NSSDCA ID: 2011-070A-08
Mission Name: Mars Science Laboratory (MSL)The Rover Environmental Monitoring Station (REMS) is designed to study the martian atmosphere by measuring six atmospheric parameters: wind speed/direction; pressure; relative humidity; air temperature; ground temperature; and ultraviolet radiation. The primary science objectives are the study of: signatures of the martian general circulation and mesoscale phenomena near the surface (e.g. fronts, jets); microscale weather systems (e.g. boundary layer turbulence, heat fluxes, dust devils); local hydrological cycle (e.g. spatial and temporal variability, diffuse transport from regolith); destructive potential of UV radiation, dust UV optical properties; photolysis rates and oxidant production; and subsurface habitability based on ground-atmosphere interaction.
The REMS instruments are mounted on three different parts of the rover, along with an instrument control unit inside the rover body. Two horizontal booms are attached to the rover Remote Sensing Mast approximately 1.5 m above the ground. Boom 1 looks out 120 degrees from the forward direction of the rover and holds a set of wind sensors, an air temperature sensor, and a ground temperature sensor. Boom 2, which looks directly forward in the rover driving direction, holds wind sensors, an air temperature sensor, and a relative humidity sensor. There is a 5 cm difference in height between the two booms. The ultraviolet sensor assembly is mounted on the rover top deck. A pressure sensor is located inside the rover body. REMS will be turned on for 5 minutes every hour to take measurements.
Questions and comments about this experiment can be directed to: Dr. David R. Williams
Name | Role | Original Affiliation | |
---|---|---|---|
Dr. Javier Gomez-Elvira | Principal Investigator | Centro de Astrobiologia (CAB) | gomezej@cab.inta-csic.es |