Thermoelectric Cooler Helps Maintain Curiosity’s Temperature

The first spectrometer data from the Mars Rover Curiosity has made its way back to Earth, analyzing the plasma light captured during laser excitation of rocks and soil on the planet’s surface. Solid-state thermoelectric technology was used to cool the ChemCam (Chemistry Camera) CCD sensors. Maintaining temperature is critical for successful operation, and the Thermoelectric Assembly (TEA) provided a reliable cooling solution.