Defense contractor Raytheon’s Miniature Thermal Emission Spectrometers are playing a key role in NASA’s Mars exploration by examining the mineral composition of the Mars environment, the Waltham, Mass.-based company said.
The company’s two Mini-TES instruments, installed on rovers Spirit and
Opportunity, have been operating since the rovers landed on Mars
in January, Raytheon said. Mini-TES is a compact, high power sensor designed to collect
data on the planet’s physical composition and atmosphere.
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Using infrared technology, the sensors examine the mineral makeup of the
surrounding rocks and soil to identify the mineralogy of all geologic
materials including silicates, carbonates, sulfates, phosphates, oxides and
hydroxides, Raytheon said.
Mini-TES is a miniaturized version of the Thermal Emission Spectrometer
developed for the Mars Global Surveyor mission launched in 1996.
