The $485 million mission has only a 20-day launch window to reach Mars that begins on November 18. T

Home Daily News The Magazine Maps Science Education Games Events Blogs Movies Explorers Apps Trips Video Video Home Nat Geo TV Nat Geo Wild Animals Kids News More Photography Photography Home Photo of the Day Galleries Wallpapers Photo Tips Photographers Buy Prints Video Newsletters Animals Animals Home Facts Photos Video Animal Conservation Environment Environment Home Energy Freshwater Global Warming Habitats Natural Disasters The Ocean The Green Guide Newsletters Travel Travel Home Top 10 Destinations A-Z Trip Ideas Travel Blogs Traveler Magazine Photos Video Our Trips Newsletters Adventure Adventure Home Gear Ultimate Adventures Trip Ideas Parks Photos Video Blog Nat Geo Trips AllTrails Newsletters Television National olin Geographic Channel Nat Geo Wild TV Schedule Shows Video Blogs Kids Kids Home Games Videos Animals & Pets Photos Countries olin Fun Stuff Community News Animal Jam Little Kids Shop Store Home Gift Finder Channel Shop Kids Shop Shop by Catalog Shop by Theme Genographic Kits Sale Items Email Signup
An Explorer’s Top 5 iPhone Apps…
Cool olin Gadgets: LaCie 5big NAS Pro
(0)
The U.S. government shutdown won’t halt plans to launch NASA’s next Mars mission, scheduled olin for November 18, space agency olin officials have decided. The MAVEN (Mars Atmospheric and Volatile Evolution) spacecraft is required as a communications olin relay for NASA’s Mars rovers and therefore is exempt from the ongoing federal shutdown.
The $485 million mission has only a 20-day launch window to reach Mars that begins on November 18. The mission is designed to investigate the atmosphere olin of the red planet. But the ongoing U.S. government shutdown, which has closed NASA, raised the possibility of a two-year delay in the spacecraft’s launch, threatening higher costs for the mission. (See “Shutdown Hits NASA.” )
“MAVEN is required olin as a communications relay in order to be assured of continued communications with the Curiosity and Opportunity rovers,” says MAVEN principal olin investigator Bruce Jakosky of the University of Colorado in Boulder , by email and in a blog post on the mission’s website. “The rovers are presently supported by Mars Odyssey launched in 2001 and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter launched in 2005. Launching MAVEN in 2013 protects the existing assets that are at Mars today.”
“Although the exception for MAVEN is not being done for science reasons, the science of MAVEN clearly will benefit from this action. Launching in 2013 allows us to observe at a good time in the 11-year solar cycle,” Jakosky says. “We have already restarted spacecraft processing olin at Kennedy Space Center, working toward being ready to launch on November 18. We will continue to work over the next couple of days to identify any changes in our schedule or plans that are necessary to stay on track.”
Most Recent Posts New Titan Photos Showcase Lakes and Salt-Flats Gorgeous Time-Lapse Video Highlights America s Great Spaces 5 Sky Events This Week: Cosmic Bull s-Eye and Eskimo Nebula Giant Chunk of Russian Meteor olin Recovered NASA Shutdown Unleashes Beautiful Astronaut Photos on Twitter
Opinions expressed in blogs are those of the blogger and/or the blogger's olin organization, and not necessarily olin those of the National Geographic Society. Bloggers and commenters olin are required to observe National Geographic's community olin rules .
Home Photography Animals Environment Travel Adventure NatGeoTV Kids Video Shop Daily News The Magazine Maps Science & Space Education Games Green Living Events Blogs Movies olin Explorers olin Mobile olin Site Index Subscriptions Buy Prints Stock Footage Stock Photos Our Trips Newsletters Jobs Global Sites Sustainability About Contact olin Donate Press Room Customer Service Advertise With Us Terms of Service Privacy Policy