Mars rover Kyuriositi in the details

The largest in human history this week, the rover successfully landed on Mars. Reactive landing platform Sky Crane, hanged over the surface of the Red Planet, slowly lowered the rover "Kyuriositi" wheels down on the nylon ropes to the final destination - Gale Crater, which is well visible the deeper layers of Martian soil, which reveal the geological history of the planet.
Soft Launch of the Mars rover so much weight is very difficult. The atmosphere is too tenuous to use a parachute and aerodynamic braking, and at the same time, dense enough to create significant problems with the stabilization of the use of rocket engines. Although some previous missions aeroballony used to mitigate the impact on landing, "Kyuriositi" too heavy to use this option. However, scientists have come up with ingenious new system with a landing platform - now we can say that everything went perfectly. Well, we look at the "Kyuriositi" detail: its design, testing, commissioning and first shots are from Mars.

Kyuriositi" the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California, USA, shortly before shipment to Kennedy Space Center, June 22, 2011. (NASA / JPL-Caltech)

6-inch static pressure capsule, designed specifically for the Mars Science Laboratory for tests in the supersonic wind tunnel of a unitary project Langley, Virginia, USA. (NASA)

Testing a parachute system, which should lower the landing platform, Sky Crane, in the largest wind tunnel Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California, USA. The parachute is designed for deployment in extreme conditions: Mach number (ratio of flow rate of gas flow to the local speed of sound propagation in a moving medium) equal to 2.2, generating up to 30 000 kg of braking force in the thin atmosphere of Mars. The parachute has 80 slings, 50 meters in length and opens to 16 meters in diameter. (NASA / Ames Research Center / JPL)

cientists are preparing to test a system ChemCam at Los Alamos National Laboratory, New Mexico, USA. It is a set of remote research tools, where among other things is Laser-spark emission spectrometer (LIBS) and Remotely controlled mikroteplovizor (RMI). LIBS can focus on a cliff from a distance of up to seven meters, vaporizing a small amount of rock and analyzing the spectrum emitted by the evaporation of light. (NASA / JPL-Caltech / LANL)

Tests of ChemCam at Los Alamos National Laboratory, New Mexico, USA. The scientist, Roger Uayens (Roger Wiens) oversees the process of evaporation of the sample rocks with a laser from a distance of three meters. (NASA / JPL-Caltech / LANL)

Tests of the radar system release platform Sky Crane landfill Flight Research Center Dryden, Edwards, California, USA. Inzherenerny model system has been installed "on the nose," the helicopter, which was supposed to do exercises similar to Sky Crane. (NASA)

The landing place "Kyuriositi" in Gale Crater. The geological age of the crater is about 3.5 to 3.8 billion years, and its diameter - about 154 km. There are versions that there are remnants of eroded sedimentary layers, characteristic of water. Photo taken by NASA orbiter "Mars Odyssey." (NASA / JPL-Caltech / ASU)

Tests protective capsule Mars Science Laboratory in the Corps of dangerous cargoes with useful work at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, USA. The capsule is needed for descent through the atmosphere. It protects the rover from the influence of open space and congestion at the time of entry into the Martian atmosphere. The upper part is a container for the parachute, which slows the rate of descent. Near the parachute container has multiple antennas connected. (NASA / Jim Grossmann)

A detailed image of the "head" rover. For clarity, the width of the white box is 0.4 meters. Tool within the "eye" - is already mentioned ChemCam, who knows how to let the laser beams. Below are the lens wide-angle camera and a pair of cameras telephotometric MastCam, able to record full-color HD-video, and perform specific scientific observations in the infrared and visible colors. Nearby are the round hole of the lens to the camera and its stereonavigatsionnoy spare clone. (NASA / JPL-Caltech)

The upper panel rover "Kyuriositi '" eyes "of the left camera lens MastCam. On the left is guard supply mission - radioisotope thermoelectric generator. To the right is possible to notice the tower of the manipulator «Kyuriositi». Light hexagonal object at the top left - antenna with high gain, which is about 25 cm in diameter. (NASA / JPL-Caltech / Malin Space Science Systems)

The Martian Wrist photographic lens (MAHLI) - camera mounted on a robotic arm, "Kyuriositi." It will be used to obtain microscopic images of rocks and soil.MAHLI can remove an image size of 1600 × 1200 Scaling up to 14.5 microns per pixel. (AP Photo / Damian Dovarganes)

