Overview of REMS first year on Mars
- Paper number
IAC-14,A3,3A,8,x23497
- Author
Dr. Javier Gomez-Elvira, Instituto Nacional de Tecnica Aeroespacial (INTA), Spain
- Coauthor
Mr. Carlos Armiens, Centro de Astrobiologia (INTA-CSIC), Spain
- Coauthor
Mr. Isaias Carrasco, Centro de Astrobiologia (INTA-CSIC), Spain
- Coauthor
Mrs. Maria Genzer, Finnish Meteorological Institute, FMI, Finland
- Coauthor
Dr. Felipe Gomez-Gomez, INTA - Centro de Astrobiologia, Spain
- Coauthor
Dr. Robert Haberle, NASA Ames Research Center, United States
- Coauthor
Dr. Victoria Hamilton, Southwest Research Institute, United States
- Coauthor
Mr. Ari-Matti Harri, Finnish Meteorological Institute, FMI, Finland
- Coauthor
Mr. Henrik Kahanpää, Finnish Meteorological Institute, FMI, Finland
- Coauthor
Dr. Osku Kemppinen, Finnish Meteorological Institute, FMI, Finland
- Coauthor
Mr. Alain Lepinette, Centro de Astrobiologia (INTA-CSIC), Spain
- Coauthor
Mr. Javier Martin-Soler, Centro de Astrobiologia (INTA-CSIC), Spain
- Coauthor
Dr. Javier Martin-Torres, Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra, Spain
- Coauthor
Dr. Jesus Martinez-Frias, Insituto de Geocienias, Spain
- Coauthor
Dr. Michael Mischna, Jet Propulsion Laboratory - California Institute of Technology, United States
- Coauthor
Dr. Antonio Molina, Centro de Astrobiologia (INTA-CSIC), Spain
- Coauthor
Dr. Luis Mora, Centro de Astrobiologia (INTA-CSIC), Spain
- Coauthor
Mrs. Sara Navarro, Centro de Astrobiologia (INTA-CSIC), Spain
- Coauthor
Dr. Claire Newman, Ashima Research, United States
- Coauthor
Dr. Miguel de Pablo, Universidad Alcala de Henares, Spain
- Coauthor
Mrs. Veronica Peinado, Centro de Astrobiologia (INTA-CSIC), Spain
- Coauthor
Mr. Jouni Polkko, Finnish Meteorological Institute, FMI, Finland
- Coauthor
Dr. Scot Rafkin, Southwest Research Institute, United States
- Coauthor
Dr. Miguel Ramos, Universidad Alcala de Henares, Spain
- Coauthor
Dr. Nilton Renno, Michigan Sate University, United States
- Coauthor
Dr. Mark Richardson, Ashima Research, United States
- Coauthor
Dr. Jose Rodriguez-Manfredi, Centro de Astrobiologia (INTA-CSIC), Spain
- Coauthor
Mr. Julio Romeral, Centro de Astrobiologia (INTA-CSIC), Spain
- Coauthor
Dr. Eduardo Sebastian, Centro de Astrobiologia (INTA-CSIC), Spain
- Coauthor
Dr. Manuel de la Torre, Jet Propulsion Laboratory - California Institute of Technology, Spain
- Coauthor
Mrs. Josefina Torres, Centro de Astrobiologia (INTA-CSIC), Spain
- Coauthor
Mrs. Roser Urqui, Isdefe, Spain
- Coauthor
Dr. Ashwin Vasavada, Jet Propulsion Laboratory - California Institute of Technology, United States
- Coauthor
Dr. M. Paz Zorzano, Centro de Astrobiologia (INTA-CSIC), Spain
- Year
2014
- Abstract
The Rover Environmental Monitoring Station (REMS) is one the instrument of the Mars Science Laboratory (Curiosity) payload. REMS is a suite of sensors distributed at four different locations: two small booms at the Remote Sensor Mast with a wind sensor and air temperature sensor at each one, and relative humidity sensor in one of them and a ground temperature sensor in the other; the ultraviolet sensor is on the rover deck , and inside the rover body and connected with the atmosphere by a duct, the pressure sensor. Data acquisition strategy is based on regularity. Every hour, REMS is awakened by its own clock and collects data for, at least, 5 minutes. In addition to those, the MSL environment working group schedules, every day, extended observation periods distributed along the following sols. REMS has recorded several Gbits of data so far. Curiosity has spent more than half Martian year on Mars and has followed the evolution of the different atmospheric parameters along all seasons. The daily pressure oscillations are greater that those seen with the Viking sensors, which is consistent with the differences of their surrounding conditions: a plain vs a crater with a huge mountain at its center. Ground and air temperature sensors are showing the day-night cycle of the ground-air system. The daily oscillations of ground temperature depend mainly of the ground properties and the season, with variation of around 90 K at the first sols (spring - summer) and circa 60 K in winter. The ultraviolet (UV) radiation is being measured in the Martian surface for the first time in history. UV sensor provides data about the radiation level and is a good tool to identify obscuration events, including the detection of a transit of Phobos. From landing, the Martian dust is covering the sensor and its performances are degrading. The relative humidity sensor shown some inconsistences in its reading, but after some new tests done by the FMI with a similar unit to which is in Mars, the sensor is now fully operative. The daily maximum RH had a minimum around sol 120 and maximum values in the winter period.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-14,A3,3A,8,x23497.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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