Engineers are working to stabilize the dust cover on the camera of a scientific instrument.
Based on data and images from NASA's Perseverance rover on Mars, we found that a cover that prevented dust from accumulating on the optics of the Sherlock instrument was still partially open, which undoubtedly interfered with the collection of scientific data. Sherlock instruments, mounted on the robotic arm of the rover, use cameras, spectrometers and lasers to detect altered organic compounds and minerals in the aquatic environment that may reveal signs of past microbial life. It uses Raman and luminescence scanning to study organic matter and chemicals in habitable environments. Now, the aggarian state of this lid may affect the progress of our exploration, but we are confident that we can solve this problem and continue our exploration journey to Mars.
The task was determined on January 6, and the orientation of the bunker made it impossible to operate successfully in some modes of operation. An engineering team has been investigating to determine the root cause and possible solutions. Recently, the cover section opened. To better understand the behavior of the cover motor, the team has been sending commands to the instrument to change the amount of electricity fed to it.
When the cover plate is in its current position, the instrument cannot use the laser on a rocky target and cannot collect spectral data. However, imaging microscopes can still be obtained using the Watson, Sherlock's color camera that takes close-up images of rock particles and surface textures. Watson (wide-angle terrain sensor for operations and engineering) operates through different apertures.
Sherlock is part of a suite of seven instruments aboard the Perseverance. During mission development, the team designed the instrument suite so that if any single instrument fails, the rover can still achieve its scientific goals because of some overlap between the capabilities of the instruments. In addition to Sherlock, PIXL (X-ray Petrochemical Planetary Instrument) and SuperCAM also perform spectroscopy.
Perseverance's PIXL at work on Mars (inset): In this image, NASA's Perseverance rover uses planetary instruments for X-ray petrochemistry (PIXL). The X-ray spectrometer, located on the turret at the end of the rover's robotic arm, will help look for signs of ancient microbial life in rocks. **nasa/jpl-caltech。
Currently, we are delving deep into a mysterious area known as the "Hive Geyser". This undaunted rover spent its 1,000th Martian day on the Red Planet on December 12, 2023. This was far beyond the original mission deadline it had set, with more than 300 solar days. Since landing safely on February 18, 2021, the rover has carried out exhaustive scans of 34 rock targets, provided valuable scientific data, and painstakingly produced 261 hyperspectral images. It is worth mentioning that Perseverance's power system uses radioisotope technology, which is based on the successful experience of the previous Curiosity rover. Curiosity has been on the Red Planet for more than 11 years, covering more than 4,000 solar days, and is still going strong. This is not only a testament to the strength of Perseverance, but also to our scientific prowess and spirit of exploration. In the days to come, we look forward to the rover continuing to write its own legend. Newbie Mentoring Program
A key goal of the Perseverance mission to Mars is astrobiology, including the search for signs of ancient microbial life. The rover will describe the geology and past climate of Mars, paving the way for human exploration of the Red Planet and becoming the first mission to collect and cache Martian rocks and regolith.
Subsequent NASA missions will work with the ESA (European Space Agency) to send spacecraft to Mars, collect these sealed samples from the Martian surface, and return them to Earth for in-depth analysis.
The Mars 2020 Perseverance mission is part of NASA's approach to moon-to-Mars exploration, which includes the Artemis mission to the moon, which will help prepare for human exploration of the Red Planet.
JPL is managed, built and managed for NASA by the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, California, to build, and manage the operation of the Perseverance rover.