Mars Research Laboratory

Next fall, NASA is planning to launch its $1.8 billion Mars Research Laboratory. This new generation spacecraft is going to be the largest spacecraft to go to Mars, measuring abut the size of an SUV. It is said that the Mars Research laboratory is going to be able to hold 5 times as much equipment as the Spirit and Opportunity rovers. Accompanying this spacecraft will be foot-wide glass balls that will be able to travel up to 62 miles, take pictures of the martian landscape and take soil samples. The "ball rovers" will be stored in boxes for the trip to Mars. Once they land a spring will push them out onto the surface of Mars and xenon gas will inflate the balls. The rovers will be powered by solar panels.