Sensors sent on a mission to mars

The Mars Rover Curiosity is equipped with customised Vaisala Barocap and standard Vaisala Humicap pressure and humidity sensors.

The HMP155 has a new generation Vaisala Humicap 180R sensor. It is said to have excellent stability even in harsh environments due to its solid probe structure.

The pressure measurement of the PTB330 Barocap digital barometer is based on the Vaisala Barocap silicon capacitive, absolute pressure sensor that is said to provide high measurement accuracy and good long-term stability.

These are part of instrumentation designed by the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI), and will be used to gather accurate readings of pressure and humidity in the extreme conditions of the Martian atmosphere.

Vaisala's technology will be used to compile time series on pressure and humidity for the duration of the entire Mars Science Laboratory program, which is one Mars year, 686 Earth days.