Chemistry and Camera complex (ChemCam) is a suite of remote sensing instruments on Mars for the Curiosity rover. As the name implies, ChemCam is actually two different instruments combined as one: a laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and a Remote Micro Imager (RMI) telescope. The purpose of the LIBS instrument is to provide elemental compositions of rock and soil, while the RMI will give ChemCam scientists high-resolution images of the sampling areas of the rocks and soil that LIBS targets.[1] The LIBS instrument can target a rock or soil sample from up to 7 m (23 ft) away, vaporizing a small amount of it with about 30 5-nanosecond pulses from a 1067 nm infrared laser and then observing the spectrum of the light emitted by the vaporized rock.[2]
- ^ "MSL Science Corner: Chemistry & Camera (ChemCam)". NASA/JPL. Archived from the original on March 20, 2009. Retrieved September 9, 2009.
- ^ Wiens, Roger C.; Maurice, Sylvestre; Barraclough, Bruce; Saccoccio, Muriel; Barkley, Walter C.; Bell, James F.; Bender, Steve; Bernardin, John; Blaney, Diana; Blank, Jennifer; Bouyé, Marc (2012-09-01). "The ChemCam Instrument Suite on the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Rover: Body Unit and Combined System Tests". Space Science Reviews. 170 (1): 167–227. Bibcode:2012SSRv..170..167W. doi:10.1007/s11214-012-9902-4. ISSN 1572-9672.