| Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer | |
| Operator: | Spanish National Research Council |
| Manufacturer: | Spanish Astrobiology Center (CSIC-INTA) |
| Type: | Suite of environmental sensors |
| Function: | Measure dust size, morphology, weather |
| Mission Duration: | 1 Mars year[1] |
| Mass: | 5.5 kg (12 lb) |
| Power Consumption: | 17 watts |
| Spacecraft: | Mars 2020 Perseverance rover |
| Launch: | July 30, 2020 |
| Rocket: | Atlas V 541 |
| Launch Site: | Cape Canaveral SLC-41 |
The Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer (MEDA) is an instrument on board the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover that will characterize the dust size and morphology, as well as surface weather.[2] [3] Specifically, the information obtained will help address future human exploration objectives, as dust sizes and shapes, daily weather report and information on the radiation and wind patterns on Mars, that are critical for proper design of in situ resource utilization systems.[2] [3] MEDA is a follow-on project from REMS, of the Curiosity rover mission.[4] MEDA has an increased scope, with greater data collection on Mars dust which contributes to overall Mars program objectives and discovery goals.[4]
The instrument suite was developed and provided by the Spanish Astrobiology Center at the Spanish National Research Council in Madrid, Spain. On April 8, 2021, NASA reported the first MEDA weather report on Mars: for April 3–4, 2021, the high was "minus-7.6 degrees, and a low of minus-117.4 degrees ... [winds] gusting to ... 22 mph".[5]
The Principal Investigator is José Antonio Rodríguez Manfredi and the Deputy Principal Investigator is Manuel de la Torre Juarez (JPL-NASA).[6] [7]
List of coinvestigators and their affiliations:
| Nathan BridgesJohns Hopkins University/Applied Physics LaboratoryLaurel, Maryland | Olga Prieto-BallesterosInstituto Nacional de Tecnica AeroespacialMadrid, Spain | Pamela ConradNASA Goddard Space Flight CenterGreenbelt, Maryland | ||||
| Miguel RamosUniversidad de Alcala de HenaresMadrid, Spain | Javier Gomez-ElviraInstituto Nacional de Tecnica AeroespacialMadrid, Spain | Alfonso Saiz-LopezAgencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones CientíficasInstituto de Quimica Fisica RocasolanoMadrid, Spain | ||||
| Felipe Gomez-GomezInstituto Nacional de Tecnica AeroespacialMadrid, Spain | Agustin Sanchez-LavegaUniversidad del Pais Vasco UPV/EHUBilbao, Biscay, Spain | Ari-Matti HarriIlmatieteen LaitosHelsinki, Finland | ||||
| John SchofieldNASA Jet Propulsion LaboratoryPasadena, California | Mark LemmonTexas A & MCollege Station, Texas | Eduardo SebastianInstituto Nacional de Tecnica AeroespacialMadrid, Spain | ||||
| German MartinezUniversity of MichiganAnn Arbor, Michigan | Michael SmithNASA Goddard Space Flight CenterGreenbelt, Maryland | Sara Navarro LopezInstituto Nacional de Tecnica AeroespacialMadrid, Spain | ||||
| Leslie TamppariNASA Jet Propulsion LaboratoryPasadena, California | Claire NewmanAeolis ResearchPasadena, California | |||||
Dust dominates Mars' weather the way that water dominates Earth's weather. Martian weather cannot be predicted unless dust behavior is studied and understood in the weather context.[3] [8] MEDA is a suite of environmental sensors designed to record dust optical properties and six atmospheric parameters: wind speed/direction, pressure, relative humidity, air temperature, ground temperature, and radiation (UV, visible, and IR ranges of the spectrum).[3] [9]
The technology used on MEDA was inherited from the REMS package operating on the Curiosity rover and the TWINS package on InSight lander.[2] The sensors are located on the rover's mast and on the deck, front and interior of the rover's body. It records data whether the rover is active or not, at both day and night.[9] The instruments will collect data for 5 minutes every 30 minutes.[8]
| Parameter | Performance/units | |
|---|---|---|
| Mass | 5.5kg (12.1lb) | |
| Power | Max 17 watts | |
| Data return | ≈11 megabytes | |
| Temperature | accuracy: 5 K resolution: 0.1 K | |
| Relative humidity | accuracy of 10% in the 200-323 K range | |
| Pressure | Range: 1 to 1150 Pa accuracy: 20 Pa resolution: 0.5 Pa | |
| Radiation | eight upward looking photodiodes: • 255 +/– 5 nm for the O3 • 295 +/– 5 nm for the O3 • 250–400 nm for total UV • 450±40 nm for MastCam-Z cross-calibration • 650 +/– 25 nm for SuperCam cross-calibration • 880 +/–5 nm for MastCam-Z cross-calibration • 950 +/– 50 nm for NIR • one panchromatic (300-1000 nm) filter | |
| Wind | accuracy: 2 m/sec resolution: 0.5 m/sec |