Site News

MarsDrive takes on Gravity Biosatellite project

FrankS — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 23:13:00 GMT

MarsDrive has taken on the Mars Gravity Biosatellite project.

The Mars Gravity Biosatellite program is a ground-breaking undertaking to study the effects of Martian gravity on mammals. We are taking the first step towards human missions to Mars - and beyond. Data from this mission will make a significant contribution to our understanding of fundamental space biology and greatly advance human space exploration. To find out how students are advancing human space exploration, please check out the rest of our website!

Martian methane mystery deepens

MarsDriveAdmin — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 22:20:31 GMT

New findings suggest that methane is produced and destroyed on Mars at a far greater rate than it is on earth.

This could be a result of active volcanoes, from a process called serpentinisation or even from known biological processes.

An article can be viewed at the BBC science site at BBC article

Mars Workbench

FrankS — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 22:30:00 GMT

you want to be part of some real space exploration in the future Marsdrive has a project just for you- Mars Workbench. Imagine attending a large technology or aviation event. In one pavilion is a life-size mock-up of the Mars Sample Return vehicle, transparent, with blue foam blocks representing the ten components to be designed and built in the upcoming competition.

Brochures explain the competition with details on each challenge and a link to a web site with the requirements specifications. A summer of such exhibits ends with the team registration deadline. A science documentary or television series crew follows the development of a new core MSR prototype vehicle with power, computer control, and other slots for the competition entries. Meanwhile, worldwide, teams consisting of small aerospace companies, universities, garage mechanics, hobbyists, and experimental aircraft builders quietly document their progress in building functional solar array deployment systems, earth entry capsules, robotic software, and other components.

The following Spring, competitors and components arrive at a hangar containing the core prototype vehicle and a television crew. Each entry is extensively tested and a winner is chosen based on performance, mass, power, reliability, and other criteria. With fanfare, each team is awarded a trophy and the entry is placed in the core prototype. That Summer, the MSR prototype with the winning components repeats and expands the exhibit tour from the previous year, this time with working components being demonstrated and supported by a TV series. Interest in Mars exploration is promoted, along with the engineering skills of the communities who worked on the project. Next to the working MSR prototype is another clear plastic exhibit - perhaps a suit, rover, or crew module. The winners may also be on hand to explain their systems and sign autographs, inspiring the competitors for next year.

Years later, the competitors reunite at the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum Milestones of Flight Hall. They are there along with NASA and aerospace contractor engineers for the dedication of the exhibit of the first Mars Sample Return capsule. Next to that capsule is a mars rock that can be touched by the public, and the prototype that paved the way for its return.

Have Your Say With NASA

FrankS — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:36:00 GMT

The future of human space programs is now being decided at NASA and this is your chance to have your say. At MarsDrive we endorse a robust program that approaches 2 main areas- stimulation of the private space sector and establishing a human presence on Mars (once it is proven technologically and medically feasible with ongoing R&D). This may include a return to the Moon first, but we are open to other alternatives if they are in line with NASA directives. Speak up, and let NASA know what direction you think is best-

The space agency posts a Website seeking public comments, questions and suggestions about the future of U.S. manned space flights to complement President Obama's U.S. Human Space Flight review ordered in May.

With a special panel reviewing the future of NASA's manned space flight program, the space agency has established a Website for public input into the review ordered by President Obama May 5. NASA said the site will facilitate comments, questions and suggestions from the public during the 90-day review.

NASA's Review of U.S. Human Space Flight Plans is operating under Obama's direction to "conduct an independent review of ongoing U.S. human space flight plans and programs, as well as alternatives, to ensure the nation is pursuing the best trajectory for the future of human space flight-one that is safe, innovative, affordable, and sustainable."

Send Your Name To Mars

FrankS — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 22:39:00 GMT

You can send your name to Mars on The Mars Science Lab in 2011. Scheduled to launch in the fall of 2011, Mars Science Laboratory is part of NASA's Mars Exploration Program, a long-term effort of robotic exploration of the red planet. Mars Science Laboratory is a rover that will assess whether Mars ever was, or is still today, an environment able to support microbial life. In other words, its mission is to determine the planet's "habitability."

