Cameras
The rover has nine cameras total: Six black and white engineering cameras aid in rover navigation while three science cameras make scientific observations.
Two sets of two Engineering Hazcams (four total) are mounted on the front and back of the rover and work with hazard avoidance software to scan for potential obstacles and risks. Each camera has a 120 degree field view and can see up to 3 meters in front of it, and four meters wide at the furthest distance. In addition to the Hazcams, two Engineering Navcams are mounted on the mast of the rover. Together the Navcams form a stereo view, with each cam having a 45 degree field of view. 3-D Panoramic images created with the Navcams compliment data gathered with the Hazcams.
Two Science Pancams are mounted on the mast and deliver 3-D color views of the surrounding environment. The Pancams have a narrow field of view similar to the human eye, and together have 11 unique color filters and two color, solar filters. In addition to taking high definition panoramic photos, the Pancams can assist in navigation. It can use the current time with the position of the sun to determine compass directions. One additional Science Microscopic imager is mounted on the rover’s mechanical arm. It is used to take extremely close-up pictures of rock and soil. This not only provides valuable information about Martian soil, but also can impact rover mobility (i.e. if it finds extremely soft soil, it may avoid that path).
Rock Abrasion Tool
The rock abrasion tool is located in the bottom of the picture, just after it bore a hole in a rock. This particular specimen is termed Marquette Island, and is said to be unique in composition when compared to other Martian basalts. It was first thought to be of meteorite origin, but a low nickel composition suggest it may be a Martian original.
Other Scientific tools
Miniature Thermal Emission Spectrometer (Mini-TES): Identifies promising rocks and soils for closer examination and for determining the processes that formed Martian rocks. Designed to look skyward to provide temp. profiles of Martian atmosphere.
Mossbauer Spectrometer (MB): Close-up investigations of the mineralogy of iron-bearing rocks and soils
Alpha Parcticle X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS): Close-up Analysis of the abundances of elements that make up rocks and soils
Magnets: Collect dust particles for the MB and AXPS, which are designed to determine the ratio of magnetic vs. non-magnetic particles.
Future
Spirit and Opportunity are part of an ongoing effort to classify the past and present geology and climate on Mars. Specifically, NASA is looking for evidence of past water in the geology. Opportunity is currently heading towards the Endeavor crater and is less than 3.7 miles away. NASA is launching another mission in November of this year, Mars Science Laboratory (MSL), which will include another rover named Curiosity. Curiosity will carry more than ten times the weight of scientific instruments, and be fives times as heavy overall.
The MSL has four main goals:
1) To determine if life ever arose on Mars
2) To characterized the climate of Mars
3) To characterize the geology of Mars
4 )To prepare for human exploration
NASA is looking to send another rover mission to search for potentially habitable areas in 2018. The Mars Astrobilogy Explore-Cacher is still in the works, but it would be the next logical step if MSL succeeds.
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