Free Powerpoint Presentations

Surface exploration of Mars
Page
3

DOWNLOAD

PREVIEW

WATCH ALL SLIDES

• Launched in June and July of 2003

• arrival at Mars – January 2004

• Each Rover weighs 180 kg, is ~5 ft high

• surface exploration: travels 100m per day

Slide 14

ATHENA: MARS EXPLORATION ROVER

ATHENA: MARS EXPLORATION ROVER

Slide 15

cartoon of the “airbag” landing of the Mars Exploration Rovers on surface

cartoon of the “airbag” landing of the Mars Exploration Rovers on surface

Slide 16

Choosing a site to land on Mars

Choosing a site to land on Mars

Can not just land anywhere – need to consider the safety of the vessel!

Slide 17

Mars Landing Considerations

Mars Landing Considerations

• terrain

- altitude (impossible climbs, falls)

- slopes (use too much energy)

- rockiness (protect airbags)

• solar panel heating – keep rover operable

• dust

- solar panels clear

- RAT tool works more in thick dust

Slide 18

Science Objectives of the MER mission

Science Objectives of the MER mission

• Characterize a variety of rocks and soils that hold clues to past water activity

– i.e. try to identify carbonates (indicate water-volcano cycles)

Distribution and composition of minerals, rocks, and soils near sites

Determine geologic processes have shaped the local terrain

• Perform "ground truth" –

calibration and validation –

of surface observations made

by Mars orbiter instruments.

Slide 19

Mars Exploration RoMars Exploration Rover: Science Instruments

Mars Exploration RoMars Exploration Rover: Science Instruments

ver: Science Instruments

Pancam- Stereo camera

IR Spectrometer - rock composition

X-ray Spectrometer - soil and rock chemistry

RAT - rock abrasion tool

Microscopic imager (search for fossils?)

Slide 20

Landing Sites on Mars: 1. Gusev Crater - morphological

Landing Sites on Mars: 1. Gusev Crater - morphological

- 15 degrees South of Mars’ equator

- large crater feature with several ‘channels’ leading into it

- water may have pooled in crater during first 2 billion years

Slide 21

Landing Sites on Mars: 2. Meridiani Planum - mineralogical

Landing Sites on Mars: 2. Meridiani Planum - mineralogical

- 2 degrees South of Mars’ equator

- other side of planet from Landing Site 1

- place where hematite has been found (rust-like mineral) – indicates that it is a former dried lake bed

Slide 22

Mars Express – European Effort

Mars Express – European Effort

Slide 23

Mars Express

Mars Express

Go to page:
 1  2  3  4 

© 2010-2024 powerpoint presentations