Mars rovers going on "Spring Break" being shut down for weeks due to interference with Sun | |
JUST HERE
User ID: 25610447 United States 04/04/2013 10:15 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward (OP) User ID: 34639342 United States 04/04/2013 10:23 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Waterbug
User ID: 34388912 United States 04/04/2013 10:33 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
NEWGUY (OP) User ID: 34639342 United States 04/04/2013 10:47 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | So they are tryin to say the only way we can comunicate basically is direct line of sight... That sounds as high tech as spotlight morse communications they use in the navy. So there are no other ways to signal our rovers no way to "pinball" signals off other satellites roaming our solar system .......riiiiiiiight. We spend millions on Mars rovers capable of the most complicated landing/delivery systems imaginable and line of sight communication is all we have to send receive info. BULLSHIT And if not bullshit then maybe we should focus on the development of new communications! |
Waterbug
User ID: 34388912 United States 04/04/2013 10:50 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | [link to www.newton.dep.anl.gov] [snip] Using the speed of light as the speed of the radio transmissions it takes anywhere from 4 to 20 minutes for a one way trip of radio waves to Mars. I am not totally certain about this but I believe that NASA uses Earth based extremely high gain antennas and at relatively high power. Why? Sure, it is all well and good that the communications are "line of sight" between Mars and our planet. However, consider the distance. It takes 1.28 seconds (approximately) for a signal to get to the Moon (ONE WAY TRIP). It takes 188 times that long (at the nearest Mars -- Earth planetary distance) to get a signal to Mars. And Physics tells us that radiation (or radio wave density) usually measured in Watts / m^2 will drop according to the 1/r^2 rule. To put it in simpler terms: Transmit signal A to our Moon and it hits right smack in the middle of the crater Tycho with a radiation power intensity (or signal strength) of lets say 0.0001 W / m^2. Now let us aim that same signal A at Mars. Now let us target the rover. The rover will "see" the signal at a signal strength of about 0.0001 / (188^2) in Watts / meter^2 ... or .... 2.8 x 10 ^ (-9) or 0.0000000028 Watts per square meter. My guess is that NASA, in fact, does use ground based high power transmitters into high gain antennas just to make sure they can get as much radiation density (radio wave strength) onto the Martian surface as possible ... or at least as allowed by the FCC ;) |
Anonymous Coward (OP) User ID: 34639342 United States 04/04/2013 11:03 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Waterbug
User ID: 34388912 United States 04/04/2013 11:10 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Very clever waterbug... Do u teach or is this just a focus of study. What can ya tell me about any new methods of com they might be workin on. U seem knowledgable Quoting: Anonymous Coward 34639342 Nah.. just an interested party. Don't know much about it. Seems plausible that the sun would interfere with transmissions, considering the location of Mars. One would think that they could bounce or relay signals.. but I don't know if they have that capability.. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 21666560 United States 04/04/2013 11:50 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Very clever waterbug... Do u teach or is this just a focus of study. What can ya tell me about any new methods of com they might be workin on. U seem knowledgable Quoting: Anonymous Coward 34639342 Nah.. just an interested party. Don't know much about it. Seems plausible that the sun would interfere with transmissions, considering the location of Mars. One would think that they could bounce or relay signals.. but I don't know if they have that capability.. I guess my question is, how long have the rovers been there? this specific condition of the sun being between Earth and the rovers has never happened while they were on the planet? if this "alignment" has indeed occurred previously while the rovers were already there, then we should have some sort of evidence of them doing the same thing, no? |
Waterbug
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Anonymous Coward User ID: 27387426 United States 04/04/2013 11:54 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Waterbug
User ID: 34388912 United States 04/04/2013 12:43 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Halcyon Dayz, FCD
User ID: 31033756 Netherlands 04/04/2013 01:40 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | So in this Article it reads that basically the sun is between us and the rovers soooooo the rover can't "hear" it's commands. Sounds logical. What's not logical is that there is no relay system set up to comunicate using existing satellites when the sun is in the way. Quoting: NEWGUY 34639342 Which existing "satellites"? Sure... What you feel is very telling. About you. if this "alignment" has indeed occurred previously while the rovers were already there, then we should have some sort of evidence of them doing the same thing, no? Quoting: Anonymous Coward 21666560 Yes, you should. Why can't you find it? Reaching for the sky makes you taller. Hi! My name is Halcyon Dayz and I'm addicted to morans. |