Energy
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The Importance of my Job:
Remember, a successful sample retrieval is necessary for getting the samples back to Earth where scientists can study them for signs of past water and possibly life!
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Research
There are four main types of terrain that the rover could encounter in Jezero Crater: Smooth regolith, Sand ripples, Cratered terrain, and Rocky terrain. Continue reading to get a definition of each terrain type. Below each definition, you will see photos showing what this terrain type looks like on Mars and on Earth.
Research Questions
TERRAIN TYPES
Smooth regolith is the easiest terrain for the rover to travel on. “Regolith” refers to a layer of loose sand and rocky material on top of hard, flat rock. This terrain looks like smooth, flat ground. It might have a few small rocks, or look a bit sandy, but there are no sand dunes.
Terrain with sand ripples looks similar to sand dunes on Earth. In places where the dust on the surface of Mars is very thick, it has been shaped into waves or ripples. We call this terrain type sand ripples.
Cratered terrain is smooth or slightly sandy terrain with one or more distinct craters. The craters will look like shallow circular holes in the surface, with a slightly raised rim. The terrain around the crater might look smooth, sandy, or rocky. But, if there is at least 1 crater in the area, then the terrain is cratered.
The final terrain type, rocky terrain, is characterized by the many rocks that are present. These rocks stick up from the surface, and are usually a slightly different color than the surrounding dusty surface. This terrain type requires the most energy for the rover to travel on.
Terrain with sand ripples looks similar to sand dunes on Earth. In places where the dust on the surface of Mars is very thick, it has been shaped into waves or ripples. We call this terrain type sand ripples.
Cratered terrain is smooth or slightly sandy terrain with one or more distinct craters. The craters will look like shallow circular holes in the surface, with a slightly raised rim. The terrain around the crater might look smooth, sandy, or rocky. But, if there is at least 1 crater in the area, then the terrain is cratered.
The final terrain type, rocky terrain, is characterized by the many rocks that are present. These rocks stick up from the surface, and are usually a slightly different color than the surrounding dusty surface. This terrain type requires the most energy for the rover to travel on.
Terrain Type Questions
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Stored Energy
The rover will begin its journey with a fully charged battery, ensuring that it has enough energy to reach any of the depots on the map above. However, in order to return to the Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV), (where the rover begins, as indicated on the diagram), the rover will need to use energy generated by its solar panels to charge its battery as it travels.
You must calculate how much energy the rover requires to make the return trip and how much energy the solar panels can generate. You will need to determine whether the rover can make the return trip in one go, or if it will have to stop for a few sols to recharge. The following tasks will guide you through these calculations.
When you receive the path choice from NAV, enter it into the data log below to find out how much stored energy the rover will have leftover once it reaches the depot:
Notepad
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Task 1
While you wait, did you know:
Image of Curiosity. Curiosity celebrated the end of its first year on Mars by singing itself the American Happy Birthday song. In the news it was known as “The Loneliest Birthday in the Universe". In order to sing Happy Birthday, Curiosity had a string of commands to use its vibrating scientific instruments to generate the tune of Happy Birthday. Of course, getting the commands to Mars was a very complicated task. It also shorted the lifetime of Curiosity by putting wear on the scientific instruments. Because of these reasons the Happy Birthday song was a one time event.
Notepad
POWER AND ENERGY
Power is the rate at which energy is used, and is measured in watts. For example, if you turn on a 25 watt LED bulb, the bulb will be consuming 25 watts, all the time, for as long as it is on.
Energy is the total power consumed in a given amount of time. It is often measured in watt-hours. Again, to use the example of a 25 watt LED light, the energy it consumes over 8 hours would be:
Energy = Power x Time = 25 watts x 8 hours = 200 watt-hours.
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Task 2
Follow the instructions below to determine how much power the rover will require to return to the MAV on the path chosen by the NAV team.
Power Rover Requires based on Slope and Terrain Type Chart. The slopes are either flat, slight, moderate, steep or very steep. The terrain types are either smooth regolith, sand ripples, cratered terrain or rocky terrain. The flatter of slope and smoother terrain, the rover requires less power to travel. The rockier of terrain and very steep slope, the rover requires more power to travel.
Notepad
Once you complete calculating the ROVER ENERGY REQUIREMENTS, watch the chat for the Atmospheric Opacity information from the Meteorology (MET) team.
One of the factors that will affect how much energy can be produced by the rover's solar panels is Mars' atmospheric opacity. On Mars, the opacity is most affected by particles of dust suspended in the atmosphere. If a dust storm is nearing the area, the amount of energy generated by the rover’s solar panels could decrease and change the number of sols needed for the return trip.
Travel on Mars is difficult and can sometimes damage the structure of the rover. You will receive a message from the GEO team about any potential structure damage that could also change the amount of time needed for the return trip.
One of the factors that will affect how much energy can be produced by the rover's solar panels is Mars' atmospheric opacity. On Mars, the opacity is most affected by particles of dust suspended in the atmosphere. If a dust storm is nearing the area, the amount of energy generated by the rover’s solar panels could decrease and change the number of sols needed for the return trip.
Travel on Mars is difficult and can sometimes damage the structure of the rover. You will receive a message from the GEO team about any potential structure damage that could also change the amount of time needed for the return trip.
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Task 3
Solar Energy versus Atmospheric Opacity Chart. The Atmospheric Opacity levels go from 0 through 11. The chart shows 0 Atmospheric Opacity is 2600 watt-hours/sol. 11 Atmospheric Opacity has 0 watt-hours/sol.
Notepad
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Task 4
Will the rover have enough energy to travel the route selected by NAV?
If the amount of energy required is less than the available energy, follow these instructions:
If the amount of energy required is greater than the available energy, follow these instructions:
IF THE ROVER NEEDS TO RECHARGE, CONTINUE TO THE "ROVER RECHARGE" TASK.
OTHERWISE, SCROLL DOWN TO "MAKE A FINAL DECISION."
OTHERWISE, SCROLL DOWN TO "MAKE A FINAL DECISION."
Rover Recharge
Rover Recharge Data Log
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Make a Final Decision
Sample Image of where to find the pen tool, text tool, and more on the Mission Decision Board. The pen tool, post-it note and text box buttons are all to the left of the Mission Decision Board. The pen tool is first, the post-it note is fourth and the text box is seventh.
While you wait, did you know:
Image of a NASA. A long standing tradition for JPL engineers is to share good luck peanuts during exciting points in new missions (like landing rovers on other worlds). This tradition started in 1964 at the Ranger 7 mission which followed six failures of the preceding Ranger missions. The peanuts were handed out in hopes of reducing some of the mission anxiety, and with the success of Ranger 7 the peanuts stayed around to hopefully bring success to future missions.
Congratulations, NRG, and here’s hoping for a successful mission ahead!
Select Next Path
Once the rover successfully returns the samples collected on the path chosen by NAV, it is time to plan for a second Sample Fetch Rover mission. If you were to send the rover to a second depot, which path would you select? Follow the directions below to select which path the rover should visit next.
Diversity of samples that may be discovered within the mission. 20 samples inside the Jezero system and 17 outside the Jezero system.
Diversity of samples broken down into four groups. Path A, 7 samples. Path B, 6 samples. Path C, 7 samples. Path D, 17 samples.