To guarantee that we can keep the rover safe and healthy, while performing remote science, robust planning for combination started months ago. In the sols leading up to combination, we verified that the rover remained in a safe area by performing all regular engineering and instrument maintenance operations, stowing the robotic arm, and publishing a couple of weeks worth of commands. These strategies were carefully constructed to ensure steady positions for thermal, power, physical stability, and information volume for collections throughout combination..
The commanding strategy for the period is burglarized three various 6-sol length master sequence plans which handover to one another. These master series figure out the rovers sol-to-sol schedule for when to sleep and perform different science and engineering activities..
Throughout this duration, Perseverance will not be conducting any mobility, robotic arm motion, sample caching system activities, or using any of the instruments on the robotic arm. Resourcefulness is staying fixed sitting 575 feet (175 meters) away from Perseverance and will send status reports to the rover as soon as per week.
After conjunction, just remote science will be enabled till all vital engineering data has actually been gotten and assessed which may take a few days to sort through the massive information downlink. Once small rover operations resume, Perseverance will continue to explore its area in the South Séítah area of Jezero Crater, where it will make its next sample effort.
As the worlds align for solar conjunction and there is a break in tactical operations, our team is striving on strategic engineering activities for future improvements for the rover mission operations system, examining information downlinked previous to conjunction, and seizing the day to refresh and enjoy our home planet..
See you on the other side of the Sun, Perseverance!
Composed by Alyssa Deardorff, Systems Engineer at NASA/JPL.
Using its WATSON video camera, NASAs Perseverance Mars rover took this selfie over a rock nicknamed “Rochette,” on Sept. 10, 2021, the 198th Martian day, or sol, of the mission. 2 holes can be seen where the rover used its robotic arm to drill rock core samples. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
As the Sun spews hot, stimulated gas from its outer atmosphere (corona) far across area, and Mars and Earth align on opposite sides, this triggers interference with our radio signal interactions. This implies reliable communication is precluded, and we are in a quiet-period for tactical day-to-day mission operations, called solar conjunction..
While this is the first solar combination for Perseverance because landing on Mars on February 18, 2021, this is the fifth solar combination for Curiosity which provides us an opportunity to discover from their strategies, experiences, and lessons found out..
We are presently two-thirds of the method through this solar conjunction, sols 217-235 (September 28– October 17). While we can not send out brand-new directions to the rover throughout this time, Perseverance is not bored..
Using its WATSON video camera, NASAs Perseverance Mars rover took this selfie over a rock nicknamed “Rochette,” on Sept. 10, 2021, the 198th Martian day, or sol, of the mission. To guarantee that we can keep the rover healthy and safe, while performing remote science, robust preparation for conjunction started months back. In the sols leading up to conjunction, we validated that the rover was in a safe space by carrying out all routine engineering and instrument upkeep operations, stowing the robotic arm, and publishing a few weeks worth of commands.