Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer
The Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer (MEDA) is an instrument on board the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover that will characterize the dust size and morphology, as well as surface weather. Specifically, the information obtained will help address future human exploration objectives, as dust sizes and shapes, daily weather report and information on the radiation and wind patterns on Mars, that are critical for proper design of in situ resource utilization systems. MEDA is a follow-on project from REMS, of the Curiosity rover mission. MEDA has an increased scope, with greater data collection on Mars dust which contributes to overall Mars program objectives and discovery goals.
| Operator | Spanish National Research Council |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Spanish Astrobiology Center (CSIC-INTA) |
| Instrument type | Suite of environmental sensors |
| Function | Measure dust size, morphology, weather |
| Mission duration | 1 Mars year |
| Properties | |
| Mass | 5.5 kg (12 lb) |
| Power consumption | 17 watts |
| Host spacecraft | |
| Spacecraft | Mars 2020 Perseverance rover |
| Launch date | July 30, 2020 |
| Rocket | Atlas V 541 |
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral SLC-41 |
The instrument suite was developed and provided by the Spanish Astrobiology Center at the Spanish National Research Council in Madrid, Spain. On April 8, 2021, NASA reported the first MEDA weather report on Mars: for April 3–4, 2021, the high was "minus-7.6 degrees, and a low of minus-117.4 degrees ... [winds] gusting to ... 22 mph".