The Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer is known as MEDA. It makes weather measurements including wind speed and direction, temperature and humidity, and also measures the amount and size of dust particles in the Martian atmosphere.
MEDA Instrument
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Tech Specs

  • MAIN JOB:To measure weather and monitor dust with sensors from the surface of Mars.
  • LOCATION:Sensors are located on the rover's mast "neck" and on the deck, front and interior of the rover's body.
  • MASS:Approximately 12 pounds (5.5 kilograms) for all components
  • POWER:Up to 17 watts, depending on scheduled measurements
  • VOLUME: Air temperature sensors:Each of five sensors is 2.25 by 1 by 2.7 inches
    (5.75 by 2.75 by 6.75 centimeters)

    Radiation and dust sensor:5.2 by 4.5 by 5 inches
    (13.2 by 11.5 by 12.5 centimeters)

    Relative humidity sensor:24 by 4.4 inches
    (5.5 by 2.5 by 7.25 centimeters)

    Thermal infrared sensor:2.5 by 2.25 by 2.25 inches
    (6.25 by 5.75 by 5.75 centimeters)

    Wind sensors: Wind Sensor 1 is 2 inches by 6.7 inches (5 by 17 centimeters)
    Wind Sensor 2 is 2 by 15.75 inches (5 by 40 centimeters)

    Instrument control unit and pressure sensor:5.5 by 5.5 by 5.1 inches
    (14 by 14 by 13 centimeters)

  • DATA RETURN: Approximately 11 megabytes
image of Jose A. Rodriguez Manfredi
Jose A. Rodriguez Manfredi
Principal Investigator
Centro de Astrobiologia,
Instituto Nacional de Tecnica Aeroespacial
Madrid, Spain


-- Jose A. Rodriguez Manfredi

Did You Know?

Dust dominates Mars' weather the way that water dominates Earth's weather. We can't predict Martian weather unless we understand how dust behaves at different times and in different conditions. MEDA helps teach us about the dust cycle on Mars and its impact on the weather.

MEDA: Did You Know?
Five Things To Know
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MEDA studies the dusty environment
the dusty
Dust rules on Mars. It drives chemical processes on the surface and in the atmosphere. It affects temperature
and weather.
MEDA helps predict weather
MEDA helps
MEDA helps astronauts know what weather conditions they'll face on Mars. Their safety depends on accurate weather predictions.
MEDA measures water vapor
water vapor
MEDA's humidity sensor tells how water vapor is exchanged between the "soil" and atmosphere
on Mars.
MEDA measures radiation
MEDA measures
Radiation from the sun and space can alter traces of any past life in Mars rocks. MEDA helps scientists understand these changes and tells them what
to look for.
MEDA shows weather's impact

MEDA shows
weather's impact
MEDA shows how dust and weather affect the performance of NASA's Mars 2020 rover, including its cameras and MOXIE's oxygen-making

MEDA: The Story Behind the Name: Give me the weather

The Story Behind the Name

MEDA stands for Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer.

This simple abbreviation spells two Spanish words that can be roughly translated as "give me, " as in: MEDA! Give me the weather, dust and radiation report on Mars!"