opportunity, and Curiosity. Spirit and Opportunity were rovers that were launched shortly after each other. Opportunity was launched on July 7, 2003 and Spirit was launched 3 days later on July 10, 2003. These rovers were only supposed to survive on Mars for around three months. Spirit lasted 8 years while Opportunity is still going! These rovers had a mission to search for rocks that hold clues to the past Mars, when water was there. They were also sent to study the Martian surface and geology. There had only been three successful missions to Mars before Spirit and Opportunity. Those missions were: the two Viking landers in 1976 and the Pathfinder rover in 1997. Spirit and Opportunity have provided scientists with much information about Mars. Opportunity is now searching for signs of Martian life. Recently, the rover Curiosity launched on November 26, 2011 and landed on Mars on August 6, 2012. On Mars, Curiosity will be finding evidence of water on Mars and paving the path for the first human trip to Mars.
Mars Rovers:
Mars is one of the most well-explored places outside of Earth. Humans have sent so many probes and rovers to Mars that today we are focusing on rovers and the three most famous rovers: Spirit, Opportunity, and Curiosity. Spirit and Opportunity were rovers that were launched shortly after each other. Opportunity was launched on July 7, 2003 and Spirit was launched 3 days later on July 10, 2003. These rovers were only supposed to survive on Mars for around three months. Spirit lasted 8 years while Opportunity is still going! These rovers had a mission to search for rocks that hold clues to the past Mars, when water was there. They were also sent to study the Martian surface and geology. There had only been three successful missions to Mars before Spirit and Opportunity. Those missions were: the two Viking landers in 1976 and the Pathfinder rover in 1997. Spirit and Opportunity have provided scientists with much information about Mars. Opportunity is now searching for signs of Martian life. Recently, the rover Curiosity launched on November 26, 2011 and landed on Mars on August 6, 2012. On Mars, Curiosity will be finding evidence of water on Mars and paving the path for the first human trip to Mars.