 |
|
|
1. During Entry, Descent, and Landing (EDL), each rover transmited telemetry to the Mars Global Surveyor Mars Relay antenna. These data went into the Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) buffer, and from there were returned to Earth via Malin Space Science Systems. Because of the timing with which these data were received, MSSS personnel were the first to have definitive evidence that each rover had landed safely.
2. The Mars Relay antenna and MOC on Mars Global Surveyor were used throughout the Primary and early Extended MER mission phases to relay data, including images, from the martian surface. In 2006, the Mars Relay activities were resumed on a regular (approximately once per month) basis; MGS/MOC stands ready to relay data more frequently in the event of an upset of the normal relay path, through Mars Odyssey.
3. The Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC), operated by MSSS, acquired hundreds of images, including stereo pairs, of potential MER landing sites. These were used to help evaluate where the two rovers should land. Conditions at the two landing sites that were selected, Gusev Crater and Meridiani Planum, are still being documented by MOC today. These images include narrow angle pictures to assess landing site geology and wide angle images to monitor the weather of these regions.
4. MGS MOC, operated at MSSS, has acquired images of each lander on the martian surface. On 19 January 2004, MOC acquired a high resolution image that showed the Spirit lander on the surface of Mars. On 1 February and 6 February 2004, MOC images of the Opportunity lander and rover hardware were obtained. Additional images have been acquired throughout 2004 and 2005, showing rover hardware and wheel tracks on the surface.
5. MGS MOC, operated at MSSS, wide angle images are being acquired several times per week, and global views each day, to monitor and predict weather that might affect the Spirit and Opportunity rovers. These weather conditions are reported to the MER team each week.
6. Michael Malin, President of MSSS, is a member of the MER science investigation team, and Principal Investigator for the MGS MOC. During part of 2005 and in 2006, some MSSS operations personnel are participating in operation of MER instruments.
