MSL Approach Phase Options

[SpaceListener]

I would like to know what are the X-Band tones and its meanings?

I suspected that the tones would say every important milestone saying Ok or bad with tone alike to Moorse Code. Isn't it?

The milestones would be:

1. Separating from the cruise spaceship
2. Deploy the parachute
3. Releasing the backshield
4. Releasing the parachute
5. Releasing the heatshield
6. Starting the landing propulsion
7. Distance from the surface
8. Hovering on the surface
9. Releasing the Curiosity
10. Separating Rover
11. Notification of Curiosity : Rover touchdown
12. Flying away of sky crane
13. Crashing of sky crane

End of 7 minutes of terror!

[SteveM]

I would like to know what are the X-Band tones and its meanings?

So would I; all I could find from searching the web is this passage on pp. 99-100 of this 2009 discussion of Mars Science Laboratory Telecommunications System Design:

"Each timeline segment of EDL has its unique event schedule (parachute deployment, for example), and each segment will have a unique set of nominal and off nominal tones. The collection of tones, of which 256 are available, constitutes the MFSK dictionary."

Further search for an MSFK dictionary publicly available from NASA drew a blank. Is there a listing of the major nominal and off nominal tones?

Steve M

[djellison]

I've not seen one publicly available.

[RoverDriver]

The first pdf file I see by searching "descanso jpl msl telecom" is the most detailed document I could find.

Paolo

[Astro0]

Thanks Paolo. This is an excellent 5.46mb pdf document. Recommended reading to all.

[Tom Tamlyn]

I'm going to the Planetfest thingie in Pasadena, bringing a BIG bag of pistachios!

Pistachios rather than peanuts? Is this something new?

TTT

[RoverDriver]

Pistachios rather than peanuts? Is this something new?

TTT

Peanuts = Standard Def
Pistachios = High Def

Paolo

[Tom Tamlyn]

Peanuts = Standard Def
Pistachios = High Def

Paolo

[djellison]

I would like to know what are the X-Band tones and its meanings?........

[*]Crashing of sky crane

.....

There will be no tone for that. Once the descent stage ( and the hardware is descent stage - the maneuver is 'sky crane' ) begins it's fly-away, it is silent. There could be no descent-stage impact tone.

Moreover - as has been mentioned in this thread, and on the landing press kit - the Earth sets behind the vehicle shortly after parachute deployment - so all the likely tones thereafter will not be heard - they're academic.

[climber]

As we'll loose direct contact during parachutte phase, this means Earth set in Gale about this time so, Earth will rise roughtly another 12 hours+ after landing. So, we'll recover direct contact with Curiosity on August 6th at about 11 am PST or 18 UTC but it'll be still night time at Gale so I wonder if they'll wait till Sun rise.

Edited: from MSL Landing kit: "early relays makes about 15 hours after landing" but I understand it'll be from an Orbiter. Anyway, as the HGA will be deployed on a later sol, I guess we "could" talk to Curiosity using the RLGA...which goes back to my question whether or not we'll attempt to communicate after Earth rise (if of any interest).

[dmg]

Press release just out says Mars Odyssey orbit adjusted to allow bent-pipe data relay for MSL landing as planned.

Yay!!

See: http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/pr...2/07/24/DC45916

[Hungry4info]

How much confidence is there in this site's ability to handle the traffic that it will experience on the EDL date? I know UMSF weathered past events pretty well. Is this expected to be no different?

[Stu]

Yes.

[MahFL]

MSL course fine tuned Sat night.

MSL

[pospa]

MSL course fine tuned Sat night.

It's interesting to compare all four TCMs:
(please correct me in case of wrong numbers)

11.1.2012 : TCM-1 - 59 min burn(s) -> dv = 5,5 m/s
26.3.2012 : TCM-2 - 9 min burn(s) -> dv = 0,78 m/s
26.6.2012 : TCM-3 - 40 s burn(s) -> dv = 0,05 m/s
29.7.2012 : TCM-4 - 6 s burn(s) -> dv = 0,01 m/s

All done by 8 Aerojet MR-111C thrusters (1 lbf each)