Which antenna type is typically employed by Martian rovers for the more common, power-efficient link with an orbiting spacecraft?

Answer

UHF antenna

The most frequently used communication pathway involves utilizing Mars orbiters as intermediaries. For this short-range communication with a passing orbiter, the rover employs its Ultra High Frequency (UHF) antenna. A key characteristic of the UHF system is that the antenna is generally omnidirectional or has a very wide beamwidth. This design simplifies operations immensely, as the rover does not need exact positional knowledge of the relay satellite, only that it is within view. Furthermore, because the distance to the orbiter is much shorter than to Earth, the power expenditure for this transmission is significantly lower, making it ideal for returning high volumes of science data efficiently.

Which antenna type is typically employed by Martian rovers for the more common, power-efficient link with an orbiting spacecraft?

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