Capacitors contribute to success of NASA's Curiosity Rover

AVX developed and supplied the 630 space-level, SRC9000 TBM Series ultralow-ESR, multianode tantalum capacitors that are responsible for powering Curiosity’s ChemCam laser module, which is a combination of chemistry and camera equipment used to analyse the chemical composition of rocks and soil on Mars and, specifically, to study whether the region has ever experienced environmental conditions favorable for supporting microbial life.

The ChemCam laser module has fired well more than half a million times since its first operation on 20th August, 2012, when it interrogated a fist-sized rock called Coronation by firing 30 laser pulses - each of which delivered more than one million watts of power for approximately five one-billionths of a second - in a span of just ten seconds.

Since then, the ChemCam laser has often fired between 256 and 327 times a day, and has led to many remarkable observations about both the present and, more importantly, the past of the red planet.

The ChemCam operates by pointing its laser, imager, and telescope at rock and soil targets in the vicinity of the rover from its position atop Curiosity’s mast, which is 6.6’ (2m) above the ground; firing its laser, which vaporises targets smaller than 0.04” (1mm) up to 32’ (7m) away and produces a flash of light that is observed by its telescope as the material is ionised; and transmitting the telescope’s observation, via optical fibre, to an onboard spectrograph that provides unprecedented detail about the minerals and microcultures in rock and soil samples by measuring the composition of the plasma (an extremely hot gas made of free-floating ions and electrons) resulting from the laser interrogation. The laser is also used to clear dust away from Martian rocks so the ChemCam’s remote camera can acquire extremely detailed images.

In order to operate with the extreme precision required to successfully complete its mission, the ChemCam relies on an array of electronic components that are proven to deliver high reliability, long lifetime performance; exhibit rugged environmental resistance in hostile, extraterrestrial conditions, including: strong seasonal variations in temperature, pressure, ultraviolet light, and water vapor; and capable of satisfying stringent space and weight constraints.

“The continued success of the ChemCam demonstrates the long-term reliability of our MnO2-cathode TBM Series multianode tantalum capacitors and further supports the proven reliability of our rigorous SRC9000 space-level qualification and inspection process, which was developed especially for long term, mission-critical applications and, in addition to the ChemCam, is used extensively on satellite programmes,” said Brian Brunette, Assistant Quality and Reliability Manager for AVX’s tantalum division.

“AVX is the world’s largest manufacturer of the high reliability tantalum capacitors employed in mission-critical military and aerospace electronics, life-sustaining and implantable FDA Class III medical devices, and space-constrained, harsh-environment, safety-critical automotive electronics, including advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS).”