Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer

Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer
Operator	Spanish National Research Council
Manufacturer	Spanish Astrobiology Center (CSIC-INTA)
Instrument type	Suite of environmental sensors
Function	Measure dust size, morphology, weather
Mission duration	1 Mars year[1]
Properties
Mass	5.5 kg (12 lb)
Power consumption	17 watts
Host spacecraft
Spacecraft	Mars 2020 Perseverance rover
Operator	Spanish National Research Council
Launch date	July 2020 (planned)
Rocket	Atlas V 541
Launch site	Cape Canaveral SLC-41

The Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer (MEDA) is an instrument on board the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover that will characterize the dust size and morphology, as well as surface weather.[2][3] Specifically, the information obtained will help address future human exploration objectives, as dust sizes and shapes, daily weather report and information on the radiation and wind patterns on Mars, that are critical for proper design of in situ resource utilization systems.[2][3] MEDA is a follow-on project from REMS, of the Curiosity rover mission.[4] MEDA has an increased scope, with greater data collection on Mars dust which contributes to overall Mars program objectives and discovery goals.[4]

REMS instrument on Mars

The instrument suite is being developed and provided by the Spanish Astrobiology Center at the Spanish National Research Council in Madrid, Spain. The Principal Investigator is José Antonio Rodríguez Manfredi.

Overview

Dust dominates Mars' weather the way that water dominates Earth's weather. Martian weather cannot be predicted unless dust behavior is studied and understood in the weather context.[3][5] MEDA is a suite of environmental sensors designed to record dust optical properties and six atmospheric parameters: wind speed/direction, pressure, relative humidity, air temperature, ground temperature, and radiation (UV, visible, and IR ranges of the spectrum).[3][6]

The technology used on MEDA was inherited from the REMS package operating on the Curiosity rover and the TWINS package on InSight lander.[2] The sensors are located on the rover's mast and on the deck, front and interior of the rover's body. It records data whether the rover is active or not, at both day and night.[6] The instruments will collect data for 5 minutes every 30 minutes.[5]

Parameter	Performance/units[3][6]
Mass	5.5 kg (12 lb)
Power	Max 17 watts
Data return	≈11 megabytes
Temperature	accuracy: 5 K resolution: 0.1 K
Relative humidity	accuracy of 10% in the 200-323 K range
Pressure	Range: 1 to 1150 Pa accuracy: 20 Pa resolution: 0.5 Pa
Radiation	eight upward looking photodiodes: • 255 +/– 5 nm for the O₃ • 295 +/– 5 nm for the O₃ • 250–400 nm for total UV • 450±40 nm for MastCam-Z cross-calibration • 650 +/– 25 nm for SuperCam cross-calibration • 880 +/–5 nm for MastCam-Z cross-calibration • 950 +/– 50 nm for NIR • one panchromatic (300-1000 nm) filter
Wind	accuracy: 2 m/sec resolution: 0.5 m/sec

Meda components

Various components of MEDA highlighted in this graphic of planned devices for the Perseverance rover

References

"Mission: Overview". NASA. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
The Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer (MEDA): A Suite of Environmental Sensors for the Mars 2020 Rover. Tamppari, L.; Rodriguez-Manfredi, J. A.; de la Torre-Juárez, M.; Bridges, N.; Conrad, P. G.; Genzer, M.; Gomez, F.; Gomez-Elvira, J.; Harri, A. M.; Lemmon, M. T.; Martinez, G.; Navarro, S.; Newman, C. E.; Perez-Hoyos, S.; Prieto, O.; Ramos, M.; Saiz-Lopez, A.; Sanchez-Lavega, A.; Schofield, J. T.; Smith, M. D. American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2015, abstract #P11B-2097
Mars 2020 - MEDA Specifications. NASA, 2016.
MEDA, THE ENVIRONMENTAL DYNAMICS ANALYZER FOR MARS 2020 (PDF). J. A. Rodriguez-Manfredi, M. de la Torre, J. S. Boland, et al. 3rd International Workshop on Instrumentation for Planetary Missions (2016).
Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer (MEDA). Mars 2020 Rover, NASA. 2015.

Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer

Overview

Meda components

References

See also