Mars Express

2012-01-17T20:27:54Z

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[[Image:Mars Express X orbit 2a-new.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Artists impression of the Mars Express orbiter]]

'''Mars Express''' was launched on June 2, 2003 from [[Baikonur Cosmodrome]] (Kazakhstan) on a [[Soyuz-Fregat rocket]] to search for water and the possibility of Martian life. Consisting of a low-cost orbiter and lander, ''Mars Express'' is a [[European Space Agency]] (ESA) mission to the Red Planet involving a consortium of countries (primarily France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Sweden, Spain, and the United States). In February 2007, ''Mars Express'' was granted a second mission extension until May 2009.

==Mission Overview==
[[Image:Mars express logo.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Official [[ESA]] Mars Express mission logo.]]
''Mars Express'' was a two-component mission consisting of the ''Mars Express Orbiter'' and [[Beagle 2]] lander. Unfortunately, the ''Beagle 2'' lander failed on entry into the Martian atmosphere and was lost on Christmas Day, 2003. The crash site of ''Beagle 2'' was later imaged by [[NASA]]'s [[Mars Global Surveyor]] in a crater near the planned landing site of the equatorial region known as [[Isidis Planitia]]. Despite this early loss, the ''Mars Express orbiter'' continues on its mission to explore the Martian surface.

Mars Express will be providing support for the [[NASA]] [[Phoenix]] lander when it arrives on Mars in mid-2008.

===Instrumentation===
The ''Mars Express'' mission is now dedicated to the orbital study of the interior,
subsurface, surface, atmosphere, and environment of Mars. The technology for ''Mars Express'' was developed from cancelled [[Russian Mars-96]] mission and the small ESA ''Rosetta'' mission to small solar system bodies (i.e. comets and asteroids). The orbiter carried eight instruments at launch:
* The ''High Resolution Stereo Camera'' (HRSC) for high resolution surface imaging.
* ''Energetic Neutron Atoms Analyser'' (ASPERA) to analyse how the [[solar wind]] erodes the Martian atmosphere.
* ''Planetary Fourier Spectrometer'' (PFS) to study of the atmospheric composition and circulation.
* ''Visible and Infrared Mineralogical Mapping Spectrometer'' (OMEGA) to determine the [[surface composition]] and evolution processes.
* ''Sub-Surface Sounding Radar Altimeter'' (MARSIS) intended for the search for water in the subsurface.
* ''The Radio Science Experiment'' (MaRS) for sounding of the internal structure, atmosphere and environment.
* ''Ultraviolet and Infrared Mars Atmospheric Spectrometer'' (SPICAM) for the determination of the composition of the atmosphere of Mars.
* ''Beagle 2'' lander intended for [[geochemistry]] and [[exobiology]].

[[Image:MARSIS.jpg|thumb|250px|right|A MARSIS map of Mars' south pole ice deposits.]]

== Scientific Discoveries ==

Mars Express has made several important discoveries during its mission:

* Detection of [[water]] in the southern polar icecap using OMEGA (2004)
* Detection of [[methane]] & [[ammonia]] in the Martian atmosphere using PFS (2004)
* Location of an area of water ice near the north pole using HRSC (2005)
* Mapping the [[water|location and thickness of water ice]] in the south pole with the MARSIS instrument (2007)

It has also carried out a wide variety of other important observations which have increased understanding of the Martian atmosphere and geology.

I really wish there were more artilces like this on the web.

Hydroponics

2012-01-17T05:21:51Z

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'''Hydroponics''' is the growth of plants in a liquid medium, rather than [[soil]]. Plants are often supported at the stalk, leaving the roots free floating. In other cases, roots may be supported by inorganic media, such as [[plastics|plastic]] pellets, gravel, or [[mineral wool]]. All nutrients are supplied through the liquid.

The liquid is held by vessels or pipes, that in some cases include a circulation system with [[automation|automatic]] renewal and filtering. All parts that are in regular contact with the liquid are cleaned or replaced in regular intervals.

AFAICT you've covered all the bases with this awsner!

===Disadvantages===
While a natural soil based environment can stabilize itself, the hydroponics require technological support and regular maintenance:
* Artificial [[fertilizer]] and other auxiliary substances (antibiotics, cleaners, acidity regulators, etc. ) needed, which requires a chemical industry behind.
* Cleaning and disposal of toxic degradation products.
* Higher manual maintenance effort.

==Open Issues==
* How much can the crop yield increase (per worker, per m<sup>2</sup>, per light energy)?
* What fertilizers can be used?
* What other auxiliary substances are needed?

I think you hit a bullseye there faells!

Marspedia - User contributions [en]

Mars Express

Hydroponics