Northrop Grumman Establishes Science Advisory Board for Venus Mission
A photo accompanying this release is available at: http://media.globenewswire.com/noc/mediagallery.html?pkgid=32937.
VAMP is the first application for the Lifting Entry/Atmospheric Flight (LEAF) family of vehicles that could serve as atmospheric "rovers," going to any solar system body with an atmosphere, including Venus, Earth, Mars and the moon Titan.
"The board is a community-based, interdisciplinary science forum that the VAMP development team may interact with, ask questions of and request analyses to help resolve design and performance issues during these early stages of the mission's development," said
Venus, the second planet from the sun, is often referred to as Earth's twin because of its similarity in size and mass. Although the surface of Venus is hot and hostile, its atmosphere at 50 kilometers is Earth-like and its clouds hold the key to the difference. Understanding Venus' evolutionary path may shed light on Earth's evolution and the origin of life.
VAMP is a large and light, inflatable/deployable vehicle that would cruise through Venus's clouds at altitudes ranging from 52 kilometers to 68 kilometers, using solar-powered propellers to maneuver on Venus and while gathering science data. It is being designed to be inflated and deployed on orbit and "float" like a leaf into Venus's atmosphere, where it could operate for more than year.
The concept brings together
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121024/LA98563LOGO
To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/northrop-grumman-establishes-science-advisory-board-for-venus-mission-300083350.html
SOURCE
Sally Koris, 310-812-4721 (office), 310-567-5279 (mobile), sally.koris@ngc.com