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DOCUMENT RESUME. ED 384 517 SE 056 463 TITLE The Exploration of Mars. Educational Brief: Planetary Science, Grades 8-12. INSTITUTION National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, D.C. REPORT NO NASA-EB-112 PUB DATE May 93 NOTE 10p. PUB TYPE Guides Classroom Use Teaching Guides (For Teacher)(052) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC01 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Earth Science; Science Activities; Science Education; Secondary Education; *Space Exploration; *Space Sciences IDENTIFIERS *Mars (Planet) ABSTRACT This booklet gives a history of human observations of Mars, including observations made from U.S. unmanned spacecraft. Also included is a discussion, "Encountering a New World: How to Explore a Planet," which contains classroom discussion questions and four classroom activities. The classroom activities i-elude:(1) How to explore a planet;(2) Geography and mission plaLaing;(3) Magnetic Material in the soil; and (4)a close look at Valles Marineris which includes a map of the Valles Marineris Canyon System in comparison with the United States. (MKR) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** Educational Brief U.S. DEPARTMENT Of EDUCATION Mood Educational Research end im7ovement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) An Educational Publication his document Ass been reproduced as of the National Aeronautics *calved from the person or organization Grades: 8-12 originating it . and Space Administration 0 Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction Ouahty EB-112 5/93 Topic: Planetary Science r- Points& vow or opinions stated .n this docu mint do not necessarily represent oil cat Lel OERI position or policy THE EXPLORATIONOFMARS Mars, fourth planet from Mars Exploration: The Missions thought he saw straight lines the Sun, has been known to resemblingterrestrial canals astronomers since ancient Yearof on Mars, and thus advanced Launch Mission' Resuis times.It is one of the five the notion that there was or 1964 Manner 4 Pictures (22) of desolate, catered southern may have been a martian "naked-eye" planetsvis- (U.S. Flyby) hemisphere. No signs of kfe, but frost on crater rims ible from Earth without the apparent. Nearest approach 9.844 kilometers. civilization attempting to aid of a telescope.Before marshal the planet's water. 1969 Mariner 6 Pictures (201, withMariner 7)of equatorial region. the first astronomical tele- (U.S. Flyby) Measured planetary diameter, surface =position and Although the theme of a scope was invented by Gall- atmospheric pressure, and temperature. Nearest martian civilization in hy- approach 3.412 kilometers. leo Gal ilei in the early 1600s, drological distress has per- these five planets intrigued 1969 Mariner 7 Pictures (201, wth Mariner 6) of southern hemisphere sisted in the popular imagi- (U.S. Flyby) and south polar ice cap. Measured planetary diameter, stargazers with thcirunusual surface composition and atmospheric pressure, and nation,the dawn ofthe space motions and changes in temperature. Nearest approach 3.425 kilometers. age has profoundly changed 1- brightness against the seem- 1971 Mariner 9 Pictures (7000) of global dust storm, and subsequently, the course of scientific in- ingly fixedbockdropofstars. (U.S. Flyby) global surface features. Mapped 85% of planet's tercstin Mars. Starting early surface, providing high-reso ution images of major Mars was known by the reed features including the Tharsis volcanoes and the huge in this century, astronomers color it exhibits during its equatorial tit valley later named Valles Marineris. First using newly developed in- images of martian moons Phobos and Deimos. First brightest periods, and was planetary abler. struments began to make ac- aptly named "Ares" by the curate observations of the 1975 Viking 1 Global imaging (26,000 pictures). Atmospheric and Greeks, after their god of (U.S. Orbker/Landeq surface weather data Soil analysis yields no signs of Mars surface environment. war. Whcn the Romans con- life. Lander operates fa 6.5 years. These measurements indi- qucred G recce, they gave the 1975 Viking 2 Global imaging (26,000 pictures). Atmospheric and cated that Mars is a cold, dry planet their name for the god (U.S. Orbter/Lander) surface weather data Seismology hampered by wind place with a very thin atmo- effects, but may have detected a small *marsquake. of war, Mars. The planet's Soil analysis yields no signs of lie. Lander operates for sphere, dominated by car- presence and changes had 3.5 years. bon dioxide. also been cataloged by 1992 Mars Observer Global imaging and mukispectral mappingatsurface In 1960, the Soviet Union to Babylonian stargazers as (U.S. Orbital Survey) and atmosphere. Monitors all parameters for 1 Martian began launching space mis- year (687 Earth days) from 36..qulometer polar orbit. long ago as 1700 B.C., and Will determine it Mars has a magnetic field, and will sions toward Venus and were no doubt