If you’ve taken some time to explore the collection of raw images from NASA’s diligent Mars Rover, you may have come across a peculiar sight: small, detailed mazes marked on tiny plates captured in numerous frames.
Why is the meticulous rover so fixated on this tiny maze? It turns out that the maze acts as a calibration target. This is one of ten calibration targets designed for the Sherloc system, which uses Raman and luminescence techniques to analyze organic materials and chemicals.
This Sherlock Holmes-inspired instrument is intended to identify organic compounds and other minerals on Mars that could indicate the presence of ancient microbial life. Achieving this accurately necessitates precise calibration, and that’s where the maze comes into play.
Mounted on the rover’s 7-foot (2.1-meter) robotic arm, Sherloc analyses Martian rocks using spectroscopic methods, particularly Raman and fluorescence spectroscopy. To guarantee precise readings, the system must be routinely calibrated against specific reference materials, which are installed on plates on the rover’s front, serving as Sherloc calibration targets.
“Calibration targets fulfill several functions, such as enhancing Sherloc wavelength calibration, calibrating the Sherloc Laser Scanner Mirror, and monitoring the laser’s health,” says an expert.
The targets are arranged in two rows, each housing small sections of meticulously chosen materials.
The upper row features three crucial calibration materials: aluminum gallium nitride (AlGaN) from sapphire discs, a UV scattering material called diffusil, and the Mars meteorite SAU008, known for its mineral composition, which aids in aligning the wavelength calibration with Martian geology.
This is where you can also find the maze. Why a maze? “Sherloc is about solving puzzles, and it’s better to have a maze!” says Uckert. The purpose of the maze target is to adjust the position of the laser scanner mirror and to characterize the laser’s focus. The maze effectively accomplishes this task.
The maze is constructed of 200 microns thick (approximately twice the width of a human hair) and printed on silica glass. “There is no repetitive pattern, and the chrome-plated spectrum differs from the underlying silica glass,” Uckert explains. This allows for incredibly precise measurements of laser focus and accuracy.
Related: NASA rover discovers “skull” on Mars; scientists are puzzled.
A closer examination of the maze reveals a portrait of Sherlock Holmes at its center. The instrument’s name is a playful nod to the famous detective, serving both aesthetic and practical purposes. “The Sherloc spectral map can identify the 200-micron-thick chrome plating lines and the 50-micron-thick silhouette of Sherlock Holmes at the heart of the maze,” Uckert states.
Moreover, the lower portion of the Sherloc calibration target also serves dual purposes: calibrating spectral equipment and material testing for space equipment. This includes five samples from materials utilized in modern space suits such as Teflon, Gore-Tex, and Kevlar. Don’t overlook the “fun” targets related to this line—there are geocache markers that support polycarbonate targets, directly connected to Sherlock Holmes.
The materials have been rigorously tested under Martian conditions to assess how they will endure over time. This data is vital for planning human missions to the Red Planet. “It’s important to note that we utilize all of these materials to fine-tune Sherloc,” Uckert emphasizes. “Additionally, the suit materials provide unique scientific insights that will contribute to the safety of future astronauts.”
If all the Sherlock Holmes-inspired Easter eggs aren’t enough to spark your interest in the Sherloc calibration target, there’s another connection: Sherloc includes a color camera in its suite of instruments, which occasionally captures images, referred to as wide-angle terrain sensors for operational and engineering purposes.
Indeed, Sherloc’s companion is called Watson.
This article was originally published Space.com.
Source: www.livescience.com