Navigation Task Cards — Virtual Programs

Navigation

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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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Background

Follow these directions to learn more about the rover you will be working with today.

BACKGROUND

In this mission, you will collaborate with the Geology (GEO) and Energy (NRG) teams to collect samples with the Sample Fetch Rover (SFR). It is your responsibility to control the rover’s movements. The image below shows the different parts of the rover and describes each part's use.

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Path Selection

A key part of your job is to select a path for the rover to travel. This path will lead the rover to one or more depots, or locations, where Perseverance has left samples that need to be retrieved.

The map below shows the possible routes the rover can take to collect samples. The green circles on the path represent depots. Depots are locations where samples are stored. The information in the gray box identifies the length of each path and the number of samples at each depot.

These paths were carefully chosen after an orbital survey of the terrain. The orbiting survey also determined that traveling directly from one depot to another is impossible.

Map of all four Paths the Rover could take. Path A, 2 km, 7 Samples. Path B, 3 km, 6 Samples. Path C, 2.5 km, 7 Samples. Path D, 5.5 km, 17 Samples.

There are different types of samples stored at each depot, taken from various locations within Jezero crater and outside the crater. The image below shows which samples are stored at the end of each path.

You may notice that some of the samples at these locations are “Blank,” meaning that they are control samples. Although they do not contain any Jezero rock or soil samples, some may have been open to the Martian atmosphere. Blanks are necessary to complete a proper investigation and are valuable for scientists to analyze.

Diversity of samples broken into their respective paths. Path A, 7 samples. Path B, 6 samples. Path C, 7 samples. Path D, 17 samples.

Follow the directions below to select a path and report your selection:

2. Look at the different types of samples shown in the image to get an understanding of the diversity of samples at each location.

3. Choose the path that you would like the rover to take first. Remember, the goal of the mission is to collect as many samples as possible in the shortest amount of time, while also collecting a wide variety of different sample types.

4. Once you have chosen a path, you will send your path choice to the GEO and NRG teams:

1. Locate the CHAT in your call software.
2. Select “Everyone” from the drop-down menu.
3. Type the following message, filling in the blank with the letter of your chosen path.

This is NAV. I have selected Path ____.

4. Once you have typed it in the CHAT, make sure to hit SEND or ENTER.

5. You should also make a verbal announcement:

a. Make sure no one else is speaking.
b. Unmute yourself.
c. Read the message out loud.
d. Mute yourself again.

The GEO and NRG teams will analyze your chosen path to understand the path's terrain and the amount of energy the rover needs to complete the path.

Once you have selected a path, you will need to write a computer program that directs the rover how to move from the start of the path to the depot at the end of the path. Continue to the RESEARCH section.

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Research

COMPUTER PROGRAM

A computer program is a set of instructions written in a language a computer can read. Each new instruction is written on a new line. The computer begins reading at the top and reads the program line by line going down, completing each instruction after reading it.

In this case, you will write a program that will be sent to the rover. A computer inside the rover will read this program and control the rover’s movements to follow the instructions in your program.

You must write your computer program as a series of instructions which tell the rover the correct direction to turn and how far to move in that direction. The final line of your program must tell the rover to collect the samples at the depot.

NAV Research Questions

Notepad

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Rover Program

  Follow the instructions below to write an example program that tells the rover how to navigate the path you have chosen. 

You will be using a map with a grid system to program the rover. The rover can only travel up/down or left/right - it is unable to drive diagonally.

example image of the grid system to program the rover

When you are programming the rover, REMEMBER the following:

• The rover will use the same path to AND from the Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV) to the Depots

• The rover is a delicate piece of equipment - you NEED to AVOID obstacles such as large rocks and cliffs

  • Most obstacles are highlighted in red

Below are buttons to open a collection of maps of all the paths. There are collections for each team color. 

Once you open the collection of maps for your team color:

• Use the arrows at the top of the page to navigate (see the image below) and find the map of the path you chose.

• Select the pen tool on the left side of the screen. You may draw on the map to figure out the best way to move from the MAV to the depot (indicated by a green square).

Once you have figured out how you want to get from the MAV to the depot, open the PROGRAMMING DATA LOG below and select the path you have chosen.

You will then enter your program.  The rover only understands the following computer language, the format for each line: Turn ____ and go ____ squares.

Below is an example of a complete program: 

Turn E and go 7 squares.

Turn N and go 9 squares.

Turn E and go 4 squares.

Collect the samples.

NOTE: 
You will need to add a period at the end of each line. 
N 
for North

S for South

  E for East
 W for West

Notepad

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Archived Documents

As the rover travels to the depot, review the following archived video. The video contains information about previous Mars missions related to the NAV team's work. One of the best ways scientists learn is by looking at what has worked in the past.

First, watch the video:

Second, record what you learned from the video in the data log below.

Archived Documents Data Log

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Preparing for Launch

After the rover has reached the depot and collected samples, the samples must return to the MAV so they can be launched into Martian orbit. The samples will be loaded onto a small rocket, which is capable of escaping Mars’ surface to reach orbit. Before the samples can be launched, you must calculate the speed required to reach a stable orbit.

