| Mars Science Laboratory Talks, Rocks, Bakes and Chills | |||||||||||||||||
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02.24.2009
Before leaving Earth, Mars Science Laboratory is really put to the test to make sure it can survive the trip to the red planet. First, the team listened to hear how loudly the spacecraft "talks" (measuring its electrical interference). This noise could potentially cause radios not to communicate properly during the launch and rocket ride, as well as other possible computer malfunctions. The second test was like sending the whole spacecraft to a concert. It was blasted with 143 decibels of loud, rocket-level sound to test its ability to withstand strong sound vibrations that occur at launch. The third test "baked" and "chilled" the spacecraft in a special chamber that simulates the temperatures of being near Earth (the hottest part of the trip) and near Mars (the coldest part of the trip). The spacecraft passed this round of tests with flying colors, and is readying for more tests soon! Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
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