Space & Astronomy

'Red Dragon' could return rocks from Mars

By T.K. Randall
September 15, 2015 ·  4 comments

The spacecraft could offer a chance to return samples from Mars to the Earth. Image Credit: SpaceX A sample return mission to Mars has often been thought of as the next best thing to landing humans there, especially given the potential for new discoveries should scientists be given the opportunity to study Martian soil and rocks up close instead of through the remote instruments of a rover.

Now SpaceX has risen to the challenge by finding a way to land on Mars, collect samples and return to the Earth again using a modified version of its already successful Dragon capsule.

Known as "Red Dragon", the new lander would be designed to rendez-vous with NASA's upcoming 2020 Mars rover, pick up samples that the rover had picked out, then launch from the surface and head back home with its precious cargo safely tucked away inside.While the idea is still in the concept stage, NASA's Andy Gonzales recently described the mission as "technically feasible" during a presentation with the Future In-Space Operations (FISO) group.

The plan would be to launch Red Dragon on the top of a Falcon Heavy rocket before touching down on the surface of Mars at some point within the next ten years.

"Red Dragon can go anywhere the rover can go, as far as landing elevation and terrain," said Gonzales. "We're confident we could land in front of the rover and have it drive to us."

If successful the mission could offer scientists with the best opportunity yet to determine if primitive life forms have ever existed on the Red Planet or if something may even be alive there today.

Source: Yahoo! News | Comments (4)

Tags: Mars