MSL Video |
MSL Video |
May 30 2007, 11:59 PM
Post
#76
|
|
Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 3419 Joined: 9-February 04 From: Minneapolis, MN, USA Member No.: 15 |
Jim, I think the suggestion is that the descent stage *could* be programmed to right itself and lower itself gently. It has to have *some* amount of control function in it, since it has to indepedently maneuver itself away from the rover after it cuts the cables.
I wonder just how much mass might be available for a very small science package and a small transmitter that would relay meteorological and/or seismic data back to the rover, and thence through MRO back to Earth? You'd need some light, simple instruments, a small transmitter and a small antenna. How much would that weigh? And how much mass could MSL stand to be added to the overall package? I don't think anyone really believes that such a capability will seriously be considered, but it's OK to at least think about it... -the other Doug -------------------- “The trouble ain't that there is too many fools, but that the lightning ain't distributed right.” -Mark Twain
|
|
|
May 31 2007, 12:00 AM
Post
#77
|
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 321 Joined: 6-April 06 From: Cape Canaveral Member No.: 734 |
I don't know why the "skycrane" (in basically its same configuration), couldn't just have landing leg extensions (straddling MSL) and actually land (eliminating the MSL hanging in air). Once landed, MSL could just be similarly reeled down a few inches to the surface, cut loose, and then drive away. That way, they still have their immediately rovable rover, without the dangerous in-air suspension. The "legs" would have to have a shock absorbsion system and able to handle uneven terrain. Also, they would have to be folded and then deployed adding more failure modes. Basically, the descent stage is landing a few meters above the surface. It is doing exactly like you said "Once landed, MSL could just be ....reeled down a few inches to the surface, cut loose, and then drive away" That's what it is doing, just without a gap between landing and lowering |
|
|
May 31 2007, 04:48 AM
Post
#78
|
|
Director of Galilean Photography Group: Members Posts: 896 Joined: 15-July 04 From: Austin, TX Member No.: 93 |
I don't think anyone really believes that such a capability will seriously be considered, but it's OK to at least think about it... This is complex enough, adding more weight and requirements is just not going to happen. Maybe the 2nd, 3rd, 4th Mars crane, but not the first. Gotta run before you fly. If we want a seismometer, the best way to do that is to deploy a network, and that doesn't look likely any time soon with the demise of Netlander. This would be a great Mars Scout mission, if it could be made cheap enough, with just a dead simple imager and seismometers. 4 landers would give good coverage, with the option of putting one or two in "challenging" but beautiful locations. -------------------- Space Enthusiast Richard Hendricks
-- "The engineers, as usual, made a tremendous fuss. Again as usual, they did the job in half the time they had dismissed as being absolutely impossible." --Rescue Party, Arthur C Clarke Mother Nature is the final inspector of all quality. |
|
|
May 31 2007, 07:08 AM
Post
#79
|
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 648 Joined: 9-May 05 From: Subotica Member No.: 384 |
Also, MSL will probably avoid the descent stage since it will be leaking hydrazine Are you sure about that... As I understand it , skycrane will fly away quite fast up and away after releasing MSL lander ,suddenly lightened by about 700 kg...whooosh! When it runs out of fuel ,poor thing will have some hight and speed so when it crashes it will burst any hydrazine reservoirs that may contain some residue of fuel... Why do you think it will be dangerous for MSL lander to go near crashed skycrane even if it had some hydrazine left in its reservoirs as long as it doesn't fire its "laser weapon" on it ? I would like to see that thing on Mars seen through the eyes of MSL... -------------------- The scientist does not study nature because it is useful; he studies it because he delights in it, and he delights in it because it is beautiful.