Preparing for the next phase of testing the rover "Kyuriositi" the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California, USA. After closing the doors of the test chamber is possible to create conditions close to critical - almost a complete vacuum with strong solar radiation (due to special lamps) at a temperature of -130 ° C (achieved by using liquid nitrogen, which is poured between the walls). (NASA / JPL-Caltech)

Working sovprovozhdayut first stage of the rocket "Atlas 5", which brought "Kyuriositi" in space. (NASA / Cory Huston)

Scientists have delivered for testing Multimissiony radioisotope thermoelectric generator (MMRTG) rover "Kyuriositi" in the case of dangerous cargoes with useful work at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, USA. It produces electricity from the natural decay of the isotope plutonium-238. The heat released during the natural decay of this isotope, and later converted to electricity, providing a constant current throughout the year, day and night, heat can also be used for heating equipment (by passing them through the pipes). This saves electricity, which can be used to move the rover and its instruments work. (NASA / Kim Shiflett)

Multimissiony radioisotope thermoelectric generator (MMRTG) rover "Kyuriositi" dangerous jobs in Hull with a payload of the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, USA. (NASA / Cory Huston)

Preparations for testing the integration of the protective capsule (right) of Sky Crane (center) and the rover "Kyuriositi" (background) in the Corps of dangerous cargoes with useful work at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, USA. (NASA / Jim Grossmann)

Technicians examine the system of Sky Crane, the only task is to secure the descent rover "Kyuriositi," Kennedy Space Center, Florida, USA. After the rover hits the ground, Sky Crane to fly away to a safe distance and fall. (NASA / Charisse Nahser)

Integration testing of the rover and Sky Crane "Kyuriositi" at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, USA. (NASA / Kim Shiflett)

Integration testing of the rover and Sky Crane "Kyuriositi" at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, USA. (NASA / Kim Shiflett)

Testing the integration of the protective capsule of Sky Crane and the rover "Kyuriositi" at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, USA. (NASA / Kim Shiflett)

Techniques separate flight module (located upside down), which controls the trajectory of the Mars Science Laboratory mission during the flight from Earth to Mars, the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, USA. It also includes components to support communication during the flight and temperature control. Before entering the Martian atmosphere, this module will separate from the capsule. (NASA / Glenn Benson)

Testing the the integration of of all parts of the Martian of scientific laboratory in the Cosmic the center of Kennedy, the State of Florida, the USA. Lacking only the heat shield that must protect all parts of the rover from the extremely high temperatures experienced by the machine when entering the Martian atmosphere. (NASA / Kim Shiflett)

Testing the the integration of of all parts of the Martian of scientific laboratory in the Cosmic the center of Kennedy, the State of Florida, the USA. In the foreground is a heat shield. (NASA / JPL-Caltech)

Testing the the integration of of all parts of the Martian of scientific laboratory in the Cosmic the center of Kennedy, the State of Florida, the USA. (NASA / Glenn Benson)

The protective fairing acoustic (FAP) within the cell payload rocket "Atlas 5" at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, USA. The fairing protects the unit from the effects of aerodynamic heating and pressure during the passage of the Earth's atmosphere. (NASA / Kim Shiflett)

Preparations for the Mars Science Laboratory docking bay and the payload rocket "Atlas 5" in the Corps of dangerous cargoes with useful work at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, USA. (NASA / Kim Shiflett)

 Required attribute - the mission logo on the side of the rocket "Atlas 5." (NASA / Jim Grossmann)

Standing upright conveyor compartment payload rocket "Atlas-5" driven to the launch pad. (NASA / Kim Shiflett)

Final preparations for the launch rocket "Atlas 5" from the Mars Science Laboratory aboard space launch apartment complex-41 at Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA. (NASA / Jim Grossmann)

Final preparations for the launch rocket "Atlas 5" from the Mars Science Laboratory aboard space launch apartment complex-41 at Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA. The last element of the preparations was Multimissiony radioisotope thermoelectric generator (MMRTG), which is delivered to the Mars Science Laboratory at the last moment. (NASA / Jim Grossmann)

The four lightning masts surround ready for launch rocket "Atlas 5" from the Mars Science Laboratory on the board. (NASA / Bill White)

The long-awaited start on the path to Mars, November 26, 2011. (AP Photo / Terry Renna)

Next, the remainder of the rocket "Atlas 5." (NASA / Frankie Martin)