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Energy Efficiency. Increased Science Data Return. Precision in situ Navigation and Positioning. Public Engagement - Creating a Virtual Presence at Mars. Mars Exploration Rovers: Drivers on Telecommunications. Robust Capture of Critical Event Tracking and Telemetry. Increased Comm Contact for Complex Surface Operations.
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1. Wireless Phones for Martian Geologists: How the Mars Exploration Rovers Benefited from an Orbiting Mars Relay Network Chad Edwards
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
SpaceOps 2004
May 18, 2004
3. Entry, Descent and Landing
5. Spirit & Opportunity Data Return More than 40 Gbits of MER data have been returned (as of May 13, 2004)
Over 90% via UHF relay
6. A Decade of Mars Exploration
7. Mars Network Evolution
8. Network Evolution: Mars Telecommunications Orbiter High-altitude telesat orbit
Increased contact time, critical event coverage
High-performancerelay links
Electra Proximity Link Payload
Addition of X-band (8.4 GHz) receive capability for high-rate directional relay links
15 dBi steered UHF antenna; 50 cm steered X-band MGA
Multiple DTE links
X/Ka-band prime
Optical comm demo
9. Next Decade and Beyond
10. Summary Relay communications has significantly enhanced the Spirit and Opportunity rovers
Increased data return and contact
Robust critical event coverage
Energy-efficient relay communications
In situ navigation
Today we have a truly international Mars relay network
Mars Global Surveyor
Odyssey
Mars Express
Capabilities will continue to grow as the relay network evolves