NASA’s New Mars Rover Feels Vibrations in Space – BGR

• NASA recorded audio from its Perseverance rover which is currently headed for Mars.
• The audio is largely made up of vibrations that travel through the rover’s body and are picked up by the microphone.
• Perseverance is expected to arrive on Mars in February 2021.

NASA’s Perseverance rover is on its way to the Red Planet as we speak. Its destination is less than 100 days away, and you can imagine the enthusiasm of the scientists who have been working on the project for nearly a decade to finally see some of the fruits of their work. Science fans are excited too, and if you are one of them, NASA has a surprise for you.

To help hold us back until the big day arrives, NASA gives us a little glimpse of what the rover is currently experiencing. More specifically, NASA has just released an audio track of the sounds picked up by the Perseverance Rover’s built-in microphone.

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So, before entering the “music” space, it is important to remember that there is no air in space. As such, “feeling” things doesn’t work like on Earth (or other places with atmosphere). In fact, it doesn’t work at all. Sounds are vibrations carried in the air, but the Perseverance rover’s microphone can pick up vibrations flowing through its body.

NASA explains:

As any film science fiction enthusiast knows, the emptiness of space is a far from optimal environment for auditory broadcasts. But that doesn’t mean the sound can’t find another way. Sound waves can travel through solid objects. When these mechanical vibrations are registered by an electrical component, they are sometimes transformed into an electrical signal. (Anyone listening to music through in-ear headphones may have experienced this phenomenon as a rustling or pounding noise when the headphone cable touches a surface.)

Now, let’s listen:

Okay, so there isn’t much to hear. However, the fact that the microphone appears to be working as intended is great news for scientists who are eager to hear what a landing on Mars might sound like. The science team doesn’t count on hearing the drop and touchdown, but that would be an incredible bonus.

“As great as it is to hear some audio about spacecraft operations in flight, the audio file has a more important meaning,” NASA’s David Gruel said in a statement. “It means our system is working and ready to try and record some of the sound and fury of a landing on Mars. Getting the sound from landing is a pleasure, not a need. If it doesn’t, it won’t hinder the rover discovery mission to Jezero Crater one bit. If even part of the landing sequence was captured in audio, that would be great. “

Mike Wehner has been reporting on technology and video games for the past decade, covering the latest news and trends in VR, wearables, smartphones, and the technology of the future. Most recently, Mike worked as a Tech Editor at The Daily Dot and has appeared on USA Today, Time.com, and countless other websites and in print. His love of the news is second only to his addiction to games.