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FAQ for Maestro

If you've been wondering, like me, what all the salivating over the colour images is about, then look at this pancam picture [8 MB]?. Oh my GOD, WOW!!!

1. Basic Questions

1.1 What is Maestro?

Maestro is the software that NASA scientists use to operate the Spirit and Opportunity Rovers. There is a simplified public version available for free download. You can use it to view pictures from Mars in 2D and 3D and create simplified rover activity plans. During the mission, updates will be released for Maestro containing the latest images from Mars. The home page is http://mars.telascience.org.

1.2 Where can I get it?

Here: http://mars.telascience.org/downloads.html.

Supported Platforms are:

• Windows XP/2000/Me/98
• Macintosh (Java3D required)
• Linux
• Solaris

Reported to work fine under Win95 too.

1.3 Where can I talk about the mission, software, etc.?

Join the channel #maestro on irc.freenode.net. People working at NASA occasionally drop by. See the edited excerpts.

If you don't know what that means, you can find more info at the Internet Relay Chat FAQ. Some IRC clients will recognize this link: <irc://irc.freenode.net/#maestro>. Try it, you might have a client installed and not know. (Bonus info: if you're just really confused, install Firebird and ChatZilla, then click the link.)

1.4 Where can I find other related resouces on the web?

Many useful links: http://www.spurlock.info/mars/index.htm

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2. Software Questions

2.1 Where can I download more data for Maestro?

Right here. Enjoy :)

2.2 What are the minimum system requirements?

The software is quite resource-intensive. The published system requirements are:

• Minimum:
  • 500 Mhz processor
  • 256 MB RAM
  • 500 MB available disk space
  • Highly recommended: 3D graphics accelerator card
• Recommended:
  • 1.5 Ghz processor
  • 1 GB RAM
  • 10 GB available disk space (that's what the documentation said, but it's unlikely)
  • A high-end 3D graphics accelerator (eg. NVidia? FX series)

2.3 Where can I get help on using Maestro?

The download page has links to documentation, which includes installation instructions. Try the Forums. Apart from that, the IRC channel is the best way.

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3. Mission Questions

3.1 More Resources:

Official Resources

• Lots of technical facts: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/press_kits/merlandings.pdf
• Cornell: [http://www.news.cornell.edu/releases/rover/]?, [http://athena.cornell.edu]?

Articles

• Wikipedia: http://en2.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_Exploration_Rover_Mission

Video

• Official List: http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/nasatv/
• Primary Feed (RealPlayer?): http://www.nasa.gov/ram/35037main_portal.ram

Images

• http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/all/spirit.html
• http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/targetFamily/Mars
• http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/jpegMod/
• Unofficial collection: http://www.justinrossetti.com/gallery/NasaSpirit
• Unofficial stereo anaglyphs (very cool): http://hazyhills.com/mars3d/spirit/firstlight/
• Unofficial colouring (very cool!): http://www.lumiere.net/~fib/mer_enhance.html

Current Status:

• Text Only: http://www.spaceflightnow.com/mars/mera/statustextonly.html

Weblogs

• Susan Kitchens (description here): http://www.2020hindsight.org/

More Stuff:

• Time on Mars, and other stuff: http://www.marsbase.net/
• Software tool for time on Mars, including graphical sunlight representation: http://www.giss.nasa.gov/tools/mars24/
• Landing site data visualisation: http://marsoweb.nas.nasa.gov/landingsites/

3.2 How much did this mission cost?

Around $850 Million. For comparison, ETS' recent Mars mission cost around $378 Million.

3.3 Which teams have contributed to this project?

(Note: this is a running list, corrections/contributions welcome):

• NASA's JPL
• Cornell

3.4 What's the bigger picture?

NASA's two Mars rovers are called Spirit and Opportunity. Opportunity's planned landing is on Jan 24th. There are 3 satellites around Mars, Mars Global Surveyor in orbit since 1997, and Mars Odyssey since 2001 are NASA. ESA's Mars Express entered orbit on Christmas Day 2003.

The Japanese Aersopace Exploration Agency had a Mars orbiter called Nozomi due to enter Mars orbit in mid December 03 (after many delays); unfortunately they couldn't quite get it under control to enter martian orbit.

For a summary of all Mars missions, see Journeying to Mars.

3.5 Glossary

ISIL

Abbreviation: In-Situ Instrument Lab at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory

JPL

Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a NASA center near Pasadena, California (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JPL)

Maestro

Acronym: Mars And Earth Science Tool for Robotic Operations

MER

Abbreviation: Mars Exploration Rover (http://en2.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_Exploration_Rover_Mission)

NASA

Abbreviation: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (http://en2.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASA)

SAP

Abbreviation: Science Activity Planner

WITS

Abbreviation: Web Interface for Telescience

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4. Mars Expedition Rover Questions

4.1 How long are the rovers expected to remain active?

90 sols (Martian days) each. That's 92 Earth days. Why not indefinately? Because of:

• Dust gathering on the solar panels
• Wear and tear on the vehicle
• Worsening telecom opportunities
• (insert complicated stuff about increasing orbital distance and effect of temperature on batteries here)

Many people expect the rovers to last longer than 90 sols.

4.2 How long does it take to transfer information?

The theoretical time is around 10 minutes each way. The little green men will have smashed the rover ten minutes before we notice them...

4.3 Where can I find more info about the rover hardware, specs, etc.?

Quick information:

• Weight:
• Size:
• Camera info:

More:

• http://origin.mars5.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/spacecraft_surface_rover.html
• http://www.gcn.com/22_24/news/23246-1.html
• Camera: http://www.news.cornell.edu/Chronicle/03/7.10.03/pancam.html

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5. Other Related Questions

5.1 Where can I get anaglyph stereo glasses?

Use Google. Some retailers are Reel-3D, Berezin Stereo Photography Products, and 3-D Images Ltd. Rainbow Symphony will give you one for free if you send a self addressed stamped envelope. You can also make your own.

You'll need red/cyan lenses.

Note to self:

• Glossary (including acronyms/abbreviations)
• Rover sleep info
• instrument package specs (camera .pdf at Cornell)
• autoupdating (none)
• increasing performance by downgrading image cache
• how many updates/how often
• antenna speeds
• NO IT WON'T GO LOOKING FOR THE BEAGLE

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