Sunday, March 30, 2014

Travel snapshots.


Photocomp by Jason Major
I love that we're now able to get regular photos from Mars. This particular shot is from the Curiousity rover, who took a break en route to Mount Sharp to bang the dust off some sampling tools and take a few pictures.  As with the Opportunity rover, it's difficult to avoid imagining something like Wall-E, repeatedly thwacking its sieve against a rock, scrutinizing it briefly but intensely, then rapidly banging it again before rolling off with a general air of satisfaction at a job well done.

On the other hand, I'm a little surprised that NASA doesn't have a more sophisticated solution to dust buildup on geological sampling devices than "thwacking".
 - Sid

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2 comments:

  1. AnonymousApril 12, 2014 at 10:02 AM

    Thwacking is a great way to do things! A more complicated method would just create more moving parts that could break down. Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.

    Chris

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  2. Sid PlestedApril 12, 2014 at 10:26 PM

    I gather that the mechanism involves a spring, a release mechanism and some sort of stop - a flange or what have you. The sieve is cocked back, released, and bangs against the stop. As you point out, not a complicated method, and probably very effective.

    However, all of my experience with printing equipment says that movement and vibration are the enemies of technology. Bolts loosen, springs become less springy, and screws creep out of their holes. As such, I probably would have looked at a solution that involved either some kind of electrostatic effect to keep the dust from settling - or perhaps, heaven forbid, a cover.
    - Sid

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