More power to Mars landers

International Rectifier's power management technology is making an important contribution to the missions of the recently launched Mars explorers, Spirit and Opportunity.

International Rectifier's power management technology is making an important contribution to the missions of the recently launched Mars explorers, Spirit and Opportunity.

The DC/DC high-reliability convertor modules and mosfet devices from IR are critical in managing, maintaining and conditioning battery power and charging systems in each Mars lander.

Each Mars rover weighs about 172kg and has sophisticated geological instruments and an infra-red camera to examine rocks and soil on Mars for evidence of water, the key element needed to support life.

The two research rovers can travel about 91m each day.

Mechanical arms are equipped with tools to grind rock samples and will examine the samples with microscopes and other instruments.

The twin explorers will travel approximately 483 million kilometres, and are scheduled to land on the Mars surface in January 2004.

Spirit will land in Gusev Crater and Opportunity will land at Meridiani Planum.

International Rectifier has a long, established legacy in powering successes in outer space, including the telecommunications satellites AsiaSAT 4, and Thuraya, the Australian Department of Defence Optus and Defence C1 communication satellite and many others.

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