Mars mission that could make Human landings possible.
If we’re to land humans on Mars in the coming decades, we’ll have to know what challenges await them when they get there.
M-MATISSE could be the first mission to deeply probe Martian space weather, potentially revealing hidden threats and mysteries vital to future human exploration.
Preparing to send astronauts to Mars requires a deep understanding of the conditions they will face upon arrival.
Mission known as M-MATISSE could serve as a vital step toward this goal.
Highlighted at the Royal astronomical society’s National Astronomy Meeting 2025 in Durham.
The mission features UK-led instruments and aims to dramatically advance how we study space weather on Mars.
The concept involves launching two robotic orbiters to explore the fourth planet from the Sun.
These spacecraft would investigate several layers of Mars’s atmosphere and surrounding environment, including the magnetosphere , the ionosphere (a high-altitude layer filled with charged particles), and the thermosphere (where atmospheric gases escape into space).
They would also examine conditions in the lower atmosphere and monitor radiation accumulation.
A Safer Pathway to Mars
Researchers say, could help forecast potentially hazardous situations for spacecraft and astronauts, making it an essential precursor to any future robotic and human exploration.
If the project gets the green light from the European Space Agency next year, M-MATISSE would be the first mission solely dedicated to understanding planetary space weather at Mars.
