View of the Canberra Complex showing the 70m (230 ft.) antenna.
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Technologies of Broad Benefit:
Telecommunications
Telecommunications technologies allow mission team members to send and receive data faster and in greater amounts.
"Chatting" to the Orbiters
This image shows one of the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity's first breathtaking views of the martian landscape after its successful landing at Meridiani Planum on Mars. It was the first image returned to Earth through the UHF communication link between the rovers and the Mars Odyssey spacecraft. On the left, the rover's mast can be seen in a stowed position. The image was taken by the rover's navigation camera.
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This cruise stage ring contains vital elements that led the craft safely to Mars, including propellant tanks and the cruise low- and medium-gain antennas.
This image highlights the bottom of the spacecraft's cruise configuration - the shape it took until the aeroshell containing the rover separated during its entry, descent and landing phase. This cruise stage ring contains vital elements that led the craft safely to Mars, including propellant tanks and the cruise low- and medium-gain antennas. The star scanner and sun sensor, also located on this ring, allowed the spacecraft to know where it was in space by analyzing the position of the sun and other stars in relation to itself.
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This image highlights the bottom of the spacecraft's cruise configuration - the shape it took until the aeroshell containing the rover separated during its entry, descent and landing phase. This cruise stage ring contains vital elements that led the craft safely to Mars, including propellant tanks and the cruise low- and medium-gain antennas. The star scanner and sun sensor, also located on this ring, allowed the spacecraft to know where it was in space by analyzing the position of the sun and other stars in relation to itself.
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