Mars 2020 Rover Influence on Wind Measurements at Low Reynolds Number

Abstract

The Mars 2020 rover is the new vehicle dedicated to the Martian surface investigation. This vehicle will transport Mars Environmental Dynamic Analyzer, the new meteorological station, including two wind sensors installed in the camera mast. An experimental characterization was conducted to investigate the influence of the Mars 2020 rover in the Mars Environmental Dynamic Analyzer wind measurements at low Reynolds numbers. Wind tunnel experiments were conducted using a 1:45th scaled model in a wind tunnel specially designed for these experiments. The velocity was measured using laser Doppler anemometry. A method is proposed in this investigation to calculate a correction factor for the data measurements of wind sensors embarked on rovers dedicated to planetary exploration missions. In particular, the method was applied to wind measurements taken by Mars Environmental Dynamic Analyzer in the Mars 2020 rover using the laser Doppler anemometry measurements, and corrections up to 40% in the velocity magnitude and 23 deg in the deflection angle were found.