The Drill we sent to Mars - Smarter Every Day 143 | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

This video explores the drill on the Mars rover and how it works to collect samples of rocks and analyze them for organic molecules.

Key Insights

• 🇲🇭 The drill on the Mars rover is crucial for understanding the history of Mars by analyzing rock samples for organic molecules.
• 😒 JPL uses a duplicate rover for testing software and maneuvers without risking damage to the actual flight hardware.
• 😒 The drill bit on the rover uses a chiseling action and hammering action to create divots in the rock and collect dust for analysis.
• 🖖 The organic check material cans help ensure that the rover's instruments are functioning properly for detecting organic molecules.
• 💦 Scientists are interested in finding evidence of an active water cycle near the surface of Mars.
• 👻 The drill bit assembly on the rover has two chambers to allow for easy transfer of the collected dust.
• 👨‍🎤 Mars rover operations involve precise maneuvers to collect and analyze rock samples.

Transcript

Hey it's me Destin welcome back to Smarter Every Day. This is my drill press. Out of all things that humans could send up to Mars on a nuclear powered robot, a drill was one of the most important things we sent. And the reason we did this, well think about this. This is the board and you've seen tree rings right? If we were to drill into this board... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: Why is a drill one of the most important tools on the Mars rover?

The drill allows scientists to collect rock samples and analyze them for organic molecules, which could provide insights into the past presence of life on Mars.

Q: How does the drill on the Mars rover work?

The drill uses a chiseling action to create divots in the rock before drilling deeper. It mainly relies on a hammering action for cutting the rock, with rotation used to draw the powder up through the drill bit assembly.

Q: What is the purpose of the duplicate rover at JPL?

The duplicate rover is used for testing software and performing maneuvers without risking damage to the actual flight hardware. It helps scientists and engineers perfect the operations of the Mars rover.

Q: What is the role of the organic check material cans on the rover?

The cans contain known samples that are used to test the rover's instruments and sensors for organic molecules. They serve as a baseline to ensure that the sensors are operating correctly.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The drill on the Mars rover is one of the most important tools for understanding the history of Mars by analyzing rock samples for organic molecules.

• Scientists and engineers at JPL use a duplicate of the curiosity rover to test software and perform tricky maneuvers without risking damage to the actual flight hardware.

• The drill bit on the rover is designed for impact drilling and uses a chiseling action to carve divots in the rock before drilling further.