Posted on 01/05/2019 9:27:33 AM PST by BenLurkin
Before NASA's Mars 2020 mission is ready to launch toward the Red Planet, the agency has to paint the new rover a task more challenging than it sounds.
While a paint job may sound like an insignificant task, both the formulation and the process of painting a spacecraft like this have to be precise. And each spacecraft is unique.
In August 2018, engineers working on the rover's chassis (the frame of the spacecraft) started the first step in the painting process: taping. Parts of the rover must never be painted, such as places where electronics boxes will eventually go and where wiring harnesses and attachment points for hypersensitive science instruments that require bare metal surfaces will be placed. So the paint team first expertly and precisely tapes the spacecraft, so that no paint ends up where it's not supposed to be, but also so that no space that is supposed to be painted is left bare.
"You can find the masking tape we used on 2020 in just about any hardware store," Ryan van Schilifgaarde, a support engineer for Mars 2020 assembly, said in the statement. "But whereas you would probably tear off a strip with your hands and eyeball it onto the wall you wanted to paint in your house, we use a computer-controlled cutter to make sure each piece is exactly the size and shape we want it to be."
In order to prevent corrosion or oxidation (essentially, rust), the whole job from sanding to washing to priming to painting needs to be done in 6 hours.
(Excerpt) Read more at space.com ...
I think it has a Laser so it can hear the sounds it makes when it shoots rocks
I think it has a Laser so it can hear the sounds it makes when it shoots rocks
should be microphone in there someplace ,LOL cats
*ping*
In order to prevent corrosion or oxidation (essentially, rust),
Welp, I spoke too damn soon...
WHO THE HELL IS THIS ARTICLE WRITTEN FOR!!!???
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A VERY broad spectrum of people. Including early grade school.
I wished I had the patience and artistic ability for autobody.
If I can’t use a can of Krylon or Rustoleum, I’ve got no business painting.
When I can, I get stuff powdercoated.
Powder for the long languishing CJ7 will be here next week.
Dang! If only this coupon hadn't expired!
I win the powerball, my decrepit and languishing K5 would go there.
To Mars? In that thing? The pooch will just need to hold it in for awhile.
The silver package - remove all paint?
Fantomworks is closer and somewhat affordable.
Very neat. I like some of the cars they have in the background - as if they’ve been working on them. No idea.
Rust is a colour, not a condition.
The correct term for corrosion would be oxidation, if the metal would. Nor that the goofs care, they hasrd to explain what a chassis is for their audience.
As a side note, I have to wonder if the rover life span will be ocsd enough to matter in case it did experience corrosion, the rovers of the moon were not painted/ coated and they worked just fine.
Thanks fieldmarshaldj. By the time it flies, it'll be an overpriced pork barrel project, even more than it already is.
"You can find the masking tape we used on 2020 in just about any hardware store," Ryan van Schilifgaarde, a support engineer for Mars 2020 assembly, said in the statement.
That's both folksy, and economical! Doesn't that sound great?
"But whereas you would probably tear off a strip with your hands and eyeball it onto the wall you wanted to paint in your house, we use a computer-controlled cutter to make sure each piece is exactly the size and shape we want it to be."
“If I cant use a can of Krylon or Rustoleum...”
I’ve gotten pretty good with a rattlecan, myself.
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