5 ms·
The bandwidth to the orbiters is up to 2 Mbps, but because they're in low orbit they're only in sight 8 minutes per day. http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/c
by uvdiv 14y ago
The bandwidth to the orbiters is up to 2 Mbps, but because they're in low orbit they're only in sight 8 minutes per day.
http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/communicationwithearth/data/ http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/communicationwithearth/...
- utoku 14y agoA bit of clarification, I think the orbiters are in sight of Earth for most of the day. It is Curiosity that is not in sight of the Orbiters, again because of their low orbit.
- danielweber 14y agoI'm not sure I understand. Gale Crater is pretty near the equator, so any equatorial satellite would pass quickly over it, but many many times per day.
- uvdiv 14y agoYou answered your own question: both satellites are in polar orbits. They pass the equator many times a day, but at a different longitude each time.
- hereonbusiness 14y agoI think it may be time to put a dedicated communications satellite around Mars. These rovers do seem to last a long time so it probably would be worth it.