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Rover Components. Power Source. Most of the rover’s power comes from solar power The rover collects solar energy during hours the rover is in the sun Mars Exploration Rovers have 5 solar panels They use the stored energy to run basic rover operations
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Power Source • Most of the rover’s power comes from solar power • The rover collects solar energy during hours the rover is in the sun • Mars Exploration Rovers have 5 solar panels • They use the stored energy to run basic rover operations • Solar panels can generate up to 140-watts of energy for 4 hours • It takes about 100-watts to drive the rover • Rovers often “sleep” at night to conserve energy
Power Source – Solar Panels Mars Exploration Rover has 5 solar panels
Power Source • Mars Exploration Rovers (Spirit and Opportunity) have 2 rechargeable batteries • These provide power for the rover at night • These will also make up for extra power the rover needs when the solar panels are covered with dust and cannot fully charge • Mars Science Laboratory (Curiosity) has 2 nuclear powered batteries • These provide more power for longer • 290-watts by each battery for 24 hours and 37 minutes (1 Martian day) • More power allows more scientific experiments
Power Source – Nuclear Power Houses 2 RTG (radioisotope thermoelectric generator) batteries
Traction Components (Wheels) • Due to the rocky terrain, the Mars rovers are equipped with wheels capable of navigating uneven terrain. • The rover has 6wheels, each with its own motor. • 2 front, 2 middle, 2 rear • The front and rear wheels allow the rover to turn a full 360 degrees • The wheels have cleats to allow the rover to hold fast to the soft and rough terrain
Communication • The rovers are equipped with 2 different antennae • Low-gain antenna that send low intensity radio waves • These are picked up by 1 of 3 satellites that make up the Deep Space Network • These satellites are spaced around the world so these radio waves can be picked up at any time • High-gain antenna that send direct beams of higher intensity radio waves in a specific direction • These antennae can be moved without moving the rover
Communication Low-Gain Antenna High-Gain Antenna Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity
Communication Low-Gain Antenna High-Gain Antenna Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity
Tools – Arm and Mast • Arm • Also called “instrument deployment device” (IDD) because it can move the scientific instruments to get up close images of rocks and soil • Mast • The “neck and head” of the rover • 5 feet tall • Base for Pancam and Navcam
Tools – Arm and Mast Arm Mast
Tools – RAT and APXS • RAT • Stands for “Rock Abrasion Tool” • Located on the arm of the rover • A grinder that can drill 2 inch diameter holes in rocks • Takes up to 2 hours • APXS • Stands for “Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer” • Located on the arm of the rover • Uses alpha particles to determine the chemical composition of the rock samples • Takes up to 10 hours
Tools – RAT and APXS APXS RAT
Tools -- Cameras • Panoramic Camera • “PanCam” • 2 high resolution cameras mounted on the mast that can rotate 360 degrees and give a panoramic view • Uses 11 different filters to differentiate colors emitted by different minerals • Navigation Camera • “NavCam” • 2 black and white cameras mounted on the mast that can pivot 45 degrees above and below the PanCam • Helps NASA scientists navigate the rover
Tools -- Cameras • Hazard Avoidance Camera • “HazCam” • 4 cameras that take black and white pictures of the ground in front of and behind the rover • Used by NASA scientists to navigate the rover • Can see up to 3 meters in front of and behind the rover • Has a 120 degrees field of view
Tools – Warm Electronics Box • Also called the WEB • Body of the rover • Protects the rover’s electronics, computer, and batteries from the extreme cold temperatures • The top is triangular shaped and called the “Rover Equipment Deck” or RED