I assume the Mars rover has a small antenna with a low power transmitter. If this is the case how does that signal get reicieved all the way on earth? Is there some sort of satellite relay system? It seems to me that it would be difficult to discern the signal from all the random noise. Maybe some sort of special encoding is used on the signal. I don't know....does anyone know the answer?
2007-02-25 13:19:10 · 4 answers · asked by jholme3 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
As far as i know both Rovers do only have a UHF transmitter making them incapable sending something directly to earth.
Instead they relay(ed) data through Mars Odyssey, Mars Global Surveyor, Mars Express and possibly the new Reconaissance Orbiter.
if Transmitter Power is limited it needs large antennas to even receive signals from the satellites around mars, due to the fact that it could be on the other side of the sun, from time to time.
Distance and lack of power causing effects of course. So therefore they switch to lower transmission speeds, and use algorithms to be able to reconstruct lost bits in the stream.
This was all considered on planning, so it was decided not to have the rovers transmit directly.
Instead having redundant orbiters to relay which have no problems with sand on their solar-panels.
2007-02-25 13:47:20 · answer #1 · answered by blondnirvana 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Through Satellite
2007-02-25 21:23:16 · answer #2 · answered by DARRELL L 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Signals to and from the rovers are routed through another satellite orbiting Mars.
2007-02-25 21:22:31 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They do relay through other space craft orbiting Mars, but I think the rovers don't need to relay; they can contact Earth directly if needed.
2007-02-25 21:24:06 · answer #4 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