Surface exploration of Mars

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• Launched in June and July of 2003

• arrival at Mars – January 2004

• Each Rover weighs 180 kg, is ~5 ft high

• surface exploration: travels 100m per day

Slide 14

ATHENA: MARS EXPLORATION ROVER

Slide 15

cartoon of the “airbag” landing of the Mars Exploration Rovers on surface

Slide 16

Choosing a site to land on Mars

Can not just land anywhere – need to consider the safety of the vessel!

Slide 17

Mars Landing Considerations

• terrain

- altitude (impossible climbs, falls)

- slopes (use too much energy)

- rockiness (protect airbags)

• solar panel heating – keep rover operable

• dust

- solar panels clear

- RAT tool works more in thick dust

Slide 18

Science Objectives of the MER mission

• Characterize a variety of rocks and soils that hold clues to past water activity

– i.e. try to identify carbonates (indicate water-volcano cycles)

Distribution and composition of minerals, rocks, and soils near sites

Determine geologic processes have shaped the local terrain

• Perform "ground truth" –

calibration and validation –

of surface observations made

by Mars orbiter instruments.

Slide 19

Mars Exploration RoMars Exploration Rover: Science Instruments

ver: Science Instruments

Pancam- Stereo camera

IR Spectrometer - rock composition

X-ray Spectrometer - soil and rock chemistry

RAT - rock abrasion tool

Microscopic imager (search for fossils?)

Slide 20

Landing Sites on Mars: 1. Gusev Crater - morphological

- 15 degrees South of Mars’ equator

- large crater feature with several ‘channels’ leading into it

- water may have pooled in crater during first 2 billion years

Slide 21

Landing Sites on Mars: 2. Meridiani Planum - mineralogical

- 2 degrees South of Mars’ equator

- other side of planet from Landing Site 1

- place where hematite has been found (rust-like mineral) – indicates that it is a former dried lake bed

Slide 22

Mars Express – European Effort

Slide 23

Mars Express