“Optimism”: Martian rover Perseverance has an Earth twin
At the end of July, the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) sent the Perseverance spacecraft, the world’s most advanced rover, to Mars. This rover is now reported to have a twin on Earth.
The ground-based copy of Perseverance was named OPTIMISM (Optimism), short for Operational Perseverance Twin for Integration of Mechanisms and Instruments Sent to Mars. This unit will be used to practice various maneuvers, test software updates and test commands before sending them aboard the Perseverance.
OPTIMISM is now located in one of the premises of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and will soon go to the Mars Yard site – to a specialized complex that simulates conditions on the Red Planet.
The OPTIMISM apparatus almost completely repeats the Perseverance design, including dimensions, a six-wheeled platform, scientific instruments, cameras and on-board computers. Thus, the robot will allow the most accurate reproduction of the work of Perseverance in the laboratory.
However, there are some differences. Thus, OPTIMISM can be powered via a cable from the mains. In addition, a wired connection is provided for exchanging engineering data and taking readings from sensors and rover systems.
