MSL's Power Source |
MSL's Power Source |
Guest_exobioquest_* |
Nov 27 2005, 04:46 PM
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#1
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Guests |
Hi, new here.
I'm wondering if any news has come down about finalizing what MSL will run on? Will it be 2 Boeing's MMRTG (at ~100 watts?) or Lockheed Martin’s SRG (again ~100watts?), have they decided yet? Willl MSL use the RPS to trickle charge a battery or will MSL run on the RPS only? God I hope solar is not a option is anyone pushing for it? |
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Jul 12 2012, 09:19 PM
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#2
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Founder Group: Chairman Posts: 14434 Joined: 8-February 04 Member No.: 1 |
MSL has a battery, just like MER. Don't think of the MMRTG as MSL's power source. Think of it as solar arrays that always see the sunshine. It charges the batteries and then the batteries drive all the stuff on the rover. The battery can be recharged overnight.
Peak consumption is > 110 watts - especially when heating things before driving or using the arm. Where did you see the 4kw value for the 'X-Ray instrument' ? Only thing I can find suggests that CheMin's XRay source uses about 42 watts. |
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Jul 13 2012, 12:09 AM
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#3
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1465 Joined: 9-February 04 From: Columbus OH USA Member No.: 13 |
MSL has a battery, just like MER. Don't think of the MMRTG as MSL's power source. Think of it as solar arrays that always see the sunshine. It charges the batteries and then the batteries drive all the stuff on the rover. The battery can be recharged overnight. Peak consumption is > 110 watts - especially when heating things before driving or using the arm. I wonder how expensive (in watts) driving works out to be. QUOTE Where did you see the 4kw value for the 'X-Ray instrument' ? Only thing I can find suggests that CheMin's XRay source uses about 42 watts. Check out this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3nJSqc2Uck At the 25:51 mark he refers to a "40-thousand watt X-ray beam." I did some searching around & I think he just misspoke and meant to say a 40 KeV x-ray beam. -------------------- |
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Jul 13 2012, 07:22 AM
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#4
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Founder Group: Chairman Posts: 14434 Joined: 8-February 04 Member No.: 1 |
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Jul 13 2012, 09:34 PM
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#5
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Member Group: Admin Posts: 976 Joined: 29-September 06 From: Pasadena, CA - USA Member No.: 1200 |
Not too bad. The killer is the heating requirement to get the rover ready to drive. That's something on the order of 600 Whrs. And that is why the available drive time unfortunately will still depend on the season. Paolo -------------------- Disclaimer: all opinions, ideas and information included here are my own,and should not be intended to represent opinion or policy of my employer.
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