known to the monkor important surface/atmosphere interactions. Mars, with the U.S. follow- ancient Chinese and Egyp- 1996 MESUR Pathfinder Mars Environmental Survey. Pathfinder will provide ing suit in 1962. These early tian astrologers as well. (Proposed U.SJInternational proofof-concept for subsequent MESUR Network One planetary missions, equip- Lander) Wider will provide brief scientific data Until Galileo's time, the ped with television cameras heavens were stirdied by as- 1999- MESUR Network Network will have as many as 16 lenders monitoring and probes, met with little 2003 (Proposed U.SJIntemational surface and astnospherc properties and dynamics. tronomers and astrologers Lander Network) Strong international contrbution. Multiple launches with success. It wasn't until the alike, each trying to deci- several lenders on each. U.S. Mariner 4 mission, pher the meaning of the ce- *U.S. only. Russians have had five missions that reached or approached Mars, but none achieved their launched in November lestial motions.With the scientific goals. 1964, that aterrestri al space- advent of telescopic astronomy, the planets were seen to have craft flew by Mars and sent back pictures. People hoping for signs individual form mild substance. Mars, due to its proximity and of civilization were disappointed to sec in these pictures a location just beyond Earth's orbit, was particularly revealing. By desolate, cratered surface much like the Moon. There were no the end of the 19th century, the noted American astronomer signs of any canals, but some of the 22 photos sent back appeared Percival Lowell and others had seen polar ice caps advancing and to show water ice in the form of frost on the rims of some craters. The promise of Mars as a habitat was diminished, but not entirely receding on Mars, suggesting seasonal change. Lowell also 2 Developed by the Solar System Exploration Division, N4SA Headquarters. BEST COPY AVAILABLE INK conclusion of a major surface/atmosphere interaction crucial to understanding the planet. Mariner 9 went on to exceed mission expectations by mapping about 85 percent of the Red Planet's lie surface.It sent back more than 7,000 spectacular pictures revealing plains, huge volcanoes, and an equatorial rift valley stretching the equivalent of the distance from New York to Los Angeles. Mariner 9 also showed us wide regions eroded by what must have been flowing water sometime in the planet's past. ti Frost-Filled Craiers (Mariner 7) put to rest. For the next few years, the Nation's attention turned toward lunar studies and the manned space program as NASA geared up for the Apollo missions to the Moon. Five years after Manner 4, in 1969, NASA's Mariner 6 and 7 missions flew by the Red Planet, returning pictures of the equatorial region and southern hemisphere. Mariner 6's view of the equatorial region showed fewer craters than Mariner 4 had seen in the south, but among them was a chain of gigantic craters, including one more than 483 kilometers in diameter. Again, frost Vokano on Tharsis Ridge (Mariner 9) was seen on the rims of some craters. Mariner 7 concentrated on the heavily cratered southern hemisphere, where it found evi- dence of large volcanoes as well. This was exciting news. Our The Mars revealed to us by Mariner 9 was our first close-up understanding of volcanic processes is extensive, because we global view of the planet.There were many surprises.In have so many on Earth.The martian volcanoes, therefore, diameter, Mars is about half the size of Earth, yet its most notable represented a way to "read" the geologic history and processes of surface features are more massive than anything we have seen on the Red Planet But pictures were not all Mariners 6 and 7 had to Earth. Mariner 9 showed us the Tharsis Ridge, a bulge so large offer. Remote sensing had progressed in the years since Mariner that it has deformed the sphericity of the planet.Several 4, partially as a result of NASA's drive to characterize the Moon enormous volcanoes, the Tharsis Montes, sit atop the ridge. The in preparation for the Apollo landings. Mariners 6 and 7 were huge equatorial canyon, Valles Marincris, extends away from the equipped with sophisticated instruments that measured the mar- Tharsis Ridge and may be related to it.Great flood channels tian diameter, surface temperature, atmospheric pressure, and extend from collapsed terrain associated with this canyon. Also composition. Measurements taken by these instruments con- unexpected was the strong dissimilarity of the northern and firmed, for example, that Mars' surface atmospheric pressure is southern hemispheres of the planet. The northern hemisphere is about .7 percent of Earth's, and that the atmosphere is mostly primarily low-lying volcanic plains, while the southern hemi- carbon dioxide. sphere (which is all the early Mariners saw) is heavily cratered The excitement at the success of the scientific data-gathering highlands, much older than the north.
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