In a world first, US-based space agency NASA is planning to explore the surface of Venus with an unmanned rover. NASA said in a statement: With a surface temperature in excess of 840 degrees Fahrenheit (480 C) and a surface pressure 90 times that of Earth, Venus can turn lead into a puddle and crush a nuclear-powered submarine with ease.<\/p>\n
While many missions have visited our sister planet, only about a dozen have made contact with the surface of Venus before quickly succumbing to the oppressive heat and pressure.<\/p>\n
JPL is interested in all approaches, regardless of technical maturity<\/p>\n
NASA<\/p>\n
Yet despite the unimaginably fierce condition, NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory is readying a mission to the fiery planets surface using an Automaton Rover for Extreme Environments (AREE).<\/p>\n
This is where you can help: NASA requires help designing a sensor that will allow the rover to avoid rocks, tricky terrain and cavernous crevices.<\/p>\n
NASAs ambitious challenge is called Exploring Hell: Avoiding Obstacles on a Clockwork Rover.<\/p>\n
READ MORE:NASA unveils stunning photo of ISS transiting Sun<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
NASA added in a statement on the challenges website: To assist AREE on its groundbreaking mission concept, JPL needs an equally groundbreaking obstacle avoidance sensor, one that does not rely on vulnerable electronic systems.<\/p>\n
For that reason, JPL is turning to the global community.<\/p>\n
The competition is actually open to all, even those who are not rocket scientists.<\/p>\n
The space agency wrote: JPL is interested in all approaches, regardless of technical maturity.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The first place winner of the design contest will receive up to $15,000 (11,500).<\/p>\n
The second place winner will receive up to $10,000 (7,690), while the third place winner will get $5,000 (3,850).<\/p>\n
NASA said: The difficulty of this challenge is in designing a sensor that does not rely on electronic systems.<\/p>\n
This is because Venus has a planetary environment just this side of hellish.<\/p>\n
Current state-of-the-art electronics fail at just over 250 degrees Fahrenheit (121 C) and would easily succumb to the extreme Venus environment.<\/p>\n
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That is why NASA is turning to the global community of innovators and inventors for a solution.<\/p>\n
However the rover sensor has to be more than just extremely hardy.<\/p>\n
The proposed NASA rover must also be able to perform on slopes steeper than 30 degrees both uphill or downhill.<\/p>\n
The all-terrain vehicle will also encounter rocks taller than 1.15ft (35cm).<\/p>\n
And these are only some of the many requirements for the new sensor.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Exploring and studying the surface of Venus could help humanity understand the planets evolution and could contribute to a better understanding of Earths climate<\/p>\n
Jonathan Sauder, principal investigator for the Automaton Rover for Extreme Environments concept, believes Venus and Earth surprisingly share characteristics.<\/p>\n
He said: Earth and Venus are basically sibling planets, but Venus took a turn at one point and became inhospitable to life as we know it.<\/p>\n
Ryon Stewart, challenge coordinator for the NASA Tournament Lab, added: This is an exciting opportunity for the public to design a component that could one day end up on another celestial body.<\/p>\n
NASA recognises good ideas can come from anywhere and that prize competitions are a great way to engage the publics interest and ingenuity and make space exploration possible for everyone.<\/p>\n
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See the article here: <\/p>\n
NASA news: Space agency wants YOU to design the next Venus rover - 'Exciting opportunity' - Express.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In a world first, US-based space agency NASA is planning to explore the surface of Venus with an unmanned rover. Continue reading