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How does Curiosity (Mars rover) send data to earth?

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The data rate direct-to-Earth varies from about 500 bits per second to 32,000 bits per second (roughly half as fast as a standard home modem). The data rate to the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter is selected automatically and continuously during communications and can be as high as 2 million bits per second. read more

The Curiosity rover can send messages directly to Deep Space Network antennas on Earth via X-band, but it is also able to uplink information to other spacecraft orbiting Mars, utilizing mainly the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and Mars Odyssey (if necessary) spacecraft as messengers that pass along data to Earth. read more

Mars is rotating on its own axis so Mars often"turns its back" to Earth, taking the rover with it. The rover is turned out of the field of view of Earth and goes"dark", just like nighttime on Earth, when the sun goes out of the field of view of Earth at a certain location when the Earth turns its"back" to the sun. read more

Mars is rotating on its own axis so Mars often"turns its back" to Earth, taking the rover with it. The rover is turned out of the field of view of Earth and goes"dark," just like nighttime on Earth, when the sun goes out of the field of view of Earth at a certain location when the Earth turns its"back" to the sun. The orbiters can see Earth for about 2/3 of each orbit, or about 16 hours a day. read more

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