RIMFAX

RIMFAX
	RIMFAX radar imager
Operator	NASA
Manufacturer	Norwegian Defence Research Establishment
Instrument type	Ground-penetrating radar
Function	Study subsurface structure
Properties
Mass	3 kg (6.6 lb)
Dimensions	19.6 × 12.0 × 0.66 cm
Power consumption	Max: 10 watts
Resolution	15 cm to 30 cm; (3" to 12")
Host spacecraft
Spacecraft	Perseverance
Operator	NASA
Launch date	30 July 2020, 11:50:00 UTC
Rocket	Atlas V
Launch site	Cape Canaveral, SLC-41
COSPAR ID	2020-052A

The Radar Imager for Mars' subsurface experiment (RIMFAX) is a ground-penetrating radar on NASA's Perseverance rover, part of the Mars 2020 mission. It uses radar waves to see geologic features under the surface.

The device can make detections perhaps dozens of meters/yards underneath ground, such as for buried sand dunes or lava feature.^[1] During development a detection range of about 10 yards/meters was targeted, and tests on glaciers were successful.^[2]

RIMFAX takes its name from Hrímfaxi, the horse in Norse mythology that "faithfully brings the night."^[3]

The radar will operate at radio frequencies of 150–1200 MHz and will use a Bow-Tie Slot antenna.^[2]

^ "Next Mars rover will use 'X-ray vision' to spot buried treasure". CBC News. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
^ ^a ^b Hamran, S. E.; Berger, T.; Brovoll, S.; Damsgård, L.; Helleren, Ø.; Øyan, M. J.; Amundsen, H. E.; Carter, L.; Ghent, R. (July 2015). "RIMFAX: A GPR for the Mars 2020 rover mission". 2015 8th International Workshop on Advanced Ground Penetrating Radar (IWAGPR). pp. 1–4. doi:10.1109/IWAGPR.2015.7292690. ISBN 978-1-4799-6495-6. S2CID 11358518.
^ "Mars 2020 Rover - RIMFAX". NASA. 2017. Retrieved 22 October 2017. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

[1] "Next Mars rover will use 'X-ray vision' to spot buried treasure". CBC News. Retrieved 24 January 2018.

[A_GPR-2] Hamran, S. E.; Berger, T.; Brovoll, S.; Damsgård, L.; Helleren, Ø.; Øyan, M. J.; Amundsen, H. E.; Carter, L.; Ghent, R. (July 2015). "RIMFAX: A GPR for the Mars 2020 rover mission". 2015 8th International Workshop on Advanced Ground Penetrating Radar (IWAGPR). pp. 1–4. doi:10.1109/IWAGPR.2015.7292690. ISBN 978-1-4799-6495-6. S2CID 11358518.

[RIMFAX_specs-3] "Mars 2020 Rover - RIMFAX". NASA. 2017. Retrieved 22 October 2017. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

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