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NASA unveils Mars rover concept vehicle

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This sure looks like what I thought about when reading
Kim Stanley Robinson's "Red Mars".

NASA unveils Mars rover concept vehicle
June 13, 2017 by Bob Granath
  Credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

It looks like something out of this world, but that's exactly where it 
would work. A futuristic Mars rover concept vehicle was recently 
unveiled at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex with a goal of 
inspiration and education as NASA continues developing plans for its 
journey to the Red Planet.

The visitor complex kicked off its "Summer of Mars" promotion with a 
June 5 ceremony which included former astronaut Scott Kelly. During his 
appearance, Kelly shared some of his experiences during a one-year stay 
aboard the International Space Station from March 27, 2015 to Feb. 3, 2016.
According to Rebecca Shireman, assistant manager of public relations for 
the Kennedy visitor complex, the "Summer of Mars" program will provide a 
survey of NASA's studies of the Red Planet.
"It's an all-encompassing effort to review the history of our efforts to 
explore Mars and look ahead to what is being planned," she said. "We 
hope this will encourage young people to want to learn more about being 
a part of the effort to go to Mars."
NASA's next robotic Mars rover is set to land on the Red Planet in 2020. 
The Mars 2020 rover will search for signs of past microbial life and 
collect core samples for a potentially future return to Earth.
The builders of the scientifically-themed Mars rover concept vehicle, 
Parker Brothers Concepts of Port Canaveral, Florida, incorporated input 
into its design from NASA subject matter experts. Construction of the 
Mars rover was commissioned by the Kennedy visitor complex without use 
of taxpayer dollars.
The rover operates on an electric motor, powered by solar panels and a 
700-volt battery. The rover separates in the middle with the front area 
designed for scouting and equipped with a radio and navigation provided 
by the Global Positioning System. The back section serves as a 
laboratory which can disconnect for autonomous research. While this 
exact rover is not expected to operate on Mars, one or more of its 
elements could make its way into a rover astronauts will drive on the 
Red Planet.
Following several weeks on display at Kennedy's visitor complex, the 
Mars rover concept vehicle will be displayed at several locations. From 
July through August, it will be displayed at several locations during a 
tour along the East Coast.
Shireman explained that the Mars rover concept vehicle will return to 
the visitor complex to be part of the new Astronaut Training Experience 
attraction opening in the fall of this year.
  Explore further: NASA awards launch services contract for Mars 2020 
rover mission

Read more at: 
https://phys.org/news/2017-06-nasa-unveils-mars-rover-concept.html#jCp

https://phys.org/news/2017-06-nasa-unveils-mars-rover-concept.html

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NASA unveils Mars rover concept vehicle a425couple <a425couple@hotmail.com> - 2017-06-14 15:19 -0700
  Re: NASA unveils Mars rover - and helo a425couple <a425couple@hotmail.com> - 2017-06-14 16:41 -0700
  Re: NASA unveils Mars - 3 rovers a425couple <a425couple@hotmail.com> - 2017-06-15 07:12 -0700
  Re: NASA unveils Mars rover concept vehicle The Starmaker <starmaker@ix.netcom.com> - 2017-06-15 09:22 -0700

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