[X] My Assistant

[mars loon]

A revealing new comparison image of MSL and MER

The JPL caption and article are below



This artist's concept shows that the next generation rover, Mars Science Laboratory, is much larger than Spirit and Opportunity.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Setting Expectations for Future Generations

That's important, because the rovers depend on sun intake for their health. Like many boomers, they will be seeking the sunniest places to face winter, which is once again approaching on Mars. Having already lasted over a martian year - almost nine times longer than planned! - no one is sure just how much longer they will last.

"Once the rovers stop working, I'll miss seeing new pictures every day, but since I don't consider myself ancient, I hope to work on the Mars Science Laboratory mission after the rovers die," smiles Matijevic.

And, as new generations of rovers continue driving faster and farther on Mars, future generations of astronauts--perhaps the grandchildren of today's Baby Boomers--will begin to head farther away from Earth. On the horizon is a whole new era for a human-robotic partnership, with the young-at-heart rovers raising the bar for all who follow.

[Guest_BruceMoomaw_*]

That uptilted box on the rear of the MSL model is to cover up the RTG -- it didn't exist on the earlier drawings. Question: will it really be there, or is this a fig leaf to cover up from the general public the fact that MSL will carry an RTG, to try and diminish anti-nuclear protests? (Kind of like those clothes Att. Gen. Ashcroft insisted on putting on the nude statues in the Justice Department building.)

[mcaplinger]

That uptilted box on the rear of the MSL model is to cover up the RTG...

Umm, no, that's the heat exchanger for the fluid loop that carries RTG waste heat into the rover.
See http://marstech.jpl.nasa.gov/publications/...-2005-01-28.pdf

[Guest_BruceMoomaw_*]

Umm, no, that's the heat exchanger for the fluid loop that carries RTG waste heat into the rover.
See http://marstech.jpl.nasa.gov/publications/...-2005-01-28.pdf

Hmm. Well, the drawing on page 2 of that paper certainly doesn't look much like the shape of that thing in the MSL model -- you can see the RTG very easily in the latter, but NOT in the former. In particular, in the drawing there's no evidence of the flat rear cover plate which exists in the model and shields the RTG from view. (In fact, the silhouette of the combined RTG and radiator-fin assembly on one diagram of MSL as seen from the front led one earlier contributor to this site to enquire whether Batman was hitching a ride.) Is it still possible that JPL did a little fiddling with that model for the press conference to cover up the RTG, or is it just the result of a different viewing angle or a system redesign?

[Matt Francis]

Hmm. Well, the drawing on page 2 of that paper certainly doesn't look much like the shape of that thing in the MSL model -- you can see the RTG very easily in the latter, but NOT in the former. In particular, in the drawing there's no evidence of the flat rear cover plate which exists in the model and shields the RTG from view. (In fact, the silhouette of the combined RTG and radiator-fin assembly on one diagram of MSL as seen from the front led one earlier contributor to this site to enquire whether Batman was hitching a ride.) Is it still possible that JPL did a little fiddling with that model for the press conference to cover up the RTG, or is it just the result of a different viewing angle or a system redesign?

Well notice too that it's not a full rendering of the rover. A layer of architecture seems almost peeled away in that design diagram. The shroud may be a protective, insulative enclosure for the RTG more than an essential part of the thermal control system.