Martian Sunday #issue11: Mars2020 in hurry, some Mars sounds, masterclass on Martian EDL & much more
Missions
Curiosity roves away from sandstones: From last few weeks, MSL was climbing up the sandstone capped Greenheugh Pediment. She analysed hundreds of ventifacts, rock surface 'Hartle Loup Outcrop' and Gediz Vallis Ridge, one of the youngest geomorphic features. But 'Gator-back' ventifacts or wind-sharpened rocks forced her to drive away to save her wheels from tearing. So, she will spend her next couple of weeks climbing down from the Pediment.
So, when the Franklin launch? : ESA's ExoMars team is busy finding potential solution to launch ExoMars rover as early as possible. If we get a compatible launcher then the launch is possible in 2024. As senior ESA official David Parker said in a conference,
“If the mission is reconfigured to replace Russian contributions, it would have to wait for launch opportunities in 2026 or even 2028.”
They will assess the possibility of launching the rover from member states. Else, they will join hands with international partners as NASA/ESA are conducting a “joint assessment of options for the ExoMars mission.”
Wait, wait, Delta! : Perseverance and Ingenuity both are speeding up to explore the awaiting delta. Rover has minimised its science activities to focus on driving and is breaking driving records while copter is flying frequently to arrive before Percy. Also, the Ingenuity's mission got extended upto September, 2022. So, they will explore the Delta altogether.
Recently, Ingenuity got software upgrades to reduce navigation errors and to change its previously programmed flight altitude of 15m.
When Ingenuity leave “Seitah”?: Helicopter team had planned five flights to leave non-flat “Seitah” terrain. Since March 10, the copter has taken four flights - three flights to cross Northwest portion of Seitah and a short fourth flight to perform some check-out tests for Flight 25 (option C).
Because Flight 25 will be our first 160s flight with 2537 rpm in reduced air density. Even the flight is planned 30 minutes earlier than usual to coordinate with Martian summers.
Research & Observations
Sounds from Mars: Percy's microphones have taken measurements of sound. We recorded sounds of Ingenuity's rotor blades and that of SuperCam's rock-zapping laser. But the audio is quite quiet due to low atmospheric pressure. The speed of sound on Mars is 240 m/s (low-pitch) or 250 m/s (high-pitch). The speed of sound varying with pitch, strange! Also, the sound falters at just 8 m of distance from source while you can't hear high-pitch sound at such a short-yet-long distance.
Utopia is so icy: Mars Express Orbiter captures icy regions of Utopia covered with large, smooth patches of 'mantled deposits’ along with circular as well as elliptical scalloped depressions. The image shows two largest impact craters at the centre. The material wrapped in concentric patterns of second crater resemble complex human brain. That's why the crater is popularly known as ‘Brain Terrain.’
Imagery
On March 18, 2022 Curiosity captured a wind gust and not a dust devil.
Recommendation
Attend AstroCapsule's “Martian Entry Descent and Landing” MasterClass to know how a spacecraft reduces its sky-touching speeds to zero to safely land on the surface. Register yourself using the code “57M1ED” to learn more about the shortest but the most intense phase of Martian missions!
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