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

IAC-14,A3,3A,8,x23497.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-14,A3,3A,8,x23497.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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