[meteorite-list] San Diego Team Delivers Camera for Next Mars Rover (MSL)

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Wed, 7 Apr 2010 15:38:52 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <201004072238.o37McqHM025684_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2010-114

San Diego Team Delivers Camera for Next Mars Rover
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
April 06, 2010

Malin Space Science Systems Inc., San Diego, has delivered the two
cameras for the Mast Camera instrument that will be the science-imaging
workhorse of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory rover, to be launched next
year. The instrument, called Mastcam, has been tested and is ready for
installation onto the rover, named Curiosity, which is being built at
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.

The two component cameras have different fixed focal lengths: 34
millimeters and 100 millimeters (telephoto) and can provide
high-definition color video. NASA is also providing funds for Malin to
build an alternative version with zoom lenses on both cameras, in
collaboration with movie producer James Cameron, a member of the Mastcam
team. If the zoom pair can be completed in time for rover assembly and
testing, the fixed-focal-length pair could be swapped out for them.
Malin has also delivered the Mars Hand Lens Imager and the Mars Descent
Imager for the Mars Science Laboratory.

For more information, see Malin Space Science Systems news release:
http://www.msss.com/press_releases/mast_delivery/.

Guy Webster 818-354-6278
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
guy.webster at jpl.nasa.gov

2010-114
Received on Wed 07 Apr 2010 06:38:52 PM PDT