Quote from: Apollo-phill on 12/02/2011 07:23 pm"........As planned, MSL does not have a direct means of sensing Rover touchdown; a software logic is employed instead. ... the DS...is forced to follow this constant velocity vertical trajectory.(After the rover has landed...) A continuation of the DS motion requires less force. It is this change in the force command which is monitored (with a persistence check) to declare touchdown. Upon receiving this indication, a bridle cut is performed to sever the DS – Rover connection. Quote from: Jim on 12/02/2011 07:49 pmNo, the sensors detect the weight on the bridle which determines landingCan both of these be correct in some way I'm not seeing?
"........As planned, MSL does not have a direct means of sensing Rover touchdown; a software logic is employed instead. ... the DS...is forced to follow this constant velocity vertical trajectory.(After the rover has landed...) A continuation of the DS motion requires less force. It is this change in the force command which is monitored (with a persistence check) to declare touchdown. Upon receiving this indication, a bridle cut is performed to sever the DS – Rover connection.
No, the sensors detect the weight on the bridle which determines landing
When is the landing? I heard on the NASA Tweetup that it is at 10:00pm or so PDT, but they didn't say a date (maybe August 6th)? But the update says it's the 5th, but not the 5th where. Anyone have the truth?
Still curious about it... (See two posts above)
Quote from: Lee Jay on 12/02/2011 04:31 pmWhen is the landing? I heard on the NASA Tweetup that it is at 10:00pm or so PDT, but they didn't say a date (maybe August 6th)? But the update says it's the 5th, but not the 5th where. Anyone have the truth?It appears to be around 10:00pm PDT on the 5th / 1:00am EDT on the 6th. Don't know the minutes, but I'm sure we will as we get closer.
The Jan. 11 maneuver has been planned to use the spacecraft's inertial measurement unit to measure the spacecraft's orientation and acceleration during the maneuver. A calibration maneuver using the gyroscope-containing inertial measurement unit was completed successfully on Dec. 21. The inertial measurement unit is used as an alternative to the spacecraft's onboard celestial navigation system due to an earlier computer reset.
Quote from: Lee Jay on 12/14/2011 09:40 pmQuote from: Lee Jay on 12/02/2011 04:31 pmWhen is the landing? I heard on the NASA Tweetup that it is at 10:00pm or so PDT, but they didn't say a date (maybe August 6th)? But the update says it's the 5th, but not the 5th where. Anyone have the truth?It appears to be around 10:00pm PDT on the 5th / 1:00am EDT on the 6th. Don't know the minutes, but I'm sure we will as we get closer.The last tweet with a date on MSL's page says 5Z which is midnight EDT on the 6th / 9pm PDT on the 5th.
Will MSL employee the "beep codes" during EDL as MER did?