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Inner Workings of High-Gain Mars Rover Antennas?
cavac asks: "I've been searching for detailed info on how the high gain antennas on the Mars Rovers work, but did not find much useful information except that they DO work. I've been wondering: they are disc-shaped and are approximately the size of a CD. They somehow reassemble parabolic antennas but actually aren't, are they? Anyway, how much use would a parabolic antenna that size have? When I first saw them, they reminded me of the old antennas[*] (enclosed in plastic) used on vacuum tube based radio projects[*]. So, what's really inside the Mars Rovers high gain antennas? Note: Links marked with [*] are german language but the pictures should be self explaining."
Naturally we're just piggy-backing on the already built martian wireless infrastructure.
"1. The rover is operating outside of FCC restrictions."
They still have to watch out for the DMCA, tho.
"Derp de derp."
What NASA doesn't show you is the guy who takes Pringles cans, paints over 'em (after eating all the chips), and declares it "space ready" (for only $500k/unit!)
Invalid Checksum. Retrying.
First the moon landing, now this. When is NASA going to come clean?
Take the cheese to sickbay, the doctor should see it as soon as possible - B'Elanna Torres, "Learning Curve"
oh c'mon, what self respecting geek doen't have access to that kind of stuff...
Be careful! Bears shouldn't consume large furry dogs.