Since the prior polar probe mission failed, why not send Opportunity to one of the poles?
Scientists are more interested in looking for the precursers to life than anything else and they believe that features near the equator might be better candidates for finding such life clues. Power availability for the rovers was another issue. Expert: Mike Pauken Thermal Engineer NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Question: I have an interest in what ‘it sounds like’ on Mars but have heard nothing about audio data being captured nor returned to earth. Is there a microphone on the rover? If not what considerations prevented it? If a rock drops on Mars but there is no one there to hear it… does it make a noise? Bruce, Michigan Answer: Scientists and the public alike have been interested in this question. The Planetary Society actually funded a microphone instrument that was part of the Mars 1999 Lander. This spacecraft was scheduled to land near the south pole of Mars, when it was lost. Communication was never established with the lander. The microphone was the first sound experiment ever
Related Questions
- If a PatientInsure patient has a Covered Complication that I would have treated myself in my office prior to PatientInsure, should I now send the patient to the hospital?
- Since the prior polar probe mission failed, why not send Opportunity to one of the poles?
- What is the mission of the Economic Opportunity Division?
