Remote NDT on Mars using Telerobotic scanners

Date: 26 Jun 1997 19:07:03 -0700
From: Yoseph Bar-Cohen 
To: nde@swrinde.nde.swri.edu (IPM Return requested) (Receipt notification requested)
Subject: NASA-JPL's Mars Pathfinder on July 4 
Sender: owner-nde@swrinde.nde.swri.edu

     Mark your calendar if you would like to know about the upcoming 
     landing on Mars.  On July 4, 1997, at approximately 10:07 a.m. U.S. 
     Pacific Standard Time (Earth receive time), the Mars Pathfinder 
     spacecraft will land on Mars.  The follows is some of the expected 
     events that will occur:
     
     shortly before landing
     ----------------------
     . Spacecraft rapidly decelerates in the atmosphere using the 
     heatshield . Parachute deploys
     . Heat shield separates and Lander releases from backshell
     . Airbags inflate
     . Rocket-assisted deceleration (RAD) engines fire. Bridle cable is cut
     
     10:07 a.m.: Landing on surface of Mars in Ares Vallis. Transmitter 
     turned off shortly after landing to save power.
     
     After touchdown
     --------------
     . Lander bounces and rolls to a stop
     . Airbags deflate and are retracted up against the petals . Petals 
     open
     
     2 p.m.: Sunrise at the landing site. 
     
     A rover on board the Lander will be doing local NDE and send data to 
     earth.  The type of operation we can do at a distance of 500 millions 
     km distance from earth could be adapted to remote inspection on earth 
     using telerobotic scanners.
     
     Yosi
     JPL