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Mars rover: Wind sensors damaged on Nasa's Curiosity Mars rover: Wind sensors damaged on Nasa's Curiosity
(40 minutes later)
By Jonathan Amos Science correspondentBy Jonathan Amos Science correspondent
Nasa has reported its first setback in the Curiosity rover mission to Mars.Nasa has reported its first setback in the Curiosity rover mission to Mars.
Damage has been sustained by the sensor circuits on the robot's weather station that take wind readings. Sensor circuits on the robot's weather station that take wind readings have sustained damage.
The mission team stresses this is not a major problem and will merely degrade some measurements - not prevent them.The mission team stresses this is not a major problem and will merely degrade some measurements - not prevent them.
It is not certain how the damage occurred but engineers suspect surface stones thrown up during Curiosity's rocket-powered landing may have struck the circuits and broken their wiring.It is not certain how the damage occurred but engineers suspect surface stones thrown up during Curiosity's rocket-powered landing may have struck the circuits and broken their wiring.
Nasa is describing the news as an isolated "disappointment" in what has otherwise been a spectacular start to the mission.Nasa is describing the news as an isolated "disappointment" in what has otherwise been a spectacular start to the mission.
Javier Gomez-Elvira, the principal investigator on the broken instrument - the Rover Environmental Monitoring Station (Rems) - said he was hopeful of finding a good way to get past the issue. Javier Gomez-Elvira, the principal investigator on the broken instrumentation - the Rover Environmental Monitoring Station (Rems) - said he was hopeful of finding a good way to get past the issue.
"We are working to recover as much functionality as possible," he told reporters."We are working to recover as much functionality as possible," he told reporters.
Curiosity - also known as the Mars Science Laboratory - touched down in the equatorial Gale Crater two weeks ago. Curiosity - also known as the Mars Science Laboratory, MSL - touched down in the equatorial Gale Crater two weeks ago.
It will operate on Mars for at least two Earth years, looking for evidence that the planet may once have had the conditions suitable to host microbial life.It will operate on Mars for at least two Earth years, looking for evidence that the planet may once have had the conditions suitable to host microbial life.
Engineers are close to completing their programme of post-landing check-outs on Curiosity.Engineers are close to completing their programme of post-landing check-outs on Curiosity.
This has involved powering up all of the machine's instruments, and it was during this testing that the problem was found on Rems.This has involved powering up all of the machine's instruments, and it was during this testing that the problem was found on Rems.
The weather station is a Spanish contribution to the rover project. It records air and ground temperature, air pressure and humidity, wind speed and direction, as well the amount ultraviolet radiation falling on the surface. The weather station is a Spanish contribution to the rover project.
It records air and ground temperature, air pressure and humidity, wind speed and direction, as well the amount of ultraviolet radiation falling on the surface.
These parameters are measured from sensors distributed around the rover, but a number are held on two finger-like mini-booms positioned halfway up the vehicle's camera mast. This is where the wind sensors are located.These parameters are measured from sensors distributed around the rover, but a number are held on two finger-like mini-booms positioned halfway up the vehicle's camera mast. This is where the wind sensors are located.
The Rems team first noticed there was something wrong when readings from the side-facing boom where being returned saturated at high and low values.The Rems team first noticed there was something wrong when readings from the side-facing boom where being returned saturated at high and low values.
Further investigation suggested small wires exposed on the sensor circuits were open, probably severed. It is permanent damage.Further investigation suggested small wires exposed on the sensor circuits were open, probably severed. It is permanent damage.
No-one can say for sure how this happened, but engineers are working on the theory that grit thrown on to the rover by the descent crane's exhaust plume cut the small wires.No-one can say for sure how this happened, but engineers are working on the theory that grit thrown on to the rover by the descent crane's exhaust plume cut the small wires.
"It degrades our ability to detect wind speed and direction when the wind is blowing from a particular direction, but we think we can work around that," said Curiosity's deputy project scientist, Ashwin Vasavada."It degrades our ability to detect wind speed and direction when the wind is blowing from a particular direction, but we think we can work around that," said Curiosity's deputy project scientist, Ashwin Vasavada.
All the other Rems measurements look good. Air temperatures in Gale Crater have been up to about 2.7C in the Martian afternoon, and down to minus 90C in the middle of the Martian night. All the other Rems measurements look good.
Air temperatures in Gale Crater have been up to about 2.7C in the Martian afternoon, and down to minus 90C in the middle of the Martian night.
In general, the rover is in rude health. On Monday, it wiggled its front and back wheels to check its steering capability.In general, the rover is in rude health. On Monday, it wiggled its front and back wheels to check its steering capability.
Commands will now be sent up to initiate the first drive.Commands will now be sent up to initiate the first drive.
"We're going to drive forward a few metres, turn in place about 90 degrees and then back up," said mission manger Mike Watkins. "We should make tracks." "We're going to drive forward a few metres, turn in place about 90 degrees and then back up," said mission manager Mike Watkins. "We should make tracks."
Another major engineering milestone passed this week has been the unpacking of Curiosity's robotic arm. It was flexed to exercise its joints. The arm holds a 30kg tool turret on its end that includes a drill to take powered samples from rocks. Another major engineering milestone passed this week has been the unpacking of Curiosity's robotic arm.
It was flexed to exercise its joints. The arm holds a 30kg tool turret on its end that includes a drill to take powered samples from rocks.
  • (A) Curiosity will trundle around its landing site looking for interesting rock features to study. Its top speed is about 4cm/s
  • (B) This mission has 17 cameras. They will identify particular targets, and a laser will zap those rocks to probe their chemistry
  • (C) If the signal is significant, Curiosity will swing over instruments on its arm for close-up investigation. These include a microscope
  • (D) Samples drilled from rock, or scooped from the soil, can be delivered to two hi-tech analysis labs inside the rover body
  • (E) The results are sent to Earth through antennas on the rover deck. Return commands tell the rover where it should drive next
  • (A) Curiosity will trundle around its landing site looking for interesting rock features to study. Its top speed is about 4cm/s
  • (B) This mission has 17 cameras. They will identify particular targets, and a laser will zap those rocks to probe their chemistry
  • (C) If the signal is significant, Curiosity will swing over instruments on its arm for close-up investigation. These include a microscope
  • (D) Samples drilled from rock, or scooped from the soil, can be delivered to two hi-tech analysis labs inside the rover body
  • (E) The results are sent to Earth through antennas on the rover deck. Return commands tell the rover where it should drive next
Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on TwitterJonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter