SDAI-Tech1 wrote:
The whole problem with creating stability simultaneously with sensitivity on the Martian plains, seems like an engineering nightmare ;-)

Alex writes:
Frankly, the problem with seismometers on the Martian surface is not so much stability as it is duration. Seismometers can be made to function fairly reliably on the current or near term series of landers. Moreover, lengthy integration times and good data binning can deconvolve the noise arising from exogenic sources (e.g., wind, thermal cycling, etc.) dramatically. However, this gives rise to another issue, instrument duration, which is *the* main issue as far as the Mars community is concerned , especially for solar-powered lander packages. Continuous data takes and monitoring periods lasting months, if not throughout a Martian year, are needed, and ensuring adequate power supply (e.g., dust deposition on solar arrays, thermal cycling, etc.) is the main limiting factor. Indeed, one of the attractions of nuclear power sources on Mars landers is due to this very need.

Alex R. Blackwell
University of Hawaii