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GPS on Mars?
Roland Piquepaille writes "SPACE.com published two days ago an article named "Red Planet Wayfinder: A GPS System for Mars." You'll read that NASA researchers are studying a 'global positioning satellite (GPS) system around Mars that could also function as a communications network.' This would imply 'a constellation of microsatellites, or Microsats, and one or more relatively large Mars Aerostationary Relay Satellites, or MARSats,' according to the Mars Network website at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). This sounds like a neat idea, but there are several issues here. First, the JPL site mentioned above has not been updated since 1999. Then, there is no mention of such a mission at NASA's Mars exploration program website. So, here is my question: is this a recycled 4-year old article? In this overview, you'll find some spectacular images and more indications leading to think that the article was written in 2000. And please note that a Slashdot reader asked last December 'Whatever Happened To The Mars Network?' without receiving an adequate answer."
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First, such a system would be helpful to a human exploration team. Second, most human mission proposals include sending supplies (or machines to manufacture those supplies) on ahead. Getting, those machines together and getting the humans to them would be helpful. Third, there's a lot of science that can be done by carefully mapping the orbits of the Mars Positioning System - it's a great way to find mascons and the like. Fourth, yeah, they probably will be sending a lot more rovers, including aerial drones that would really benefit from a GPS-like system.
This sig seemed like a good idea at the time....
Yet another daring spaceproject just to make space availible for rich people who could spend their money on better things! This will never lead to anything good. We have problems down here to take care of first. We should solve ALL our problems before even thinking of going into space! Space is a waste of our taxmoney! We should not only stay where we are, indeed, we should strive to turn the clock back! I want to live in a cave and eat raw fish.
is this a recycled 4-year old article?
You must be new here.
It's good to know that when I'm driving around Mars in my Ford Explorer with OnStar that I'll easily be able to make my way from Red Boulder #007994 to Red Boulder #008515 without getting lost.
Basically from what I can tell the story is just a recycled news bit. Nasa only has 1 telecommunication orbiter scheduled for Mars in 2009, and that it is. There simply is not enough volume with mars landers to warrant a GPS system (why put up 6 satellites that would only support 2-3 landers that have a limited lifespan?) In a related matter, Amsat (the ham radio satellite people) also have planned a Mars communications relay satellite called P5-A which would launch about the same time as the Nasa one (and probably cost significantly less) IMHO a Mars GPS/Communications system would be a great test case for those cash prizes they have talked about giving out.