Metals on the Mars Rover Curiosity

Metals on the Mars Rover CuriosityMetals on the Mars Rover CuriosityThe Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission, culminating in the Curiosity Rovers arrival on the Red Planet on Aug. 6, 2012, was the result of years of technological research and human ingenuity in the field of materials science. The rover took about a year to travel from Earth to Mars andinitially was intended to function for only about two years, but it still was operational as of June 2019.The Curiosity RoverNASA describes Curiosity as acar-sized, six-wheeled robot. Its mission to seek evidence of Mars ability to have sustained microscopic life at any point and if humans could ever survive on the planet.Curiosity Rovers parts include a robotic exoskeleton, computers, temperature controls, sensors and cameras, robot arms, a power system, and a communications system. In order to negotiate the extreme conditions of space travel, atmospheric entry, landing, and exploration, which involve temperatures ranging from 3,790 F (2,090 C) to 131.8 F (91 C), Curiosity and her transport vehicles were constructed using an assortment of metal and composite materials.Here is just a snapshot of some of the metals used in the construction of Curiosity and the transport vehicleMetalUseTitanium tubing springs bridleLegs Cushioning within wheels Part of the parachute deployment mechanism used during the rovers landing sequenceAluminumaluminum mortar aluminum honeycombWheels Part of the parachute deployment mechanism Hand forged from an aluminum billet,formed the core of Atlas V, Curiositys launch vesselBronzeDU metal-polymer bearings are critical components in the rovers drill.CopperCuriosity collects samples in cells, which are sealed in a pyrolysis oven by pressingthe cells copper collar into aknife-edge seal with a force of up to 250 pounds.The sample is then heated to 1,100 C for analysis.Lead,tellurium,germanium,antimony, and silverCuriosity is powered, in part, by a Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator that w ill use PbTe/TAGS thermocouples produced by Teledyne Energy Systems.Stainless steelStainless steel gas generators provided the high-pressure gas used to propel Curiositys parachute from the spacecraft.RheniumAn RD AMROSS RD-180 booster engine powered the propulsion system used to launch Atlas V. Rhenium is alloyed in the jet turbine.Tantalum630 tantalum multianode capacitors are responsible for powering the ChemCam laser module onboard Curiosity.TungstenThe back shell of Curiositys atmospheric entry vehicle released two sets of detachable tungsten weights in order to alter the spacecrafts center of mass as it approached Mars. Individual ballasts weighed 165 pounds or 55 pounds.Galliumand indiumPhotovoltaic cells layered with minor and semiconductor metals provide Curiosity with power during the day.SiliconSilicon chips etched with more than 1.24 million names are aboard Curiosity.TinandzincA penny minted in 1909 (when they were still mostly copper) is onboard to help scientists cali brate the cameras sending images back to Earth.