Curiosity set a personal speed record

^{Curiosity movement pattern from the 21st to the 29th Martian days from the moment of landing}

After updating the software , testing the laser and other scientific tools, two weeks ago, the Curiosity rover began a journey through the Gale crater to the Glenelg point. It is located 400 meters east-southeast of the landing site. Glenelg is an interesting place to take samples: satellite photos show that three types of rocks converge there.

On September 6, NASA held a teleconference and reported on the progress of the Martian mission . In general, the journey to Glenelg is normal. On the 29th day of the mission, Curiosity updated the personal speed record, passing 30 meters towards the goal.


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Every day, Curiosity goes a growing distance, leaving a mark in Morse code for visual odometry, that is, a more accurate record of wheel revolutions.



It would seem that the three-meter Curiosity weighing 900 kg with a cruising speed of 3.8 cm per second (137 meters per hour) could travel a greater distance. But his engine is too weak for this: an atomic thermoelectric generator produces only 125 watts of energy. In terms of power units of automobile engines, this is just 0.16 horsepower. In addition, the rover often has to coordinate the route with the earth control center, because of which there are long delays. In addition, Curiosity has not yet finished checking all its scientific instruments. For example, in the next few days, he will test equipment on the arm .



3D diagram of the rover

At the end of the arm-manipulator is a brush for cleaning dust - DRT (Dust Removal Tool). Nearby is set MAHLI (Mars Hand Lens Imager) - a two-megapixel camera with a macro lens for shooting in the near distance. The diagram shows a rock shredder, an APXS X-ray spectrometer for alpha particles, and a CHIMRA sample sorting and storage tank.



At the end of testing the arm, the robot will proceed further along the intended route.