![[지금은 과학] Exploration of mature Mars… There is something](http://img.lb.inews24.com/facebookexternalhit/face/626x352/image_gisa/202102/1614060859468_1_151719.jpg "[지금은 과학] Exploration of mature Mars… There is something")
[아이뉴스24 정종오 기자] February 2021 was recorded as the’Red Planet (Mars) Exploration Moon’. The United Arab Emirates (UAE), China, and the United States have succeeded in landing trackers and landers one after another. The solar system’s interest in Earth’s neighboring planet Mars is higher than ever.
The’Red Planet’ Mars exploration is ripening. In early February this year, UAE and Chinese orbital probes landed on Mars. Then, the US lander’Percivirence’ endured the extreme situation of 7 minutes and landed safely on Mars.
All three countries have successfully settled or landed the Mars orbiter and lander during the month of February, bringing more attention to the global community on Mars than ever before. In this way, even the rosy future is being talked about whether the imagination of Mars becoming a’second Earth’ is becoming a reality.
In 2024, Japan will try to explore Mars. It’s a different expedition. Japan launched a related probe in 2024, taking samples from Mars’ moon Phobos and bringing them to Earth. Then, while flying close to Deimos, another Martian moon, he will observe the weather on Mars.
◆’Why’ Mars, can’t be’Second Earth’
Why do humans focus on Mars? First of all, it is close to Earth. Second, it is estimated that the environment was similar to the Earth in the past. Because of this, it is believed that there will be traces of life. The American lander Percivirence focuses on finding traces of this creature. You can even dig the ground with a drill. A small drone helps to explore while flying.
Third, among the planets of the solar system, it has the largest number of orbiters and landers sent from Earth. Fourth, there is also confidence in knowing some degree of Mars through research.
For these reasons, humans continue to send rovers to Mars. However, the basic idea of space scientists is that Mars cannot become a’second Earth’. Mars is already mostly desertified. Extreme dust storms sweep periodically. The atmosphere is also weaker than the Earth. There is little oxygen. Most of the films on the theme of Mars depict such a barren situation.
On the other hand, some suggest that it is better to use it for the planet now than to put astronomical money in a place of no use. In fact, the amount invested in the US Mars lander’Perciviarance’ amounted to about 3 trillion won. Some point out that it is much more effective if this amount is invested in climate change as well as prevention of natural disasters that are a problem on the planet.
Meanwhile, NASA announced on the 20th that Percivirence had transmitted the first audio recordings of Martian winds to Earth. Sounds recorded in a specific area of Mars (Jezero Crater) were heard for a few seconds by the wind blowing from Mars. This was followed by the mechanical sound of Percivience running on the surface.
◆2024 launch of Japanese’MMX’ probe
Mars expeditions are now heading to Japan. In 2024, a new milestone in the exploration of Mars in Japan may be made. It is the so-called MMX (Martian Moons Exploration). It is a project promoted by the Japan Aerospace Research and Development Organization (JAXA). NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and France are working together.
The MMX is tasked with taking samples from Phobos, Mars’ largest moon, and bringing them to Earth. While flying close to another Martian moon, Deimos, he plans to observe the weather on Mars in detail.
If this plan is successful, Japan will reach the milestone of bringing the first sample to Earth from the Martian moon Phobos.
Focus on NASA’Spinoff’
NASA always keeps in mind the criticism of space development that’invest in useless places’. This is because without overcoming this, they face great difficulties in securing budgets and promoting long-term projects.
NASA regularly publishes reports on’spin-off’. This is to show that the various technologies developed for space exploration have been transformed into actual industrial sites and cutting-edge technologies and applied to reality.
Hyung-Jun Ahn, Ph.D. of Science and Technology Policy Research Institute (STEPI) said, “NASA responded to the criticism that space development is’wasting public taxes’ by releasing a’spin-off report’ related to space exploration, and the technology developed through space exploration It will tell you if it is practically applied,” he explained. “Through this, we can eliminate public suspicion and create long-term space exploration programs.”
Dr. Moon Hong-gyu of the Korea Astronomical Research Institute said, “In this Mars exploration, China has announced that it will perform three things at the same time, such as an orbiter, a lander, and a rover. This is the first attempt in the world.” ”Explained. He emphasized how important it is to get the title of’first’ in space exploration.
Sejong = Reporter Jeong Jong-oh [email protected]