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Progress of the Mars Array Technology Experiment (MATE) on the 2001 LanderNASA is planning missions to Mars every two years until 2010, these missions will rely on solar power. Sunlight on the surface of Mars is altered by airborne dust and fluctuates from day to day. The MATE flight experiment was designed to evaluate solar cell performance and will fly on the Mars 2001 surveyor Lander as part of the Mars In-Situ Propellant Production Precursor (MIP) package. MATE will measure several solar cell technologies and characterize the Martian environment's solar power. This will be done by measuring full IV curvers on solar cells, direct and global insolation, temperature, and spectral content. The lander is scheduled to launch in April 2001 and arrive on Mars in January of 2002. The site location has not been identified but will be near the equator, is a powered landing, and is baselined for 90 sols. The intent of this paper is to provide a brief overview of the MATE experiment and progress to date. The MATE Development Unit (DU) hardware has been built and has completed testing, work is beginning in the Qualification Unit which will start testing later this year, Flight Hardware is to be delivered next spring.
Document ID
20050203757
Acquisition Source
Glenn Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Scheiman, David A.
(Ohio Aerospace Inst. Cleveland, OH, United States)
Baraona, Cosmo
(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Wilt, Dave
(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Jenkins, Phil
(Ohio Aerospace Inst. Cleveland, OH, United States)
Krasowski, Michael
(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Greer, Lawrence
(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Lekki, John
(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Spina, Daniel
(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Landis, Geoff
(Ohio Aerospace Inst. Cleveland, OH, United States)
Date Acquired
September 7, 2013
Publication Date
May 1, 2005
Publication Information
Publication: 16th Space Photovoltaic Research and Technology Conference
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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