Author Topic: NASA - MSL Updates  (Read 103246 times)

Offline Alexsander

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Re: NASA - MSL Updates
« Reply #120 on: 06/08/2012 03:48 pm »
http://www.swri.org/9what/releases/2011/rad-mars.htm

Quote
"We are seeing a strong flux in space, even inside the spacecraft, about four times higher doses of radiation than the baseline we measured on the launch pad from the RTG, or radioisotope thermoelectric generator, used to power the rover. It's very exciting to begin the science mission."

How much radiation is that? Is it safe?

Offline robertross

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Re: NASA - MSL Updates
« Reply #121 on: 06/10/2012 05:00 pm »
http://www.swri.org/9what/releases/2011/rad-mars.htm

Quote
"We are seeing a strong flux in space, even inside the spacecraft, about four times higher doses of radiation than the baseline we measured on the launch pad from the RTG, or radioisotope thermoelectric generator, used to power the rover. It's very exciting to begin the science mission."

How much radiation is that? Is it safe?

Not sure how much that is, but my attitude is that all radiation has some effect, not matter how small. It's the cumulative effect that can be quite detrimental to living things.

Obviously great information for future crewed spaceflight missions.

Online jacqmans

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Re: NASA - MSL Updates
« Reply #122 on: 06/11/2012 06:31 pm »
RELEASE: 12-192

NASA MARS ROVER TEAM AIMS FOR LANDING CLOSER TO PRIME SCIENCE SITE

WASHINGTON -- NASA has narrowed the target for its most advanced Mars
rover, Curiosity, which will land on the Red Planet in August. The
car-sized rover will arrive closer to its ultimate destination for
science operations, but also closer to the foot of a mountain slope
that poses a landing hazard.

"We're trimming the distance we'll have to drive after landing by
almost half," said Pete Theisinger, Mars Science Laboratory (MSL)
project manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in
Pasadena, Calif. "That could get us to the mountain months earlier."

It was possible to adjust landing plans because of increased
confidence in precision landing technology aboard the MSL spacecraft,
which is carrying the rover. That spacecraft can aim closer without
hitting Mount Sharp at the center of Gale crater. Rock layers located
in the mountain are the prime location for research with the rover.

Curiosity is scheduled to land at approximately 10:31 p.m. PDT Aug. 5
(1:31 a.m. EDT, Aug. 6). Following checkout operations, Curiosity
will begin a 2-year study of whether the landing vicinity ever
offered an environment favorable for microbial life.

Theisinger and other mission leaders described the target adjustment
during a June 11 update to reporters Monday about preparations for
landing and for operating Curiosity on Mars.

The landing target ellipse had been an ellipse approximately 12 miles
wide and 16 miles long (20 kilometers by 25 kilometers). Continuing
analysis of the new landing system's capabilities has allowed mission
planners to shrink the area to approximately 4 miles wide and 12
miles long (7 kilometers by 20 kilometers), assuming winds and other
atmospheric conditions as predicted.

Even with the smaller ellipse, Curiosity will be able to touch down at
a safe distance from steep slopes at the edge of Mount Sharp.

"We have been preparing for years for a successful landing by
Curiosity, and all signs are good," said Dave Lavery, MSL program
executive. "However, landing on Mars always carries risks, so success
is not guaranteed. Once on the ground we'll proceed carefully. We
have plenty of time since Curiosity is not as life-limited as the
approximate 90-day missions like NASA's Mars Exploration Rovers and
the Phoenix lander."

Since the spacecraft was launched in November 2011, engineers have
continued testing and improving its landing software. MSL will use an
upgraded version of flight software installed on its computers during
the past two weeks. Additional upgrades for Mars surface operations
will be sent to the rover about a week after landing.

Other preparations include upgrades to the rover's software and
understanding effects of debris coming from the drill the rover will
use to collect samples from rocks on Mars. Experiments at JPL
indicate that Teflon from the drill could mix with the powdered
samples. Testing will continue past landing with copies of the drill.
The rover will deliver the samples to onboard instruments that can
identify mineral and chemical ingredients.

"The material from the drill could complicate, but will not prevent
analysis of carbon content in rocks by one of the rover's 10
instruments. There are workarounds," said John Grotzinger, MSL
project scientist at the California Institute of Technology in
Pasadena. "Organic carbon compounds in an environment are one
prerequisite for life. We know meteorites deliver non-biological
organic carbon to Mars, but not whether it persists near the surface.
We will be checking for that and for other chemical and mineral clues
about habitability."

Curiosity will be in good company as it nears landing. Two NASA Mars
orbiters along with a European Space Agency orbiter will be in
position to listen to radio transmissions as MSL descends through
Mars' atmosphere.

The mission is managed by JPL for NASA's Science Mission Directorate
in Washington. Curiosity was designed, developed and assembled at
JPL.

Follow the mission on Facebook and Twitter at:

http://www.facebook.com/marscuriosity

http://www.twitter.com/marscuriosity

For more information on the Mars Science Laboratory/Curiosity mission,
visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/msl
Jacques :-)

Offline SpaceXSLS

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Re: NASA - MSL Updates
« Reply #123 on: 06/11/2012 10:17 pm »
Just read that the drill used to bore into rock will leave the samples contaminated by trace amounts of teflon, and this was known since before it was launched.

http://news.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2012/06/nasa-rover-will-contaminate-its.html

Offline robertross

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Re: NASA - MSL Updates
« Reply #124 on: 06/12/2012 02:07 am »
Just read that the drill used to bore into rock will leave the samples contaminated by trace amounts of teflon, and this was known since before it was launched.

http://news.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2012/06/nasa-rover-will-contaminate-its.html

Does that mean that it won't have the same issues that Phoenix had with samples, and they will simply slide right on in?  :)

Oh well, too late now: deal with it. I'm sure they'll overcome this issue.

