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 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 6 wheels, 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

Traction Components (Wheels)

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

Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity Communication Low-Gain Antenna High-Gain Antenna Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity

Mars Science Laboratory Communication Low-Gain Antenna High-Gain Antenna Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity

Tools – Arm and Mast Arm Mast 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 APXS 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” 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 Navigation 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 -- Cameras

Tools -- Cameras

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

Tools – Warm Electronics Box WEB