NATS 1880 Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Institute For Operations Research And The Management Sciences, Orbital Period, Dust Devil
27 Aug 2015
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Began with w. herschel in late 18th c. G. schiaparelli"s canali in late 19th c. P. lowell dedicated his life to mapping the martian canalsin early 20th. Physically about half the size of earth. No oxygen, harsh uv radiation at surface. 1 day = 24 hours and 37 minutes. Pressurized habitats an option for humans and crops. Gravity about 40% and diurnal cycle almost identical to earth"s. Generally, temperature too low to allow liquid water. Even if temperature above freezing, atmospheric pressure too low to allow liquid to remain in that state. Thus liquid water is unstable on martial surface, freezing and/or evaporating almost immediately. Earth experiences seasons because of the tilt of our axis of rotation. Mars tilt slightly larger at 25 deg. Mars orbital period nearly twice the length of earth"s and thus the seasons are twice as long. Mars" orbit is more eccentric than earth"s.
