Next month on Mars, the ESA and China’s National Space Administration (CNSA) will strive one thing that is by no means been tried earlier than in area: Sending information from a planet-based rover to an orbiter that it might probably’t obtain any messages from. Specifically, China’s selfie-taking Zhurong rover, which has been on the Red Planet since May, will attempt to shoot information over to the ESA’s Mars Express Orbiter.
As the ESA explains, Zhurong cannot really obtain any communications from the Express Orbiter, because of a radio incompatibility. That means it might probably’t hear the hail sign despatched from the orbiter, which is often what a rover waits for earlier than it begins sending out information. Instead, subsequent month Mars and the ESA will try a brand new methodology that is beforehand solely been examined on Earth. During 5 checks, Zhurong will ship a sign blindly into area, and the Mars Express will hear for that sign and any potential information.
“If [Mars Express] detects the magic signal, the radio will lock on to it and begin recording any data,” ESA’s Josh Tapley writes. “At the end of the communication window, the spacecraft will turn to face Earth and relay these data across space the same way it does for other scientific Mars missions. When the data arrive at ESOC, they will be forwarded on to the Zhurong team for processing and analysis.”
It’s common for rovers to ship information to international orbiter — that is generally been seen as a wise backup methodology — however this check opens the door for communication between incompatible methods. That’ll be helpful if China has any points with its Tianwen-1 orbiter down the road, or if the US and different international locations want assist in flip.
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