Jackson Crutcher Anticipates Landing of New Mars Rover

NEW YORK, NY, August 20, 2012 (Press-News.org) According to a recent article from The Huffington Post, NASA is anticipating the Mars landing of the new rover, named Curiosity, on August 5, 2012. This rover is particularly significant due to the fact that it is much larger than previous devices; its size is described to be approximately the same as a Mini Cooper. Not only does Curiosity's size implicate a stronger research tool, but one that will be able to cover more ground and explore the planet's possible ability to sustain life. As the team at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, anxiously oversees the mission, space enthusiasts, such as Jackson Crutcher, eagerly await the results.

"It's been 15 years since the first successful rover landing, and in that short amount of time, NASA has created a much sturdier, larger and powerful exploration tool," explains Jackson Crutcher, who closely studies the research being done on Mars. However, as the article states, if Curiosity does not make it to the planet in one piece, there may be no advancement to celebrate. As the device cost nearly $2.5B, all those involved in the lengthy development of the rover, are hoping that the complicated landing process is successful. "It's a little bit like waiting for a final. You're patiently counting down the days," states Richard Cook, Curiosity's deputy project manager.

The Huffington Post observes that if Curiosity makes it to Mars unharmed, it is expected to operate for approximately 23 months, all thanks to the vehicle's nuclear power source. It is equipped with ten main scientific tools that will help researchers assess the planet's atmosphere, surface and past habitability. Jackson Crutcher explains his reasons for being so focused on the mission, "It is incredible that Mars could have once sustained life, which will have so many scientific implications if further data is obtained. However, what really intrigues me is the planet's cultural significance - it's remained a popular planet since ancient times and has continued to be important in modern science fiction."

The article states that the rover was launched in November 2011 with a calculated travel time of nine months. "NASA technology is very advanced, and I think many researchers get caught up in that," notes Jackson Crutcher, "However, what is really amazing is that even this delicate piece of machinery has soared through space for such a long time. It's an incredibly vast environment, and to think that humans are exploring that is always mind-blowing."

ABOUT:

Jackson Crutcher is a science-fiction enthusiast who offers an advanced knowledge of planetary studies. Although Crutcher actively studies many areas of space exploration, he is particularly focused on Mars research. In addition to his appreciation of NASA's incredible technological advancements, he is a strong supporter of astronauts, citing them as "real-life superheroes."

Website: http://jacksoncrutcher.org/