Offline sfjcody_

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Re: NASA - MSL Updates
« Reply #125 on: 06/12/2012 08:46 am »
Is this the issue with the drill that was mentioned back in November?

http://nasawatch.com/archives/2011/11/is-something-wr.html

Offline glanmor05

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Re: NASA - MSL Updates
« Reply #126 on: 06/12/2012 09:49 am »
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18401248

BBC article mentions 3 more opportunities for course correction burns, one in the next 2 weeks.  Does anyone know the dates?
« Last Edit: 06/12/2012 09:49 am by glanmor05 »
"Through struggles, to the stars."

Offline dsmillman

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Re: NASA - MSL Updates
« Reply #127 on: 06/12/2012 12:21 pm »
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18401248

BBC article mentions 3 more opportunities for course correction burns, one in the next 2 weeks.  Does anyone know the dates?

The first one could occur on June 26, 2012.

Offline racshot65

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Re: NASA - MSL Updates
« Reply #128 on: 06/18/2012 08:21 pm »
Saw this linked to on UMSF, incredibly meaty:

http://descanso.jpl.nasa.gov/DPSummary/Descanso14_MSL_Telecom.pdf

(MSL Telecommunications System Design)

Offline robertross

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Re: NASA - MSL Updates
« Reply #129 on: 06/19/2012 12:21 am »
Saw this linked to on UMSF, incredibly meaty:

http://descanso.jpl.nasa.gov/DPSummary/Descanso14_MSL_Telecom.pdf

(MSL Telecommunications System Design)

WOW...

Thanks for posting the link to that great find!

Offline cian

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Re: NASA - MSL Updates
« Reply #130 on: 06/22/2012 07:25 pm »
Landing is due to occur on the 5th August, does anyone know what time roughly it's going to happen. 

Offline WulfTheSaxon

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Re: NASA - MSL Updates
« Reply #131 on: 06/22/2012 08:53 pm »
Landing is due to occur on the 5th August, does anyone know what time roughly it's going to happen. 

Scroll up.  ;)

Offline cian

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Re: NASA - MSL Updates
« Reply #132 on: 06/22/2012 09:08 pm »
Landing is due to occur on the 5th August, does anyone know what time roughly it's going to happen. 

Scroll up.  ;)

Just saw it, thanks.

Offline iamlucky13

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Re: NASA - MSL Updates
« Reply #133 on: 06/22/2012 10:06 pm »
Just read that the drill used to bore into rock will leave the samples contaminated by trace amounts of teflon, and this was known since before it was launched.

http://news.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2012/06/nasa-rover-will-contaminate-its.html

This doesn't strike me as a particularly major issue. They should be able to characterize the amount of teflon getting into SAM with each cycle through ground testing, and treat that as part of the measurement error in their carbon and fluorine readings. It will basically be a DC offset in the data.

In fact, assuming they know how much fluorine to expect in their samples, they should be able to use that data to know how much carbon contamination they're getting from the teflon.

I'm tempted to look for any further info on NTRS, but their annoying security settings won't let me access that site from work, since our network operates as a proxy. Hopefully I can try from home.

Offline racshot65

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Re: NASA - MSL Updates
« Reply #134 on: 06/25/2012 03:24 pm »
Neat video:

Challenges of Getting to Mars: Curiosity's Seven Minutes of Terror


Offline Norm38

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Re: NASA - MSL Updates
« Reply #135 on: 06/26/2012 01:39 pm »
A co-worker sent me that video yesterday, saying "Look at this crazy, insane thing they're about to do!"  EETimes has an article on it in their current issue.  Now that we're about a month from landing, media interest should be picking up and the EDL profile will be getting notice.  I think my co-worker's reaction will be typical.

Well, that's how science fiction becomes science fact.  I love the closing of the video:  "Dare Mighty Things"

Offline Robotbeat

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Re: NASA - MSL Updates
« Reply #136 on: 06/26/2012 06:18 pm »
Neat video:

Challenges of Getting to Mars: Curiosity's Seven Minutes of Terror


Very, very cool video! The EDL sequence is dramatic to begin with. Finally, a video professionally produced which shows just how spectacular this sequence is going to be.
Chris  Whoever loves correction loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.

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Offline Lars_J

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Re: NASA - MSL Updates
« Reply #137 on: 06/26/2012 10:59 pm »
Yep, that is a great video. I showed it to my kids, they were impressed. We are all looking forward to Aug 5th.

Offline stockman

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Re: NASA - MSL Updates
« Reply #138 on: 06/27/2012 12:51 am »
7 months since launch.... 12.5 million km's to go  - 40 days to landing
One Percent for Space!!!

Offline FinalFrontier

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Re: NASA - MSL Updates
« Reply #139 on: 06/27/2012 01:01 am »
Neat video:

Challenges of Getting to Mars: Curiosity's Seven Minutes of Terror



Nice video.

Still crossing my fingers this works  :-X
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