“Martian Land” takes the form of a 900M2 crater, where the soil and the rocks so particular to Mars are faithfully reproduced. This new place of scientific mediation focuses on the most explored planet in the solar system. Supported by the CNESthis equipment was designed and developed in collaboration with scientific experts from thefrench space agency and of l’Institute for Research in Astrophysics and Planetology (IRAP) …
At the heart of an amphitheater that can accommodate more than 200 visitors simultaneously, robotic martian exploration is staged on the Martian Land by the scientific animators of the Space City in the form of a daily animation of about thirty minutes.
Mars exploration by rovers “as if you were there”
Scientific animation closer to the reality of Martian explorationthe appointment Martian Terrain – The Rovers enter the scene! was designed for all audiences. It is accessible to all four handicaps (auditory, mental, motor and visual).
In the heart of the central zone of the Martian craterthe life-size and fully automated models of the rovers Perseverance (NASA- USA) and Zhurong (CAST- China) – both currently in the process of exploring the planet Mars, are activated by the scientific animators of the Space City, to show in an authentic way how they move on the Red Planet and the missions entrusted to them.
Piloted from the ground…
From this Tuesday, April 5visitors can discover the specificities of the two rovers, such as the energy with which they operate (solar panels or nuclear battery), their mobility but also how they are piloted from Earth and what are the instruments they are equipped for. Such as laser camera SuperCamdesigned and operated by the CNES and the Toulouse research laboratory IRAP.
First and only Martian flying vehicle, Ingenuity is also in the game. Thanks to a life-size model, visitors can discover this small helicopter designed exclusively to fly in the thin Martian atmosphere during the Mars2020 mission (Perseverance).
The final scene highlights the “family” Mars rovers since Sojourner (first rover of the NASA to have landed on Mars in 1997) via Perseverance and Zhurong. The “rover family” will be enriched as new Martian explorations are carried out.
Everything you need to know about Mars Space City
This immersive animation invites the public to wonder about the future from exploring the Red Planet : the return of samples from Mars to Earth first and then, eventually, future manned Mars missions.
It complements the different devices set up at the Space City to discover the red planet: animation “Mars Lab” and the presentation of a real Martian meteorite in a “Mars area” in the permanent exhibitions.
Philippe MORET
This new equipment was made by the Space City in partnership with CNES (National Center for Space Studies), with the support of the company COMAT and the Occitanie Region and in collaboration with IRAP.
To have your head in the stars:
Sciences: Claudie Haigneré, one-day guide for Tessa at the Cité de l’Espace