SENER Aeroespacial has carried out the design, manufacture, verification and integration of the High Gain Antenna Aiming Mechanism (HGAG) that allows direct two-way communication between Perseverance and tracking stations on Earth.
As with the Mars Science laboratory (MSL) mission, SENER Aeroespacial has been responsible for the HGAG targeting mechanism, in cooperation with Airbus Defense and Space, the main contractor of the system consisting of the HGAG and the high-gain antenna.
The aiming mechanism has two degrees of freedom, elevation over azimuth, and is integrated on the vehicle’s platform, from where it achieves the precise aiming of the antenna towards the Earth. Each degree of freedom moves independently, by means of an actuator, to achieve the required speeds and accuracies. Likewise, SENER Aeroespacial has been responsible for the fastening system during the launch and subsequent deployment of the antenna in the operation phase on Mars.