"Tianwen No. 1" sends back high-definition photos of Mars
Includes two full-color images and one color image
News from our newspaper (reporter Lei Jia) Yesterday, the National Space Administration released three high-definition Mars image maps taken by my country's first Mars exploration mission "Tianwen-1" probe, including two full-color images and one color image.
The full-color image was taken by a high-resolution camera at an altitude of about 330 kilometers to 350 kilometers from the surface of Mars, with a resolution of about 0.7 meters. In the imaging area, small ring craters, ridges, sand dunes and other landforms on the surface of Mars are clearly visible.
According to calculations, the diameter of the largest impact crater in the picture is about 620 meters.
The color image was taken by a medium-resolution camera, and the picture shows the north pole of Mars.
Starting on February 26, "Tianwen No. 1" has carried out scientific surveys in its parked orbit, and scientific payloads such as orbiter high-resolution cameras, medium-resolution cameras, and mineral spectrometers have been turned on to obtain scientific data.
The high-resolution camera on the orbiter is equipped with two imaging detectors, which can realize linear array push-broom and area array imaging, and carry out fine observation of topography and landforms in key areas.
The medium-resolution camera has the functions of automatic exposure and remote control of exposure adjustment, and can draw global remote sensing image maps of Mars to detect the topography and changes of Mars.
According to the plan, "Tianwen No.1" will choose an opportunity to land on Mars from May to June this year and carry out inspections.
Demystify
Who took the two panchromatic images?
Since the launch of my country's first Mars exploration mission "Tianwen-1", it has flown for more than 200 days.
On March 4, the National Space Administration released three high-definition images of Mars taken by the “Tianwen-1” probe, of which two full-color images were developed by the Mars high-resolution camera developed by the Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences Shoot.
A few days ago, the reporter walked into the Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, interviewed the Mars high-resolution camera development project team, and explored how this "fire-eye golden eye" used to observe Mars in detail was "made".
"High-resolution cameras are an important payload of the Mars probe." Dong Jihong, the chief designer of the high-resolution camera, said that the engineering goal of this mission is to achieve Mars orbit detection and patrol detection, and to obtain scientific data for Mars exploration. The camera is mounted on the orbiter and is mainly used to image the surface of Mars.
How does the detector become a "golden eye"?
Dong Jihong said that the Mars high-resolution camera is like the eyes of the Mars rover.
"Lian" is the result of the collaboration of multiple disciplines such as optics, mechanics, thermal control, electronics, and software.
For example, in terms of the optical system, the camera uses a long focal length and large field of view off-axis three-reflection optical system, and the imaging resolution can reach sub-meter level, which is equivalent to standing in Changchun and can observe and distinguish whether a car driving on the streets of Shenyang is a hatchback or a triplex. Compartment.
For another example, in order to make this pair of “eyes” light and stable, the high-resolution camera adopts a full-carbon design concept, uses silicon carbide mirrors, carbon fiber truss, and realizes an ultra-lightweight design of the structure. The quality of the whole machine is only 43 kg.
The thermal control system is mainly to ensure the working environment temperature of the equipment components, just like putting on the “insulation goggles” for the “eyes”.
Even in the far-reaching outer space, the temperature of the camera's working environment can be maintained at ten degrees Celsius.
The "neural network" built by electronics is responsible for transmitting instructions, controlling the capture of still photos or dynamic videos, and also automatically dimming the light to reduce errors caused by human operations...
Wang Dong, deputy chief designer, said that the better part is that these "eyes" can realize intelligent image screening.
Due to the high resolution of this camera, the large amount of imaging data limits the image transmission speed.
Through the intelligent filtering function, the camera can automatically extract valuable image content.
"For example, when watching a football field, the camera can automatically determine and identify a goal with more information value, and send the image near the goal back to the control center."
How difficult is it to "refine" these "eyes"?
It is not easy to "refine" just these "eyes".
In April 2016, the team officially launched the task of developing a high-resolution camera for Mars exploration.
In more than 3 years, the team had almost no time to rest.
The team that undertakes this major scientific research task has only more than 30 people, with an average age of about 35 years old.
"Tianwen No.1 is inseparable from seeing the red planet with the eyes. It is my honor to be able to participate in the development and manufacturing of these eyes, and it is worth it no matter how tired." said Li Yang, a team member and project quality engineer.