Even though a Mars rover's aesthetics aren't precisely a top concern, success also depends on how the vehicle is painted. White paint may provide a vital reflecting surface for any space-bound item in addition to giving it a simple, clean appearance. And, as John Campanella (the lead painter of Perseverance) said: "any good paint job is preceded by a great tape job". Mars 2020 employed primer and paint that were far from typical of a hardware shop. They have undergone extensive testing to show that they can adhere to aluminium, withstand shocks, vibrations, UV rays, and other annoyances of a trip to Mars, as well as be tough enough to survive the Martian cold, all while not outgassing organic compounds and other materials that could affect the mission's science experiments. On Mimas, the painting used is an enamel paint, a type of paint that air-dries to a hard, giving a glossy finish. It is ideal for coating surfaces that are outdoors or otherwise subject to hard wear or variations in temperature: these characteristics look ideal for the purpose of the project. The photo shown below is the first layer of painting made on the Mast Tower.
- [Hours of work: 6h]
- [People involved: Giorgio]
