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Astrobiology Field Laboratory
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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This article or section contains information regarding a future spaceflight. Due to the nature of the content, details may change dramatically as the launch date approaches and/or more information becomes available. |
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The Astrobiology Field Laboratory (also known as AFL), is a proposed NASA unmanned planetary spacecraft to explore the planet Mars. The rover will be built by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Current plans call for a launch around 2016, most likely by a Boeing Delta 4 Medium+ (4,2) rocket. But the possibility of an early launch in 2013 remains.
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Its main objective would be to study and examine the surface and structure of the Martian surface, specifically looking for life and the signs of life. In particular, the rover would be the first mission since the Viking landers of the 1970s to look for the chemistry associated with life, such as carbon-carrying compounds along with molecules involving both sulfur and nitrogen. It will target environments identified by the Mars Science Laboratory as being condusive to life.
It has been proposed that Astrobiology Field Laboratory use radioisotope thermoelectric generators as its power source, like the ones used on the Mars Science Laboratory. Its primary mission is to last for about one Martian year, or approximately two Earth years, with an extended mission lasting another Martian year.
This proposed mission hasn't begun early planning stages or funding yet, but it may be scaled back in the coming time from a critical mission and engineering review. It is not yet known whether it will ever be launched, due to budgetary technical concerns.
Nevertheless, it is has been proposed, that the AFL could piggyback further missions, like a Mars Deep-drill Lander.
| Mars Spacecraft Missions | |
|---|---|
| Flybys: Mariner 4 | Mariner 6 | Mariner 7 | Mars 4 | Rosetta | |
| Orbiters: Mariner 9 | Mars 2 | Mars 3 | Mars 5 | Mars 6 | Viking 1 | Viking 2 | Phobos 2 | Mars Global Surveyor | Mars Odyssey | Mars Express Orbiter | Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter | |
| Landers and Rovers: Mars 3 | Viking 1 | Viking 2 | Mars Pathfinder | Spirit rover | Opportunity rover | |
| Future: Dawn (2007) | Phoenix Scout (2007) | Mars Science Laboratory (2009) | Phobos-Grunt (2009) | Mars 2011 | ExoMars (2013) | Astrobiology Field Laboratory (2016?) | |
| See also: Mars | Exploration of Mars | Colonization of Mars | |
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