[meteorite-list] Testing to Diagnose Power Event in Mars Rover Curiosity

[Ron Baalke]

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=4499

Testing to Diagnose Power Event in Mars Rover
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
March 3, 2015

Mars Science Laboratory Mission Status Report

NASA's Curiosity Mars rover is expected to remain stationary for several 
days of engineering analysis following an onboard fault-protection action 
on Feb. 27 that halted a process of transferring sample material between 
devices on the rover's robotic arm.

Telemetry received from the rover indicated that a transient short circuit 
occurred and the vehicle followed its programmed response, stopping the 
arm activity underway at the time of the irregularity in the electric 
current.

"We are running tests on the vehicle in its present configuration before 
we move the arm or drive," said Curiosity Project Manager Jim Erickson, 
of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. "This gives 
us the best opportunity to determine where the short is."

A transient short in some systems on the rover would have little effect 
on rover operations. In others, it could prompt the rover team to restrict 
use of a mechanism.

When the fault occurred, the rover was conducting an early step in the 
transfer of rock powder collected by the drill on the arm to laboratory 
instruments inside the rover. With the drill bit pointed up and the drill's 
percussion mechanism turned on, the rock powder was descending from collection 
grooves in the bit assembly into a chamber in the mechanism that sieves 
and portions the sample powder. The sample powder is from a rock target 
called "Telegraph Peak." The same transfer process was completed smoothly 
with samples from five previous drilling targets in 2013 and 2014.

NASA's Mars Science Laboratory Project is using Curiosity to assess ancient 
habitable environments and major changes in Martian environmental conditions. 
JPL, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, 
built the rover and manages the project for NASA's Science Mission Directorate 
in Washington. For more information about Curiosity, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/msl

http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/

You can follow the mission on Facebook and Twitter at:

http://www.facebook.com/marscuriosity

http://www.twitter.com/marscuriosity


Media Contact

Guy Webster 818-354-6278
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
guy.webster at jpl.nasa.gov 

2015-075