China News Service, June 11 (Zheng Yingying) China's first Mars exploration mission was declared a complete success on the 11th.
In this mission carried out by the Tianwen-1 Mars Rover, the Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (referred to as Shanghai Institute of Physics) is responsible for the development of two payloads: the Martian surface composition detector and the Martian mineral spectrum analyzer.
One of them is on the rover and the other is in the air. They are like two cameras for "exploring the composition of Mars."
Shu Rong, deputy director of the Shanghai Institute of Technology and the load commander of the lunar and deep space exploration series, said that one of the two loads is on the Mars rover and the other is on the orbiter. They carry out in-situ and on-orbit detections respectively for the purpose of studying Mars. Formation and geological evolution provide important scientific basis.
Zhang Zhenqiang, the chief designer of electronics for the Mars surface composition detector, said that the Mars surface composition detector for the Zhurong rover payload developed by the Shanghai Institute of Technology was turned on on June 4 and successfully downloaded the data on June 5.
Image courtesy of Shanghai Institute of Technology for Calibration and Testing of Mars Mineral Spectrometer
"This load is the first time to go to the sky, and there was no such load in the previous lunar exploration." Zhang Zhenqiang said.
In an interview with a reporter from Chinanews.com, he introduced that this payload is equivalent to a "camera" on the surface of Mars. It took about 4 years to develop. The coldest one needs to work in an environment of nearly minus 90 degrees Celsius, with a detection distance of 1.7 meters to 5 meters. The goal.
An important feature of this payload is the combination of active laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy detection and passive short-wave infrared spectroscopy detection technology to carry out high-precision scientific detection of elements, minerals and rocks on the Martian surface in the landing zone.
Zhang Zhenqiang said that this is the first application of "active laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy" to space. The principle is similar to using a laser pointer to emit a laser beam. After the substance on the surface of Mars to be detected is vaporized into plasma, the spectroscopy probe is used to measure Get its visible light range.
The Martian surface composition detector is mounted on the rover and works on the surface of Mars; while the other "camera" works in the air following the orbiter.
He Zhiping, the chief designer of the Mars Mineral Spectrum Analyzer, introduced that the Mars Mineral Spectrum Analyzer was successfully started on February 28. During the period, the Zhurong pre-selected landing area was explored many times, and high-spatial-resolution imaging spectral data on the surface of Mars was obtained. , High spectral resolution spectral data and calibration data for space cold background, calibration lights and sunlight.
Data research and judgment results show that the Mars surface image obtained by the analyzer has clear texture, and the telemetry and scientific data are normal.
He Zhiping told reporters from Chinanews.com that this "airborne mineral detection camera" is characterized by a large detection range. It can follow the orbiter to perform "global exploration" and cooperate with another "small partner who conducts detailed local observations on the Mars rover." "-Mars surface composition detectors complement each other.
He pointed out that compared with the similar spectrum detection load on Mars in the world, the characteristic of the Mars mineral spectrum analyzer carried this time is that it has a high spectrum analysis capability. "The spectrum range covered by this instrument is 378 nanometers to 3425 nanometers. , And then in such a spectrum, it is equivalent to dividing the surface of Mars into 576 colors for careful observation, so as to accurately determine its composition and distribution, etc." (End)