Continuous communication with Mars

Researchers in Scotland have discovered a way to enable continuous communication from Earth to Mars, making manned missions to the red planet slightly more plausible.

The technique, which was investigated by engineers at Strathclyde University, would allow continuous communication with one spacecraft.

It was previously believed this was not possible because the Sun obscures the Earth’s view of Mars for several weeks at a time. This would prevent any possibility of ground controllers making contact with astronauts.

The Strathclyde research centres around 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 Sun. The team has investigated how emerging space technologies can be used in Lagrange points one and two to open up new possibilities for future missions.

Malcolm Macdonald, the leader of the research, said: ‘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.