Don't Swat That Fly - It's a Spacecraft!

by Peter N. Spotts USATODAY.com, 11 Jan 2006 Picture this: Swarms of one-legged robots hopping across Mars like malformed chicks. They dart in and out of caves and crevices, grabbing soil samples and searching for signs of ancient microbes -- and thus life. Or this: A flying wing that gently flaps across the cloud tops of Venus, sniffing the atmosphere for organic molecules. Elsewhere in the solar system, robots that buzz and flit like insects will hover over planets, hunting for hot spots formed by lava or exploring crater walls. Welcome to the space exploration of tomorrow. Read more