CSA And MDA Seek To Define Mars Mission Contributions

MARSDAILY

A Mars rover at JPL under going Earth-based tests

Vancouver - Sep 23, 2002
Allan Rock, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for the Canadian Space Agency, announced today the awarding of a $400,000 contract to MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA) of Richmond, B.C., to support the Canadian Space Agency in defining Canada's contribution to European missions to Mars, and the NASA-led Mars Science Laboratory mission.

Landing safely on the Red Planet is a critical element of any Mars mission. The study to be undertaken by MDA will include an assessment of the design, development and use of laser- based sensor technology to land spacecraft on the surface of Mars.

As a world leader in robotic technologies, Canada will also be considering its role in the development of a robotic mining device that will extract samples of the planet's subsurface and prepare them for scientific study.

"I want to congratulate the Canadian Space Agency and MDA on undertaking this important venture," said minister Rock.

"The results of this study will help define Canada's potential role in upcoming missions to Mars, contribute to Canada's development of new knowledge and cutting-edge technologies, and firmly establish and enhance British Columbia's profile as a valuable partner in space exploration."

Mars holds a special appeal for the scientific community and may help unlock some of the most fundamental questions about life in the universe. "This is the next big step in space exploration," said Mag Iskander, head of the MDA Robotics Group. "This smaller, lighter robotic technology should provide considerable spin-off benefits to robotic applications here on Earth."

Minister Rock made the announcement as part of the opening of an International Space Station exhibit at the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre in Vancouver.

The public-private collaboration between the Canadian Space Agency and MDA has resulted in the design and production of the Canadarm for the space shuttle and the new Canadarm2 for the International Space Station. MDA is also a key partner in the delivery of satellite images and data products and services culled from Canada's premiere Earth observation satellite, RADARSAT-1.

MARSDAILY

Sending In The RATs To Mars

Pasadena (JPL) Apr 30, 2002
NASA and JPL are sending RATS to Mars to work as field geologists. A RAT is not quite a furry little friend, but rather a high-tech robot with diamond teeth, called a Rock Abrasion Tool (RAT).

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