Jules H. Poincare My "Astrophotos" gallery on flickr... |
|
|
May 31 2007, 11:52 AM
Post
#80
|
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 321 Joined: 6-April 06 From: Cape Canaveral Member No.: 734 |
Any residual propellant or products could contaminate the science instruments
|
|
|
May 31 2007, 12:55 PM
Post
#81
|
|
Founder Group: Chairman Posts: 14432 Joined: 8-February 04 Member No.: 1 |
I think the MSL decent stage will be given the same sort of treatment as the MER backshell and chute....keep away. Although Mastcam might get us a nice shot from 100m away
Doug |
|
|
Jun 1 2007, 03:29 AM
Post
#82
|
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 599 Joined: 26-August 05 Member No.: 476 |
B)--> its "laser weapon" [/quote] Must have watched too many bad sci-fi movies years ago as one of my first thoughts was Marvin would probably suffer sudden incontinence were he to see MSL drive over the top of a dune towards him. Curious on the significance of "53" in members tim53 and gallen_53. Maybe it's 42 equivalent in the professional UMSF community. |
|
|
Jun 1 2007, 03:43 AM
Post
#83
|
|
Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 3419 Joined: 9-February 04 From: Minneapolis, MN, USA Member No.: 15 |
As long as MSL has a laser and not an ACME disintegrating gun, we're OK. We all know that when you pull the trigger of an ACME disintegrating gun -- it disintegrates!
-the other Doug -------------------- “The trouble ain't that there is too many fools, but that the lightning ain't distributed right.” -Mark Twain
|
|
|
Jun 25 2011, 12:13 AM
Post
#84
|
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 204 Joined: 14-April 06 From: Seattle, WA Member No.: 745 |
|
|
|
Jun 25 2011, 12:52 AM
Post
#85
|
|
Founder Group: Chairman Posts: 14432 Joined: 8-February 04 Member No.: 1 |
Wow - time warp thread. Who would have thought I'd end up at the technical director for that animation :0
Fairly pleased with the end result. And yeah - it has sounds-in-space syndrome, but that part wasn't my doing |
|
|
Jun 25 2011, 01:21 AM
Post
#86
|
|
Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1074 Joined: 21-September 07 From: Québec, Canada Member No.: 3908 |
Is that Gale crater in the animation? Also, too bad the video doesn't show the skycrane crashing after leaving the rover.
|
|
|
Jun 25 2011, 02:49 AM
Post
#87
|
|
Junior Member Group: Members Posts: 36 Joined: 31-May 10 From: Poland Member No.: 5362 |
Fantastic!!! I noticed that just before SA/SPaH was moved Mastcam had been pointed right. I suppose the reason is to make free space for robotic arm, am I correct?
-------------------- Polish space portal covering up-to-date space news: www.kosmonauta.net
|
|
|
Jun 25 2011, 03:20 AM
Post
#88
|
|
Founder Group: Chairman Posts: 14432 Joined: 8-February 04 Member No.: 1 |
Is that Gale crater in the animation? No - it's a HiRISE DTM, but not one of the 4 final candidates. QUOTE Also, too bad the video doesn't show the skycrane crashing after leaving the rover. Can you imagine the feedback if we did? A smouldering wreck with fuming hydrazine? A very expensive shot to model and animate as well. Not showing that was a very easy decision. QUOTE (KrisK) I suppose the reason is to make free space for robotic arm, am I correct? Yup - it's to avoid a potential clearance issue when returning the arm back to stow or for sample delivery. Well spotted |
|
|
Jun 25 2011, 03:37 AM
Post
#89
|
|
Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2086 Joined: 13-February 10 From: Ontario Member No.: 5221 |
I do see a dust devil at one point; at least that's what I think it is? Nice touch.
|
|
|
Jun 25 2011, 03:43 AM
Post
#90
|
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 399 Joined: 28-August 07 From: San Francisco Member No.: 3511 |
Is a certain direction and distance from Curiosity expected of the landed descent stage, besides "far away" ?
-------------------- 'She drove until the wheels fell off...'
|
|
|
Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: 23rd May 2024 - 04:18 PM |
RULES AND GUIDELINES Please read the Forum Rules and Guidelines before posting. IMAGE COPYRIGHT |
OPINIONS AND MODERATION Opinions expressed on UnmannedSpaceflight.com are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of UnmannedSpaceflight.com or The Planetary Society. The all-volunteer UnmannedSpaceflight.com moderation team is wholly independent of The Planetary Society. The Planetary Society has no influence over decisions made by the UnmannedSpaceflight.com moderators. |
SUPPORT THE FORUM Unmannedspaceflight.com is funded by the Planetary Society. Please consider supporting our work and many other projects by donating to the Society or becoming a member. |