Our mission was to develop an algorithm that filters raw data from seismometers on Moon and Mars, distinguishing real seismic activity from background noise and transmitting only the essential data back to Earth. Why is this important? Because more data means higher power demands, and in the harsh environment of space, power efficiency is critical!
There’s a trade-off between making the algorithm more robust, handling complex calculations (which may require more power) and keeping it energy-efficient. We are not talking only about the energy used to send the data to Earth, but also the energy required to process the raw data on these interplanetary seismometers. There was a big challenge to keep a balance in having an algorithm that is capable enough, but doesn’t require too much processing power (and thus energy), all while considering the inherent limitations of operating in space.
