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at #4129Tingting ZhangKeymaster
A Thales-built laser linked to NASA’s Perseverance rover will soon be deployed to help determine the composition of materials on Mars’ surface.
NASA’s exploratory rover, Perseverance landed on Mars on Thursday 18 February, and SuperCam one of seven strategic onboard instruments, is set to commence analysing, characterising, and selecting Martian rock samples.
The SuperCam will include a Thales-built laser, which will use an infrared beam to heat material to a temperature of around 10,000 degrees and vaporise it, helping to determine the chemical composition of Martian rock samples by measuring the colours of light in the plasma created.
The laser can also emit a green laser beam, which aims to help determine the molecular composition of surface materials, exciting the chemical bonds in samples and producing a different signal according to their various linked components.
This technique, known as Raman spectroscopy, will be tested for the first time on Mars and will enable scientists to detect any markers of life.
The green laser will also be used to induce fluorescence in mineral and organic compounds, allowing scientists to determine their constituent components with greater accuracy.
“We’re proud to have provided NASA with the first two lasers to operate on Mars. The Mars 2020 mission is a decisive step forward in the study of the Red Planet and preparations for future expeditions,” Christophe Salomon, executive vice president, land and air systems, said.
“SuperCam, the ‘eyes’ of Perseverance, is the result of close collaboration between partners across the international scientific community. Thales’ SuperCam laser delivers unrivalled performance and will enable Perseverance to perform its exploration mission throughout its time on the surface of Mars.”
By: Charbel Kadib
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