NASA is once again in headlines, this time for sending a robotic instrument named SuperCam to Mars aboard the Mars 2020 rover. SuperCam’s primary functions include studying rocks, searching for evidence of ancient life, and analyzing mineralogy and chemistry from a distance of about 7 meters away.
SuperCam: A Superior Tool for Space Exploration
The SuperCam boasts a laser uniquely capable of remotely clearing surface dust to offer its instruments an unobstructed view of the targets. It can even analyze rock targets that are smaller than a pencil point. The primary aim of the robot is to identify changes in rocks and chemicals that might have been caused by the presence of water on Mars.
Searching for Signs of Past Life on Mars
The Mars 2020 rover will study different types of rocks and ‘soil’ to find ones that could indicate past microbial life on Mars – if there was any. The goal is to understand the planet’s potential to support life in the past and the possibility of preserving signs of such life.
Assessing Martian Dust and Atmosphere
Another significant role that SuperCam will play is determining the elements present in Martian dust, which could potentially be harmful to humans. NASA believes this information is crucial in planning future manned missions to Mars. SuperCam will also measure the Martian atmosphere with the objective of understanding how atmospheric molecules, water ice, and dust absorb or reflect solar radiation. This data will greatly improve our ability to predict Martian weather conditions.
Mars 2020 Rover: The Launch
The Mars 2020 Rover, carrying the SuperCam, is set to be launched by NASA between July and August 2020. The rover has been purposefully designed to improve our understanding of Martian geology and hunt for signs of ancient life.
The Mission
Apart from studying the red planet, the rover has a mission to collect and store a set of rock and soil samples that could potentially be returned to Earth in future missions. This will provide scientists with tangible evidence to study and learn more about Mars’ past and present environment.
Testing Future Exploration Technologies
The Mars 2020 rover will also serve as a platform to test new technology that will be beneficial for future robotic and human explorations of Mars. The advancements made during this mission will pave the way for the next stage of exploration – getting these collected samples back to Earth for detailed analysis.
NASA’s innovative approach, using robots like SuperCam, indicates a significant step towards interplanetary exploration, armed with the best tools and technology to understand our neighboring planets. As we wait for the launch of the Mars 2020 rover, the world looks forward to the wealth of knowledge it promises to bring back from the red planet.
