M2K4 Roaming the Red Planet -MER Rovers/ Rover Instruments
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PANCAMS/NAVCAMS
The two panoramic and two navigation cameras gather 3D images of the Martian terrain, allowing the MER team to determine where to send the rovers. The panoramic cameras, which transmit images in color, also are part of the rovers' complement of scientific instruments
PANCAM Mast Assembly
The mast stands about 5 feet tall, giving the cameras a "human geologist's" perspective and allowing them to see into the distance. The mast also houses one of the rover's science instruments.
Front HAZCAMS
Mounted on the lower portion of the front and rear of the rover, these black-and-white "eyes" safeguard the rover against getting lost or inadvertently crashing into unexpected obstacles. They work in tandem with software that allows the rover make its own safety choices and to "think on its own." Another pair of hazcams are mounted on the rear.
Instrument Deployment Device
This rover "arm" holds four of each rover's scientific instruments.
Tucked under the front of the rover when it is moving, the arm extends forward
when the rover is ready to examine a particular rock or patch of soil.
Instruments: MI, RAT, MB, APXS
At the end of the Instrument Deployment Device are four of the rover's scientific
instruments:
Part microscope, part camera, the Microscopic Imager produces closeup views
of the small-scale features of Martian rocks and soils.
The Rock Abrasion Tool is a powerful grinder for cutting holes in Martian rocks.
Once a fresh surface is exposed, scientists can examine it for clues as to how
the rock was formed and the environmental conditions in which it was altered.
The Mössbauer Spectrometer was specially designed to study iron-bearing
minerals. It is so specialized that it can determine the composition and abundance
of these minerals to a high level of accuracy. This ability can also help us
understand the magnetic properties of surface materials.
The APXS studies certain alpha particles and x-rays emitted by rocks and soils
to determine the amounts of different elements that have come together to form
all of the minerals within the rock. Knowing the elemental composition of Martian
rocks provides scientists with information about the formation of the planet's
crust, as well as any weathering that has taken place.
Rocker-Bogie Mobility System
This sophisticated suspension system allows the rover to traverse terrain that
can change dramatically and suddenly without suddenly turning over. The "rockers"
in the system compensate for sudden changes in position, while the "bogie"
allows it to turn.
Warm Electronics Box
The rover's essentials, such as the batteries, electronics, and computer, stay
safe inside this box. Like a warm coat, the box's walls help keep heat in when
the night temperatures on Mars can drop to -96 degrees Celsius (-140 degrees
Fahrenheit).
High-Gain Antenna
The rover has both a low-gain and high-gain antenna that serve as both its
"voice" and its "ears". The high-gain antenna can send a
"beam" of information in a specific direction and it is steerable,
so the antenna can move to point itself directly to any antenna on Earth.
Low-Gain Antenna
The low-gain antenna sends and receives information in every direction. The
antenna transmits radio waves at a low rate to the NASA's Deep Space Network
(DSN) antennas on Earth. Not only can the rovers send messages directly to Earth,
but they can uplink information to other spacecraft orbiting Mars.
Solar Arrays
The rovers' solar arrays collect sunlight and convert it to electrical energy
to be stored in the batteries. The solar arrays can collect more than enough
energy to power the rover, but over approximately four months the changing position
of the Sun and weakening batteries will lead to the end of the mission.