Mastcam-Z

Mastcam-Z is a multispectral, stereoscopic imaging instrument selected by NASA to be used on the Perseverance rover during the planned Mars 2020 mission. The Principal Investigator is Jim Bell of Arizona State University.[1] The instrument will be built by Malin Space Science Systems in San Diego, California.

Mastcam-Z
Mastcam-Z lens package
ManufacturerMalin Space Science Systems
Instrument typeMultispectral sensors
FunctionLocal geomorphology, chemistry, navigation
Host spacecraft
SpacecraftPerseverance
Launch dateJuly 2020 (planned)
RocketAtlas V 541
Launch siteCape Canaveral SLC-41

Objectives

There are three main science objectives:

  • Characterize the overall landscape geomorphology, processes, and the nature of the geologic record (mineralogy, texture, structure, and stratigraphy) at the rover field site.
  • Assess current atmospheric and astronomical conditions, events, and surface- atmosphere interactions and processes.
  • Provide operational support and scientific context for rover navigation, contact science, sample selection, extraction, and caching, and the other selected Mars-2020 investigations.[2]

There are four mission objectives:

  • Characterize the processes that formed and modified the geologic record within a field exploration area on Mars selected for evidence of an astrobiologically-relevant ancient environment and geologic diversity.
  • Perform the following astrobiologically relevant investigations on the geologic materials at the landing site.
  • Assemble a returnable cache of samples for possible future return to Earth.
  • Contribute to the preparation for human exploration of Mars by making significant progress towards filling at least one major Strategic Knowledge Gap.[3]

Design and capabilities

Malin Space Science Systems will build Mastcam-Z and provide uplink planning services.[4] It will consist of two zoom cameras mounted on the remote sensing mast of the Mars 2020 rover. The design draws heavily on that of the Mastcam camera used on the Mars Curiosity rover with some upgrades. It uses the same size, detectors, electronics interface, firmware, and operations protocols. It has improvement in lens assembly which gives it 3.6:1 zoom capability, whereas the zoom feature was removed from the final design in Curiosity (originally planned to have 15:1 zoom). Each of the zoom cameras have broadband red/green/blue (RGB) imaging and narrow-band visible/near-infrared (VNIR) color imaging. The sensor consists of an ON Semiconductor KAI-2020CM CCD with an array size of 1600 x 1200 pixels. It will be able to image with fields of view (FOV) from ~ 5° to ~ 15°.[5][6]

Education and public outreach

The Mastcam-Z science and engineering group teamed up with the Planetary Society of Pasadena, California, to provide public education and outreach. All raw Mastcam-Z images will be published to the web within minutes of downlink to Earth. The Planetary Society will maintain a website dedicated to instrument background, Mars science information for teachers and students, as well as Mars 2020 mission status updates.[7]

References
  1. "NASA chooses ASU to design, operate camera system for Mars 2020 mission". ASU News. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  2. "Mastcam-Z for Scientists". mars.nasa.gov. Retrieved 7 October 2020. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. "Objectives". mars.nasa.gov. Retrieved 7 October 2020. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  4. "NASA Selects MSSS to Provide Science Camera for Mars 2020 Rover Mission". Malin Space Science Systems. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  5. "Mastcam-Z". Jet Propulsion Lab. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  6. Bell, J.F. "Mastcam-Z: A Geologic, Stereoscopic, and Multispectral Investigation on the NASA Mars-2020 Rover" (PDF). Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  7. "Planetary Society Selected as Mars 2020 Camera Partner". Planetary Society. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
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