Mars Science Laboratory will study Mars' habitability

To find out, the rover will carry the biggest, most advanced suite of instruments for scientific studies ever sent to the martian surface. The rover will analyze dozens of samples scooped from the soil and drilled from rocks. The record of the planet's climate and geology is essentially "written in the rocks and soil" -- in their formation, structure, and chemical composition. The rover's onboard laboratory will study rocks, soils, and the local geologic setting in order to detect chemical building blocks of life (e.g., forms of carbon) on Mars and will assess what the martian environment was like in the past.

The Mars Expo

FrankS — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 22:41:00 GMT

From the projects section- The Mars Expo is in the earliest planning stages at the moment. The idea is to do a kind of "space fair" that will help to popularize space. This is tentatively planned for Austin in 2010.

The idea is to create an event rather like an indoor X Prize Cup without the airshow and the heavy hardware. We believe that XPC is a great public outreach effort and is worth emulating; and the same goes for Yuri's Night.

The point here is not only to inform and educate but also to entertain and to achieve popularity. Therefore we should not have just displays and speakers that emphasize education. We should also have food, drink, music, art, games, freebies, contests, and more. If you are interested in taking part in a fun and exciting event to promote space and Mars, please email us at info@marsdrive.com

Mars Science Lab Progress

FrankS — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 22:43:00 GMT

Report from Space.com-

The parachute for NASA's massive Mars Science Laboratory has been cleared for flight after it was put to the test in the world's largest wind tunnel. The giant parachute is the largest ever built to fly on an extraterrestrial flight and is designed to survive deployment at Mach 2.2 in the Martian atmosphere, where it will generate up to 65,000 pounds of drag force when the new Mars Science Laboratory eventually lands.

The parachute was tested in the wind tunnel at NASA Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif., which is big enough to house a Boeing 737. An image of the testing shows an engineer dwarfed by the massive parachute. The Mars Science Laboratory is a rover the size of a small sports utility vehicle. It is so large that the giant parachute will only slow its descent. A set braking rockets are expected to fire just before touchdown so the rover can be lowered to the Martian surface by a crane.

The new rover, which will eventually be re-named, is slated for launch in 2011 after its initial launch window in 2009 had to be pushed back due to delays. The Mars Science Laboratory's parachute, built by Pioneer Aerospace, South Windsor, Conn., has 80 suspension lines, measures more than 165 feet (50 meters) in length, and opens to a diameter of nearly 51 feet (16 meters).

Our Mission

FrankS — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 22:44:00 GMT

MarsDrive is an organization dedicated to research, development and promotion of all aspects of space exploration. MarsDrive is an incorporated 501c3 non profit in the U.S and has a membership across the globe.

Vision- A sustainable, long term human and robotic presence in space and on Mars.

Mission-

1. To excite, educate and drive forward public interest in and support for human space exploration.

2. To advocate for and support a return to the Moon via the NASA Constellation program and all other pragmatic human space flight programs that can hasten a safe and appropriate stepping stone to a Mars expedition.

3. Development of real world funding strategies for human space programs, both public and private.

We understand that one of the highest priorities in our expansion into space is to help drive forward a complex human space research program so that we can begin to develop solutions for sustaining a long term human presence in space because if humans cannot live in deep space permanently then many other goals like Mars settlement, Moon bases or asteroid mining will not be possible and at present these many unanswered questions prevent serious investment in space development of any kind.

Welcome

FrankS — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 22:45:00 GMT

Welcome to the new Marsdrive web portal. Feel free to explore the many new sections, try out our new social networking features, forums, live chat or study up on the latest developments from mars. Contained in these pages is information all about Mars and what we are doing help humanity establish a presence there. We have many different activities and projects on offer and our newest is to support our partners at The Mars Society in their exciting Tempo3 Project to research artificial gravity for long term human missions.

From the Mars Society website- "Travel to Mars will take 6 months. Current research shows that 6 months spent in zero gravity conditions will cause the Mars-bound crew's bones to atrophy, along with many other health effects...unless something is done. The Mars Society is doing something: we're building and launching TEMPO³ as a first step."

Find out more about Tempo3 Here and donations are welcome.