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Topic: Nasa / Space

Exploring Mars with a 2-megapixel camera: The tech behind Curiosity

Summary: The Mars rover is trying to find out if the Red Planet was ever habitable. Here's the tech it is using to carry out its mission.

David Meyer

By David Meyer |

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NASA is due to give an update on Friday about the progress of its Mars rover, Curiosity.

The mobile lab's mission is to figure out if Mars was ever habitable. To do that, it has the equipment to spy out interesting-looking rocks, head over to them and drill out powder samples, which it can then analyse internally before sending the results back to Earth.

There's a lot for the aptly-named Curiosity to do, and here's a run-down of tech it's using to do it.

To start with, the rover gets its energy from a 125W nuclear battery, specifically a plutonium-powered radioisotope thermoelectric generator.

Image credit: NASA

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Topic: Nasa / Space

David Meyer

About David Meyer

David Meyer is a freelance technology journalist. He fell into journalism when he realised his musical career wouldn't pay the bills. David's main focus is on communications, as well as internet technologies, regulation and mobile devices.

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5 comments
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  • Thanks, nice article

    However, I am curious to know if Linux-based hard RTOSs have finally caught up with VxWorks. In other words, could there be competition in the OS space for JPL's next land rover (wherever it might be deployed)?
    Rabid Howler Monkey
    Reply 2 Votes

    • Short answer is no.

      Between Integrity and VxWorks, they have a strong lock on the industry when it comes to the specific needs of the scalable high reliability software industry. Linux simply does not offer the tools and capabilities (and the testing effort to get there is monumental) to compete effectively.

      Many of the OSes are also home grown. They are very targeted toward the HW platforms they work with and contain very custom designs you simply don't find on COTS hardware.
      Bruizer
      Reply 1 Vote

  • Thanks, nice article

    However, I am curious to know if Linux-based hard RTOSs have finally caught up with VxWorks. In other words, could there be competition in the OS space for JPL's next land rover (wherever it might be deployed)?
    Rabid Howler Monkey
    Reply 1 Vote

  • NASA is rad

    I wish I could just sit there and watch Curiousity do its thing. I guess for now I will have to be satisfied watching my Roomba...
    lippidp
    Reply 1 Vote

  • Plutonium powered RTG

    It's a shame about the pollution left on earth by the RTG though...

    http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2012/08/mars_rover_curiosity_its_plutonium_power_comes_courtesy_of_soviet_nukes_.html
    newplanetx
    Reply Vote
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