A suite of seven environmental sensors have been supplied to
Beagle 2 by a joint team from the University of Leicester and
the Space Science Research Group of PSSRI, The Open University,
to provide measurements of the conditions on Mars with respect
to its suitability for life and climatic parameters. These are:
- An ultra violet sensor to detect surface UV flux at 200-400nm.
- Thermocouples which can detect air temperature variations
to within ± 0.05K.
- A pressure sensor which will measure both day and night
air pressure to an accuracy of 0.1mBar.
- A horizontal wind gauge to monitor speed (to 0.1 m/s)
and direction (to 5º) in two orthogonal directions.
- Dust impact detectors to register the momentum, direction
and rate of martian dust
Another, a 3 axis accelerometer, records information about the
condition of the spacecraft during the landing sequence. Additionally
it will obtain information about conditions in the upper atmosphere. |
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