Scottish university creates direct line to Mars

Strathclyde University has developed a technique which allows manned space missions to communicate continuously from Mars.

Communication from the red planet is blacked out for weeks at a time when the sun obscures its view from Earth.

However University of Strathclyde researchers have found a way to allow continuous communication with just one spacecraft.

The breakthrough centres on Lagrange points, five areas in space where an object such as a satellite or observatory can stay fixed in the same location relative to the Earth and the sun.

Dr Malcolm Macdonald, a member of the research team, said: "One of the key barriers to manned exploration of Mars is communication. When the sun obscures the Earth's view of Mars, it also prevents any possibility of ground controllers making contact with astronauts.

"But by moving a spacecraft with a continuous thrusting propulsion system into Lagrange point one, we've calculated that it's possible to enable continuous communication from the Earth to the spacecraft, and from the spacecraft to the surface of Mars.

"We've also shown that, by using a similar technique, but with two spacecraft, we can further improve communications.

"Hovering directly above Mars limits communications to just one polar region. But by using two spacecraft, we can enable communication to a much wider area of the planet."

The research is based on the T6 Thruster technology being developed for the European Space Agency's BepiColombo mission to Mercury, due to set off in 2014.

The finding will be showcased at this week's 60th International Astronautical Congress in Daejeon, South Korea.

The European Space Agency has funded the research to investigate how technology can be used to radically enhance space science, from improving telecommunications to monitoring the Arctic.

Dr Macdonald said: "Our research has shown that we have a whole catalogue of space science opportunities available in the next 10 to 15 years by using technologies that are already in the pipeline.

"This can include everything from new space missions to continually monitoring the effects of climate change on the Arctic.

"Our aim is to challenge conventional ideas and enable radical change in the near term."

The research team, which also includes Dr Robert Mackay, Professor Colin McInnes and Dr James Biggs, is based at the university's Advanced Space Concepts Laboratory.

Francois Bosquillon de Frescheville, at the European Space Agency, and Dr Massimiliano Vasile, at the University of Glasgow, were involved in the research.