No fewer than three missions have reached Mars in recent weeks. This shows that the Red Planet has lost none of its fascination.
Text Marc Horat
Is there or has there ever been life on Mars? Many spacecraft have been used to investigate this question over the past 40 years – with a further three being added to the research fleet in February 2021. One after another in quick succession, the United Arab Emirates’ Al-Amal (“Hope”) probe, the Chinese Tianwen-1 (“Sky Question-1”) mission and the American Perseverance vehicle have landed on, or are in orbit around, the Red Planet.
Various research missions
The UAE mission will look at the Martian atmosphere and climate, while the Chinese are expected to drop a lander and rover in May after scouting the landing site with a high-resolution camera.
Spectacular landing
NASA landed its research vehicle, which weighed about one tonne, in a spectacular manner: after entering the Martian atmosphere, Perseverance slowed down, first with the help of a parachute, then using rocket engines. The robot was then winched down the last 20 metres to the Martian surface.
Cooperative live stream
This event was streamed live by the Society of German-Speaking Planetariums in cooperation with the Planetarium Berlin Foundation. The Planetarium at the Swiss Museum of Transport contributed visualisations and explanations that were followed in real time by more than 50,000 viewers on their screens at home.
Electric motors from Central Switzerland
Perseverance has a connection with Switzerland: Maxon Motor AG from Sachseln, Canton Obwalden supplied several electric drive and control motors. A premiere is scheduled to take place: the first motorised flight on another planet. Amongst the rover’s cargo is Ingenuity, a small helicopter drone, also powered by electric motors from Switzerland.
Full-scale replica Mars rovers are on display in the Space Travel exhibition.
A story from Verkehrshaus Magazin
Logo VHS CMYK Runde5 NEUMarch 2021 | Nr. 44