- #THE MARTIAN SPACECONTROL GENERATOR#
- #THE MARTIAN SPACECONTROL SOFTWARE#
- #THE MARTIAN SPACECONTROL SERIES#
Science Minister Chris Skidmore said: "This testing is an inspiring scientific achievement and essential to prepare the scientists and engineers involved for not only this mission to the Red Planet but for future endeavours. The Atacama desert was chosen because it is the closest we can get to a Martian-like environment.
#THE MARTIAN SPACECONTROL SOFTWARE#
The trials team used a new model called ‘Charlie’ to test hardware, software and to practice science operations for the future European Space Agency (ESA) ExoMars rover, which will look for life on Mars in 2021. When on the surface of Mars, the rover will need to be controlled when it is up to 250 million miles from Earth.
#THE MARTIAN SPACECONTROL SERIES#
Technical dataĮngines: ion drive particle accelerators and chemical rockets.A space control centre in the UK has been used to test-drive a prototype Mars rover thousands of miles away in Chiles Atacama desert.Ĭourtesy UK Space Agency / ExoFit PanCam teamĮxperts at the European Space Agency’s centre in Oxfordshire completed a series of tests across nearly 6,900 miles (11,000 km) in order to see how the Mars rover reacts to commands across large distances. At the very back is an ion particle accelerator, chemical rocket propellant tanks, a centrally mounted ion engine exhaust nozzle, three rear-mounted rocket engines used for manoeuvring and takeoff, and a chemical rocket thrust nozzle. Behind the propellant tanks are retro/pitch and yaw thruster nozzles, rocket fuel, and oxidant tanks.
On the exterior are cosmic ray collections scoops.
#THE MARTIAN SPACECONTROL GENERATOR#
Next to the energy generator are propellant tanks which contain negative/positive storage cells. The gas turbine drives the electro-static generator, gravity, power, and life-support systems.
Further down is a nuclear fusion reactor, an armoured cahelium/graphite-bonded reactor housing, an electro-static energy generator, and a gas turbine. Above the engineering station are water recycling systems. Behind is an engineering station, accessed via a central corridor airlock. Behind these are crew quarters, a life support and atmosphere recycling bay, an airlocked access tube to all decks, and starboard side recreations rooms. Inside the main body next to the airlock is an artificial gravity generator, port side laboratories, a personal hygiene station, a waste recycling plant, and toilets. An airlock within a telescopic access tube links the command module to the main body. In the underside of the command module are three VTOL legs upon reaching Mars, the nosecone detaches from the main body and lands on the planet's surface. Behind the air tanks are command module retro/takeoff rockets and rocket propellant tanks. Above the air tanks and hygiene station are water tanks. Compressed air tanks are located next to the hygiene station. Next to the control room is a sleeping accommodation for pilots and a personal hygiene station, used on the Martian surface. The control room has gimballed seating for the pilot and co-pilot, these adjust 90° for Martian surface operations and takeoff. Behind is the command module, which incorporates environmental sensors and life support systems. The heat-resistant nosecone houses avionics, sensors, accelerometers, a communications array, and a descent parachute nacelle. Rosenthal Industries was bankrupted due to the cost of repairs to the bridge and loss of the MSP, thus relinquished the project to reach Mars. This in turn led to the MSP plunging into the river and never reaching Mars. Finishing its journey by road, the MSP went over the Allington Suspension Bridge, which collapsed. The MSP was then transferred onto its carrier via a similar facility to the one at Cape Kennedy. Shipped over to Britain, it reached Avonmouth in just over a week. The MSP was transferred onto a specially-adapted twin-hulled tanker via a specially-constructed loading facility situated at Cape Kennedy. The MSP incorporates a fully automated flight control system, which is pre-programmed en route to its launch pad. Built by Rosenthal Industries Inc., Wingrove designed the MSP as an inexpensive means of carrying out orbiting survey missions on Mars. The Martian Space Probe, also known as the MSP ( Martian Space Probe), is a mini-rocket.