The Mars Microphone

[Giganova]

ok fellas -- I've found the ultimate microphone for all of you geeks:

The Mars Microphone

The purpose of this mic is to study and develop acoustic sensors to record sounds on the surface of Mars. Keep in mind that the atmosphere on the surface of Mars is very thin, less than 1% of the pressure on Earth. At a cost of approx. $100,000.-, the mic is considered a "low cost" instrumentation by NASA. It features a small (25 cc) and lightweight (50g) microphone, originally intended to be put onboard the NASA Mars Polar Lander (MPL) mission, which unfortunately failed after arrival on Mars. Current plans are to put it onboard the European NetLander mission to Mars (launch: 2007).

 

[Giganova]

Here's a larger image:

 

[enferno]

100 large for that small peice?



why did it fail before?

it probably has to have a HUGE ass diaphram for it to pick up sound on the thin atmosphere of mars, so it probably got died during landing.

 

[Giganova]

The entire lander got lost during ascent. Thats called a 'hard landing' in NASA jargon.

 

[Giganova]

The mic has in fact a tiny diaphragmn (the silver box at the left-hand side with the red cable in the picture). It samples sounds at 5kHz and 20kHz every 2.6 and 10.6 sec, respectively (because telemetry to Earth is limited) and has a 12 bit dynamic range. They want to install two of these instruments onboard the sensor to record in stereo.

 

[CGibson]

You should be so Lucky!

Seriously guys, I think my new Cell Phone has the same mic in it.
It has a far away sound that kinda sounds like your calling from Mars. And it has some kind of satellite link-up that retrieves all kinds of data. And every time I get the bill, I swear they're trying to collect 100 grand over time.

So...It must be true! I have the only cell phone on the planet Earth with this Mic.
I must be a very special wireless customer. Someday you guys should be so lucky.

Now if I could only figure out how to retrieve my messages from Mars.

C

 

[boingoman]

Totally cool.

Are these better than The Sound Projects B3? I've heard a lot about those mics too. Does it need phantom power? What pre would you recommend, and remember I've only got $975,000 to spend on a pre. Can I get a good tube pre for that much? I'd think you'd want a good "airy" pre, maybe something solar or atomic instead of tube. 12 bits doesn't sound like much. My soundcard does 96bit 24khz and it only cost $400. Do you think NASA would buy it from me? I want to upgrade to 192 bit 96khz anyway.

 

[CanopuS]

Hey Gig, mixture of astronomy and microphones, what more could you want?

 

[Giganova]

You're right, CanopuS, I'm in heaven!