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Camera on Curiosity's Arm as Seen by Camera on Mast — Parallax Forums

Camera on Curiosity's Arm as Seen by Camera on Mast

Ron CzapalaRon Czapala Posts: 2,418
edited 2012-09-07 10:03 in General Discussion
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/multimedia/pia15699.html

The left eye of the Mast Camera (Mastcam) on NASA's Mars rover Curiosity took this image of the camera on the rover's arm, the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI), during the 30th Martian day, or sol, of the rover's mission on Mars (Sept. 5, 2012). MAHLI is one of the tools on a turret at the end of the rover's robotic arm. When this image was taken, the arm had raised the turret to about the same height as the camera on the mast. The Mastcam's left eye has a 34-millimeter focal length lens.


684583main_pia15699-full_full.jpg

Comments

  • W9GFOW9GFO Posts: 4,010
    edited 2012-09-06 19:08
    I was going to ask what those bird cage looking things were but I figured it out. They are shock mounts.
  • NWCCTVNWCCTV Posts: 3,629
    edited 2012-09-06 20:58
    That is definately one AWESOME looking vehicle.
  • skylightskylight Posts: 1,915
    edited 2012-09-07 06:30
    Yes awesome, One question that springs to mind is all those exposed parts such as those looms are they going to become dust storm collectors adding weight to the robot or does the robot have contingency plans to avoid or dispose of clumps of dust collecting?
  • User NameUser Name Posts: 1,451
    edited 2012-09-07 07:55
    Nice day on Mars! Cool, with variable light breezes, I'd imagine.

    But the location is the middle of nowhere! Mighty lonely. But not quite as lonely as it could be.
  • Ron CzapalaRon Czapala Posts: 2,418
    edited 2012-09-07 08:49
    http://news.yahoo.com/amazing-mars-rover-shifting-science-gear-1st-martian-192428905.html


    Curiosity's robotic arm holds some of the mission's most sophisticated tools, all mounted on a 66-pound (30-kilogram) turret that spans nearly 2 feet (60 centimeters) across.

    The rover's hand-like turret carries five different devices, including a drill that can dig 1 inch (2.5 cm) into rocks, a sample collector and a scoop. The turret also houses a powerful camera, called the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI), that is designed to make microscopic observations, and an instrument, called the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS), that will be used to analyze the composition of Martian rocks and soil.


    During the instrument checkouts, MAHLI and APXS will be calibrated to prepare them for the science activities planned once Curiosity reaches Glenelg. For instance, mission managers will train MAHLI's eyes on a control sample, one whose material type is known, so that scientists can gauge the accuracy of the instrument.

    MAHLI will also be maneuvered around to take a panned set of images of Curiosity's underside.

    "This will be the first time that we use the MAHLI imager to take images of the belly of the rover," said Matt Robinson, lead engineer for Curiosity's robotic arm testing and operations at JPL.

    So far, Curiosity has driven a total of 358 feet (109 meters) on Mars, and the rover is currently positioned roughly 269 feet (82 meters) away from its touchdown point, which has been named Bradbury Landing in honor of science fiction author Ray Bradbury, who died in June.
  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    edited 2012-09-07 10:03
    User Name wrote: »
    But the location is the middle of nowhere! Mighty lonely. But not quite as lonely as it could be.

    Unless NASA has been keeping some REAL BIG secrets, I expect it to be REALLY lonely most anyplace up there!! :lol:
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