NASA’s Perseverance Rover is about to begin its mission near Jezero Crater to find evidence of life on Mars.
NASA’s Perseverance Rover
US space agency NASA’s Perseverance Rover is about to begin its grand mission to find traces of ancient life on Mars. The rover will search for life on Mars near Jezero Crater. It is believed that it was once a giant lake (Lake on Mars). Scientists believe that the Red Planet used to be wetter billions of years ago than it is today. During its mission, the rover will navigate through Perseverance AutoNav.
AutoNav is a smart algorithm that helps the rover to 3D map the surrounding area while traveling and find the most accurate route. In a NASA statement, senior engineer Vandi Verma, part of the rover’s team, said that the rover also has the ability to think while driving. According to him, the rover has to constantly think about its automatic drive when the wheels are moving. For this a special computer was installed inside the rover. However, the rover cannot be left on AutoNav alone for this mission.
Why did NASA need AutoNav?
The US space agency said that scientists associated with the rover’s team have drafted instructions for the rover while planning the navigation route. This is a very difficult task, but NASA scientists have made it possible. Scientists cannot control the rover with a joystick because of a delay in the radio signal between Mars and Earth. This is where AutoNav comes in handy.
Why is it difficult to control a rover on the Red Planet?
Controlling the rover on Mars is a difficult task. For this, it is controlled from the earth through a joystick. A joystick is like a handle. Thanks to this, the remote control can give commands to any drone, vehicle or robot. However, this will be possible only if there is no disturbance in the radio signal between the object and the command center. If the radio signal is interrupted, it will cause the command center to lose control over the rover. This can become a big problem.
What is the speed of Perseverance Rover?
The Perseverance rover is capable of traveling at a speed of 120 meters per hour on the surface of Mars. Earlier, NASA had sent the Curiosity rover to Mars, which had a speed of 20 meters per hour. The Curiosity rover was also equipped with AutoNav, although it was fitted with an older version. The navigation device of the Perseverance rover is more advanced than the Curiosity. Not only is the Perseverance Rover better in terms of speed, but it is also adept at treading on rough surfaces. The Perseverance rover can also protect itself from stones and sharp objects present on Mars.
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