MSL development & assembly, Until it's shipped to the Cape Options

[tharrison]

There's a test image here
http://www.msss.com/news/index.php?id=14

And for MAHLI
http://www.msss.com/science/msl-mahli-pre-launch-images.php

And MARDI
http://www.msss.com/science/msl-mardi-pre-launch-images.php

I've updated these pages so that the links to the full-res versions are now working (in addition to my CTX/MARCI operations duties, I'm also one of the MSSS webmasters as we try to migrate the old website over to a more modern-looking interface). This morning I also posted an updated page of Mastcam pre-launch images and video:

http://www.msss.com/science/msl-mastcam-pr...unch-images.php

Enjoy!

~Tanya

[djellison]

I almost miss the old-school MSSS website - it takes me back to 1997 all over again.

But on the upside - a huge thanks the the additional content, amazing to see MastCAM video

[stevesliva]

Really, you must incorporate an HTML table with fat borders just for nostalgia. I'll forgive you for dropping serif fonts. sigh.

[James Sorenson]

Very nice images AND VIDEO!! . I am wondering if there is any particular technical reason for the vignetting in the corners of Mastcam? I have noticed in the side shots with the famous swiss army knife, that on the front of the lens assembly's, there are protruding tabs or some sort in all four corners on both camera's. Is this intentional?

[tharrison]

Very nice images AND VIDEO!! . I am wondering if there is any particular technical reason for the vignetting in the corners of Mastcam? I have noticed in the side shots with the famous swiss army knife, that on the front of the lens assembly's, there are protruding tabs or some sort in all four corners on both camera's. Is this intentional?

The vignetting is due to the filter wheel. The Mastcam CCD is 1600x1200, but the intention has always been to only send back a 1200x1200 portion such that we're not wasting bits sending back the parts of the image affected by vignetting.

Someday we should auction off that "famous" Swiss army knife on eBay or something...

[ElkGroveDan]

this past Friday (Sept 17, 2010)....

Attached thumbnail(s)

 

[climber]

Lucky man!
But make sure you check Emily's entry here: http://www.planetary.org/blog/article/00002675/

[punkboi]

this past Friday (Sept 17, 2010)....

Nice photos... Pretty interesting that they already uninstalled Curiosity's robotic arm

[djellison]

For those wondering - I think they're doing something with MARDI during those tests - that spot pattern is right underneath it.

[punkboi]

ChemCam instrument delivered to JPL for installation onto Curiosity

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2010-310

[Guest_Oersted_*]

Lucky man!
But make sure you check Emily's entry here: http://www.planetary.org/blog/article/00002675/

Whoa, in that video about the wheels they are saying that the aluminium they're made of only has the thickness of seven pieces of paper! So the aluminium wheels are actually "springy" and flexible, and that is part of the suspension system! - Amazing.

[climber]

Whoa, in that video about the wheels they are saying that the aluminium they're made of only has the thickness of seven pieces of paper! So the aluminium wheels are actually "springy" and flexible, and that is part of the suspension system! - Amazing.

...and they rely on this system for landing!
Vertical velocity at landing is going to be very close to zero, I'd say...and I'm more concerned by horizontal velocity. I quite do not understand yet how the crane works in this respect. I don't think they are going to use the rude retro rocket system used on MER?

[djellison]

The MER wheels are designed to be slightly flexible as well. It helps just take the edge of the worst of the jarring from driving over rocks ( if you remember Emily's videos of the MSL Scarecrow driving around the remodelled Mars Yard....there are thuds and drops and bangs and crunches)

And despite the MER wheels being designed with that flight flex, I've seen a grown man stand on one on one leg and do everything short of jump up and down on it.


Which bit of the crane don't you understand? The radar can identify and then use the liquid rockets to zero-out the horizontal velocity. Think of the Phoenix landing. Now instead of stopping at an altitude of 0 metres, you just stop slightly higher whilst lowering the rover on the bridle.

[climber]

Thanks Doug for clarification.
I was refering to the video as well were we can see the landing simulations. My feeling was that, if vertical velocity was relatively easy to control using the bridle, horizontal velocity was harder to manage because of wind or pendulum effect....so stressing the boogy system in the "wrong" axis.

[MahFL]

Wow they have some big wheel tie downs on Curiosity.