Communication With Mars is About to Become Impossible (for two Weeks) – Universe Today
[ad_1]
Every two years, Mars enters what is known as a “Solar Conjunction,” where its orbit takes it behind the Sun relative to Earth. During these periods, the hot plasma regularly expelled by the Sun’s corona can cause interference with radio signals transmitted between Earth and Mars. To avoid signal corruption and the unexpected behaviors that could result, NASA and other space agencies declare a moratorium on communications for two weeks.
What this means is that between Oct. 2nd and Oct. 16th, all of NASA’s Mars missions will experiencing what is known as a “commanding moratorium.” This will consist of NASA sending a series of simple commands to its missions in orbit, which will then be dispatched to landers and rovers on the surface. These simple tasks will keep all of the robotic Martian explorers busy until regular communications can be established.
This moratorium can be extended by a day or two in either direction, depending on the angular distance between Mars and the Sun in the sky. “Though our Mars missions won’t be as active these next few weeks, they’ll still let us know their state of health,” Roy Gladden, manager of the Mars Relay Network at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. “Each mission has been given some homework to do until they hear from us again.”
During the moratorium, the robotic missions will transmit a limited amount of science data back to Earth (with the understanding that some will be lost), but most of it will be saved until after Mars is no longer in conjunction. At that time, the remaining data will be beamed to Earth using the Deep Space Network (DSN), the array of Earth-based radio antennae NASA uses to communicate with its deep-space missions.
In the meantime, NASA’s three orbiters – the Mars Odyssey, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), and the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) orbiter – will keep relaying some data from the missions on the surface, and also gather their own data. As for what the surface missions will be doing, the Perseverance rover will conduct weather measurements with its Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer (MEDA).
This will include looking for dust devils with its sensors and Mast-Mounted Camera System (Mastcam-Z), making radar scans with its Radar Imager for Mars’ Subsurface Experiment (RIMFAX), and recording new sounds with its microphones. The Ingenuity Mars Helicopter will remain at its current location, 175 meters (575 feet) away from Perseverance, and communicate its status weekly to the rover.
Over in the Gale Crater, the Curiosity rover will also be on the lookout for dust devils using its suite of cameras. It will use its Rover Environmental Monitoring Station (REMS) sensors to monitor the local weather conditions. It will also use its Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD) and Dynamic Albedo of Neutrons (DAN) sensors to take radiation measurements. The InSight lander will continue to monitor for “marsquakes” using its seismometer, similar to the three large ones it detected recently.
In all cases, the mission controllers will choose which instruments to shut down or keep in operation, depending on the type of mission they’re supporting. They will also decide what to do with the collected data – store it and wait until after the moratorium to transit it or transmit it and risk some data loss. Regardless, no new instructions are ever sent to Mars during a Solar Conjunction since a loss of information in a command sequence could potentially endanger a mission.
It is precisely for this reason that the moratorium procedure was developed, where mission controllers send two weeks’ worth of instructions before the conjunction and then wait. The ability of the orbiters, landers, and rovers to look after themselves during this time is a testament to how far the technology has advanced. When it is not safe to send instructions to distant missions, engineers can engage the autopilot and take some well-deserved vacation time!
Further Reading: NASA
[ad_2]
Original Post
Some really great info , Gladiolus I observed this. “Treat your friends as you do your pictures, and place them in their best light.” by Jennie Jerome Churchill.
Im no longer positive where you’re getting your information, but great topic. I must spend a while studying more or understanding more. Thanks for great info I was on the lookout for this info for my mission.
Hey there, I think your website might be having browser compatibility issues. When I look at your blog site in Ie, it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other then that, excellent blog!
Hey there! I know this is kinda off topic however I’d figured I’d ask. Would you be interested in exchanging links or maybe guest authoring a blog post or vice-versa? My site covers a lot of the same topics as yours and I feel we could greatly benefit from each other. If you are interested feel free to send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you! Fantastic blog by the way!
Its such as you learn my mind! You seem to know so much about this, such as you wrote the e-book in it or something. I believe that you simply could do with a few percent to force the message home a bit, however other than that, this is great blog. An excellent read. I will definitely be back.
Your place is valueble for me. Thanks!…
I conceive you have noted some very interesting details, regards for the post.
When I initially commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get several emails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove people from that service? Bless you!
Very interesting info !Perfect just what I was looking for!
Perfectly written written content, thankyou for information .
Hello.This post was really motivating, particularly since I was browsing for thoughts on this topic last Thursday.
Hello! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after browsing through some of the post I realized it’s new to me. Anyways, I’m definitely happy I found it and I’ll be book-marking and checking back frequently!
Very interesting subject, thankyou for posting. “The great leaders have always stage-managed their effects.” by Charles De Gaulle.
You are my breathing in, I own few blogs and rarely run out from to post .
Would you be concerned with exchanging links?
Whats Happening i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve discovered It positively helpful and it has aided me out loads. I’m hoping to give a contribution & assist other users like its aided me. Great job.
You made some clear points there. I did a search on the subject and found most guys will agree with your blog.
I am often to blogging and i really appreciate your content. The article has really peaks my interest. I am going to bookmark your site and keep checking for new information.
I like this site very much, Its a really nice position to read and obtain info .
Great work! This is the type of info that are meant to be shared across the web. Shame on the search engines for not positioning this post higher! Come on over and seek advice from my site . Thank you =)
certainly like your web site but you need to check the spelling on quite a few of your posts. Several of them are rife with spelling issues and I find it very bothersome to tell the truth nevertheless I will certainly come back again.
FitSpresso is a natural weight loss supplement that will help you maintain healthy body weight without having to deprive your body of your favorite food or take up exhausting workout routines.
Heya! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any trouble with hackers? My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up losing several weeks of hard work due to no data backup. Do you have any methods to protect against hackers?
Spot on with this write-up, I really suppose this web site needs far more consideration. I’ll probably be once more to learn far more, thanks for that info.
You have mentioned very interesting details! ps nice site.
I dugg some of you post as I thought they were extremely helpful invaluable
A person essentially help to make seriously posts I would state. This is the very first time I frequented your website page and thus far? I surprised with the research you made to make this particular publish incredible. Excellent job!
I’ve recently started a website, the information you provide on this site has helped me tremendously. Thank you for all of your time & work.
I do not even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was great. I do not know who you are but certainly you’re going to a famous blogger if you aren’t already 😉 Cheers!
I believe other website proprietors should take this site as an example , very clean and wonderful user pleasant pattern.
I like what you guys are up too. Such clever work and reporting! Carry on the excellent works guys I have incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it will improve the value of my web site 🙂