NAV ROCKET LAUNCH RESEARCH

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Calculate Launch Speed

The speed required to leave the surface of a planet and reach a stable orbit is determined mainly by the mass of the planet. In physics, there is an equation that can be used to calculate this orbital speed.

ORBITAL SPEED

The speed required for a satellite to stay in orbit around a planet is calculated based on three values: the mass of the planet, the radius of the orbit, and the gravitational constant G.

G is used to refer to a number that is used often in physics when talking about gravity. The exact number is equal to 6.67×10⁻¹¹ m³kg⁻¹s⁻². You can probably see why it’s much easier to just write G.

Since G is always the same no matter which planet we’re looking at, the mass and the radius are most important for determining the orbital speed. The mass of some specific celestial bodies (objects in space such as planets or moons) and radius of their intended orbits are shown below:

Celestal Bodies with their mass and radius of orbit chart. Earth's mass is 1.0 Earth Mass and has a radius of orbit 6,798 km. Mar's mass is 0.107 Earth masses and has a radius of orbit 3,740 km. The Moon, Earth's moon is 0.012 Earth masses and has a radius of orbit 1,788 km. Europa, one of Jupiter's moons has a mass of 0.008 Earth masses and has a radius of orbit 1,561 km.

NAV orbital speed data log

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Sample Collection

Once the rover has reached the depot, it needs time to gather all the samples. Mission Control on Earth needs to program the rover to approach the sample tube, orient itself properly, and use its Sample Fetch Arm to pick up the sample tube. The rover then stores the sample tube onboard and heads to the next sample (or starts the journey back to the MAV).

NOTE: It takes one sol to collect one sample tube. If a depot has seven sample tubes, the rover will need to spend seven sols at that location.

To calculate the time required at the depot, use the SAMPLE COLLECTION TIME LOG:

sample collection time log

Notepad

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Make a Final Decision

You must now work with all of the other teams to determine how many samples can be gathered at the depot, and if you will be able to launch the samples before the dust storms arrives.

1. Announce to your team members that you are ready to make the final decision regarding the Mars Sample Return mission.

a. Locate the CHAT in your call software.
b. Select “Everyone” from the drop-down menu.
c. Type the following message:

This is NAV. I have a message for ALL teams: I have completed all my tasks, and I am ready to work with you on the final decision.

d. Once you have typed it in the CHAT, make sure to hit SEND or ENTER.
e. You should also make a verbal announcement.

1. Make sure no one else is speaking.
2. Unmute yourself.
3. Read the message out loud.
4. Mute yourself again.

Click here to open the Mission Decision board

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.

4. Return your attention to your call software, and when all team members are ready for the final decision, talk with them to decide the following:

a. How many samples should be picked up before returning to the MAV?
b. IF there is a dust storm approaching, is there enough time for the rover to return to the MAV before the dust storm arrives?

While you wait, did you know:

Image of Mars’ terrain. Perseverance has a collection of 23 different cameras. Nine are used for Engineering tasks, seven are used for science on Mars, and another seven were used just for landing! These cameras include SHEROLC and WATSON which are science cameras that work together to learn more about the Martian surface. It has many other instruments designed to teach scientists back on Earth a wide range of new information about Mars. One other exciting instrument includes the drone Ingenuity. This was a small helicopter designed to test flight on a new world.

Once all team members agree on a Final Decision, you will have successfully completed the Mars Sample Fetch Rover mission simulation. 

Congratulations, NAV, and here’s hoping for a successful mission ahead!

Select Next Path

NOTE: Only move onto this section if all team members have agreed on a Final Decision and there is remaining time for your mission simulation.

Once the rover successfully returns the samples collected on the path you chose, 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.

1. Consult the images below to decide which path the rover should take next in order to retrieve as many samples as possible, and to gather a diverse set of samples.

You may notice that some of the samples at these locations are “Blank,” meaning that they are control samples. Although they do not contain any Jezero rock or soil samples, some may have been open to the Martian atmosphere. Blanks are necessary to complete a proper investigation and are valuable for scientists to analyze.

The total number of samples in all caches is 37. Below is the complete set, broken down by whether the samples were those from inside or the outside of Jezero crater.

Diversity of samples that may be discovered within the mission. 20 samples inside the Jezero system and 17 outside the Jezero system.

ALL SAMPLES

The next image shows you which samples are cached at each depot.

Diversity of samples broken down into four groups. Path A, 7 samples. Path B, 6 samples. Path C, 7 samples. Path D, 17 samples.

SAMPLES BY PATH

2. Enter your path choice in the Sample Diversity Log:

nav sample diversity data log

3. Send your second path recommendation to all teams:

a. Locate the CHAT in your call software.
b. Select “Everyone” from the drop-down menu.
c. Type the following message, filling in the blanks based on the SAMPLE DIVERSITY DATA LOG.

This is NAV. I have a message for ALL teams: Once the rover has retrieved samples from Path ___, the next path to follow would be Path ___. If that is successfully returned to the MAV, the total number of samples retrieved will be ____.

d. Once you have typed it in the CHAT, make sure to hit SEND or ENTER.
e. You should also make a verbal announcement:

1. Make sure no one else is speaking.
2. Unmute yourself.
3. Read the message out loud.
4. Mute yourself again.

4. If other team members have also made a second path recommendation, you may discuss your choice with them in the CHAT.