On the first day of 2022, the China National Space Administration released the images transmitted by the Tianwen-1 probe. One of the group photos of the orbiter and Mars amazed everyone, and it was the first time in the history of human spaceflight that this unique perspective was taken.
To get such a group photo, there is no doubt that a camera far away from the surrounder must be used to take it. So, how did the Tianwen-1 surrounder get this picture?
In fact, the Tianwen-1 surrounder uses a "selfie artifact" - a separate measurement sensor. Simply put, it's about throwing out a small camera to help take pictures. Taking pictures with this kind of "god operation" similar to a selfie stick, Tianwen-1 is not the first time.
Tianwen No. 1's selfie
October 1, 2020, a rare day when the dates of the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival coincide, the Tianwen-1 Mars rover, which has flown for nearly 190 million kilometers continuously, also sent its most unique blessing: a super selfie of the farthest and strongest in Chinese history, with a bright five-star red flag shining in the depths of space.
To complete a selfie, it's not easy. Tianwen-1, which includes a surrounder with huge solar panels and communication antennas and a wrapped up lander and rover combination, is a big guy. Specifically, if we take the five-star red flag in the figure as a reference, its size is close to the size of an A3 paper, and the size of the entire combination can be imagined in comparison.
The "exclusive photographer" who completes the selfie is a separate measurement sensor separated from Tianwen-1, in layman's terms, a tiny satellite similar to a camera. It was developed by the Shanghai Academy of Aerospace Technology of China Aerospace Science and Technology Group Co., Ltd., and its role is to monitor the overall working state of the probe in the process of leaving Tianwen-1, take photos and measures for it in all directions, and record this special moment.
Since the measurement sensor does not have a complex attitude holding system, in order to better complete the goal, it has two wide-angle lenses in front and behind it, and it maintains a speed of 1 second and 1 shot after leaving Tianwen-1 to shoot Tianwen-1.
Due to its limited capabilities, the tiny satellite cannot transmit photo data directly back to Earth, and it also needs to rely on super Wi-Fi for communication with Tianwen-1 to transmit data. Subsequently, Tianwen-1 chose the opportunity to send the processed image data back to Earth, and the tiny satellite eventually disappeared into deep space.
Therefore, the overall process can be described as: "Net red" Tianwen No. 1 adjusted the two cameras in front of and behind the selfie artifact to automatic shooting mode, and threw it farther and higher in order to allow it to capture its own huge panorama. Tianwen-1 faces the camera with the most delicate makeup, especially the big national flag. During the "click", "click", "click" shooting process, the camera transmits the photo data back to Tianwen No. 1. After the "refined" operation, Tianwen No. 1 chose the opportunity to send it to the circle of friends (earth), which really caused the media and fans to warmly pursue!
On how the "net red" beauty selfie is refined, it is such a difficult operation!
This time the selfie released in the New Year, there is no doubt that Tianwen-1 once again threw out a separate measurement sensor, completing such a cool space selfie.
Of course, the role of the separation measurement sensor carried by Tianwen-1 is not only self-timer, its most important mission is to monitor the flight status of Tianwen-1 as a whole, such as the overall state after orbit correction operations. Because Mars is very far from The Earth, astronauts cannot monitor the probe through optical observations and other means, and monitoring the probe by transmitting selfie data is an effective means of monitoring. Coupled with the light weight of the tiny satellites, the cost is also acceptable.
Zhu Rong chose the same method when taking a selfie. The famous photo of it after landing with the lander "Sparkland" was taken by a camera thrown at the surface of Mars.
Not only can you take pictures, but you can also record videos. Through the video, we can clearly see that after the camera was thrown down, Zhu Rong slowly left, posed for the pose, and took a group photo.
It can be said that this selfie method of Tianwen-1 and Zhurong is an unprecedented new idea in the history of human Mars exploration. Scientific research and science popularization effect, no one!
Source/Space Craft Craft Space Station
Text/Mao's New Wish
Editor/Yang Sishuang
Audit/Yang Jie
Producer/Cao Xiaoyong
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