Upcoming robotic missions to Mars, currently in development, will enable future exploration of the red planet.
How were the rocky inner planets of the solar system formed? InSight–NASA’s upcoming mission to probe underneath Mars’ surface–will find out. Bringing us new understandings about this neighboring planet along with the other inner planets, this new lander will launch in 2018.
InSight lander. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Lockheed Martin
By studying deep below the surface, InSight will examine the core of the planet, its mantle and its crust. These are the building blocks of the planet. The mission will also investigate how much heat comes from the interior of Mars.
Two years later, NASA will launch its Mars 2020 rover. Part of the agency’s Mars Exploration Program, the rover will investigate the possibility of ancient life on Mars, characterize the planet’s climate and geology, and prepare for human exploration.
Mars 2020 rover sketch. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Among searching for signs of ancient habitability and past microbial life, the Mars 2020 rover will be demonstrating technologies aimed at helping future human exploration mission challenges. Characterizing weather, improving techniques for landing on Mars, finding other resources on the planet and testing a method for oxygen production will all be part of the 2020 mission.
NASA is also taking part in a different mission that will launch in 2020. It’s a mission by the European Space Agency – the ExoMars rover. How is NASA contributing to this mission which will look for signs of life? NASA is supplying essential components for the instrument that will study organic molecules on Mars.
Learn more about Mars exploration at NASA.gov.