Mars Atmosphere ???

Well he know carbon dioxide is heavy. We know Mars has this gas close
to its surface(I don't know how high up?) Does Mars atmosphere burn up
small meteorites before they can hit the ground? Do parachutes work as
well on Mars? Can NASA change the landing site? Are we playing "pin the
tail on the donkey?" I think some good thinking is needed to have a
good out come. Bert

On Mon, 29 Dec 2003 18:41:48 -0500, G=EMC^2 Glazier wrote:

Well he know carbon dioxide is heavy. We know Mars has this gas close to
its surface(I don't know how high up?) Does Mars atmosphere burn up small
meteorites before they can hit the ground? Do parachutes work as well on
Mars? Can NASA change the landing site? Are we playing "pin the tail on
the donkey?" I think some good thinking is needed to have a good out
come. Bert

Hmmm! Bert, NASA, Obsessed!

I have my own question about Mars atmosphere, in particular, its density.

There are trees (on Earth, don't know about Mars - can't seem to get a good
look :-P) whose seeds, when they drop, rotate quickly, thus slowing their
fall. In fact there are two different ways that I can remember:

1. Spins pretty much like a top but it shaped more like a leaf and is
balanced so that it spins horizontally. (That is a revolting description
but, I can't think of a better one, hopefully someone knows what I'm
talking about.)

2. Shaped much like a bomb. With a couple (I think) of long tails which
are flared enough to give it a spin similar in behaviour to a helicopter.
(Hmm! Not much better than the first description.)

My question: Is Mars' atmosphere dense enough to make either/both of
those designs viable?

Dat's me asked,
Is Mars' atmosphere dense enough to
make either/both of those designs
viable?

Yes. In fact NASA has researched using aerial vehicles much like what
you described, based on planes that fly in the Earth's upper atmosphere.
See-
http://powerweb.grc.nasa.gov/doc/marsairplane.html
oc

Bill Sheppard wrote:

Dat's me asked,

Is Mars' atmosphere dense enough to
make either/both of those designs
viable?


Yes. In fact NASA has researched using aerial vehicles much like what
you described, based on planes that fly in the Earth's upper atmosphere.
See-
http://powerweb.grc.nasa.gov/doc/marsairplane.html
oc


Mars' atmosphere is also dense enough to support liquid water near the
equator for a suprisingly lengthy period of time. Read about the
research at http://www.aoas.org/article.php?story=20030904014348849

Dale