What will my instruments need to do? (You don’t have to have special names. If you know what kind of data you want to collect, you’ll know what the instruments need to do. Don’t forget that you may need to store samples or other information and find a way to get it (we have to plan our own mission but i don't understand this step.)
What data do you want to collect?
To determine what your instruments need to do, you should consider the specific objectives and goals of your mission. Ask yourself what kind of data you want to collect and what information will be crucial for your mission's success. Once you have a clear understanding of the data requirements, you can design instruments that will help you gather that information.
Here are some steps you can follow to determine the functionalities your instruments will need:
1. Define your mission objectives: Clearly identify the purpose of your mission and what you hope to achieve. This will help you determine what kind of data you need to collect.
2. Conduct a thorough analysis: Research and analyze the environment or phenomenon you intend to study. Understand the physical properties, behavior, and characteristics relevant to your objectives.
3. Identify the required data: Based on your mission objectives and analysis, make a detailed list of the specific data you need to collect. For example, if you are exploring a planet, you might need to measure atmospheric composition, surface temperature, radiation levels, or geological features.
4. Consider data storage and retrieval: Determine how you will store the collected data during the mission and how you will retrieve it afterwards. Think about the storage capacity necessary and the methods you will use to transfer the data back to Earth.
5. Assess instrument capabilities: Based on the identified data requirements, research existing instruments or technologies that can meet those needs. Evaluate their capabilities, such as sensitivity, resolution, accuracy, and reliability.
6. Design and develop instruments: If existing instruments are not suitable, you may need to design and develop new ones. Consult with experts in relevant fields and consider factors like weight, power consumption, durability, and ease of operation.
7. Test and validate: Before launching your mission, thoroughly test the instruments in controlled environments to ensure they function as intended. Make any necessary adjustments or improvements based on the test results.
Remember, the instruments you choose will depend on the specific mission objectives and the data you want to collect. The above steps provide a general framework to help you determine the functionalities your instruments will need.