The Mars Microphone onboard SuperCam

TL;DR

The Mars Microphone onboard SuperCam is the first to record sounds on Mars, enabling new scientific insights into Martian geology, atmosphere, and rover operations through acoustic data collection.

Contribution

This paper introduces the Mars Microphone on SuperCam, the first instrument to record sounds on Mars, expanding scientific capabilities for planetary exploration.

Findings

Microphone is operating successfully on Mars.

First recordings of Martian sounds obtained.

Enhanced understanding of Martian atmosphere and geology.

Abstract

The Mars Microphone is one of the five measurement techniques of SuperCam, an improved version of the ChemCam instrument that has been functioning aboard the Curiosity rover for several years. SuperCam is located on the Rover's Mast Unit, to take advantage of the unique pointing capabilities of the rover's head. In addition to being the first instrument to record sounds on Mars, the SuperCam Microphone can address several original scientific objectives: the study of sound associated with laser impacts on Martian rocks to better understand their mechanical properties, the improvement of our knowledge of atmospheric phenomena at the surface of Mars: atmospheric turbulence, convective vortices, dust lifting processes and wind interactions with the rover itself. The microphone will also help our understanding of the sound signature of the different movements of the rover: operations of the robotic arm and the mast, driving on the rough floor of Mars, monitoring of the pumps, etc ... The SuperCam Microphone was delivered to the SuperCam team in early 2019 and integrated at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL, Pasadena, CA) with the complete SuperCam instrument. The Mars 2020 Mission launched in July 2020 and landed on Mars on February 18th 2021. The mission operations are expected to last until at least August 2023. The microphone is operating perfectly.