By: Neal-Spence
License: Copyright, All Rights Reserved

Uploaded: 30 Mar 2021
Last Updated: 30 Mar 2021

456 megapixels
25,140 x 18,120 pixels
83.8 in X 60.4 in at 300dpi

Mars Copter in View - Ready for deployment WATSON : The WATSON camera is one of the tools on the "hand" or turret at the end of Perseverance's robotic arm. It is almost identical to the MAHLI hand-lens camera on the Curiosity rover. WATSON (Wide Angle Topographic Sensor for Operations and eNgineering) captures the images that bridge the scale from the very detailed images and maps that SHERLOC collects of Martian minerals and organics to the broader scales that SuperCam and Mastcam-Z observe from the mast. WATSON provides views of the fine-scale textures and structures in Martian rocks and the rocky debris and dust that cover so much of the Martian surface. These capabilities mean WATSON not only supports SHERLOC, but also helps identify targets of interest for the other rover instruments. Since WATSON can be moved around by the robotic arm, it also provides images of instruments and rover parts. For example, it can be pointed at the oxygen-making experiment MOXIE to help monitor how much dust accumulates around the inlet that lets in Martian air for the extraction of oxygen. A calibration target for WATSON is attached to the front of the rover body. It contains a metric standardized bar graphic to help calibrate the instrument.