Download Scientific Instrumentation- Communication with Mars

Scientific Instrumentation- Communication with Mars (Robots
and Landers: Reliability)
Earth and Orbiters:
• UHF (Ultra High Frequency) antenna on each rovers relays information to
Mars Odyssey and Mars Global Surveyor orbiters – these orbiters must be
in view of the rover that is trying to communicate
• There are specific times in the Martian day when the rovers can send
messages to the spacecraft
• Information will be stored on each orbiter and then sent to Earth
sometime within the next two days – orbiters have much more power and
bigger antennas than rovers to relay information to Earth
Earth and Mars Rovers:
• There is a lag time when communicating between Earth and Mars  this lag time
grows as the mission progresses because Earth and Mars move away from each
other in their orbits
• Beginning of mission – radio signal takes 10 minutes to Mars
• End of mission – one-way radio signal takes 20 minutes to Mars
• Rovers communicate with each other and the NASA DSN through X-band waves
(Radio waves at higher frequency)
Earth and Astronauts on Mars
 Astronauts on Mars will be unable to have synchronous conversations with those
on Earth mainly because of a 44 minute communication delay between the two
planets.
 They will also not be able to have the ground-based psychological support
sessions usually available to astronauts and cosmonauts in space to ensure that
microgravity has not affected their minds.
 Astronauts will therefore face extreme isolation due to lack of contact and will
have to deal with problems single-handedly.
Astronauts on Mars
 Sound cannot travel through the vacuum of space, but visible light and other
forms of electromagnetic radiation can.
 One of these forms is commonly called radio. The astronauts have devices in their
helmets which transfer the sound waves from their voices into radio waves.
 Radio waves are a form of electromagnetic radiation analogous to visible light,
and therefore can propagate through a vacuum.
Things to Consider…
 Factors affecting the reliability of rovers and communication devices
 Example: Sand or dust Storms
: Positioning of Orbiters
Bibliography/ References:
 MARS TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM
 http://marstech.jpl.nasa.gov/mtp/
 NASA
 http://nasa.gov/mission_pages/exploration/mmb/index.html
 GOOGLE SCHOLAR
 http://scholar.google.ca
 SCIRUS
 www.scirus.com
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http://athena.cornell.edu/kids/bn_special_report.html
http://marsrover.nasa.gov/mission/communications.html
http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/space/06/02/space.psych/index.html
WEB GATHERING SESSION
 www.ascg.mcmaster.ca