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How is Beagle 2 different from NASA's Mars Exploration
Rovers? |
Beagle 2 carries a "mass spectrometer" capable
of measuring quantities of carbon in all its forms. It also
has a "mole" with which to bury under the surface
of Mars to retrieve samples for in-situ analysis rather
than just scraping the surface of visible rocks.
Sub-surface sampling is novel and no similar activity has ever been
attempted on Mars
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Why isn't Beagle 2 mobile like the rovers? |
Beagle 2 is mobile - it just doesn't have wheels. Beagle
2 is fitted with a robotic arm which has 5 degrees of freedom
and can reach 109 cm when fully extended. When leaning over
the side of the lander base, it can reach about 70cm to
the nearest rocks.
The main purpose of the ARM (anthropomorphic
robotic manipulator) is to position and orientate the PAW
(position adjustable workbench) so that the cameras, in-situ
instruments, environmental sensors and tools can perform
their various tasks.
The ARM can also point straight up for maximum height advantage
to get a 360 degree panoramic view of the landing site.
The PAW also holds the mole which can provide Beagle 2 with
samples of martian sole from the surface and depths down
to 1.5m. A major objective is to obtain specimens collected
at depth from under a large boulder, perhaps a rock which
potentially may not have been moved since being moved there
by whatever process - for example thrown there by impact
or deposited by a flood.
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Will Beagle 2's experiments be hindered by dust? |
Dust storms on Mars can cause problems because they coat
the solar panels, preventing power generation.
An appropriate rate of dust settling, based on data from NASA missions, has been
worked into the calculations of Beagle's lifetime, so that as much science as possible
can be completed before Beagle can no longer recharge its battery.
The landing site has also been chosen to minimise the risk of dust storms.
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