Modern exploration mgs mpf_mo

Modern Exploration
Global Surveyor

Modern Exploration
Global Surveyor
 Objectives:
 High resolution imaging of the surface
 Study the topography and gravity
 Study the role of water and dust on the
surface and in the atmosphere
 Study the weather and climate of Mars
 Study the composition of the surface and
atmosphere
 Study the existence and evolution of the
Martian magnetic field

Modern Exploration
Global Surveyor
 Instruments
 Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC); capture high-resolution images of the
surface (1.5 meters per pixel)
 Thermal Emission Spectrometer (TES); investigate thermal
properties of rocks and soils, collect mineralogy data
 Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA); elevation data
 Magnetometer/Electron Reflectometer; search for evidence of a
planetary magnetic field

Modern Exploration
Global Surveyor
Credit:MalinSpaceScienceSystems–www.msss.com
Credit:MalinSpaceScienceSystems–www.msss.com

Modern Exploration
Global Surveyor
Credit: Malin Space Science Systems – www.msss.com

Modern Exploration
Global Surveyor
Credit: NASA/JPL/ASU

Modern Exploration
Global Surveyor
Credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

Modern Exploration
Global Surveyor
Notable results from Global Surveyor
 The northern hemisphere is probably just as cratered as the
southern hemisphere, but the craters are mostly buried.
 High-resolution imagery shows modifications to the surface
have taken place over the past decade.
 Hundreds of gullies were discovered that were formed from
liquid water (probably), possibly in recent times.
 The Thermal Emission Spectrometer found that just about all
of the surface of Mars is covered with volcanic rock.
 Magnetometer data show remnant, alternating magnetic
fields

Modern Exploration
Global Surveyor
How did Global Surveyor advance scientific understanding
of Mars?
 Smoking gun evidence that liquid water was stable on the
surface for long periods of time
 Mars exhibits a “global dichotomy” in terms of topography
 Spectral ID of the global surface composition
What technological advance(s) did Global Surveyor carry?
 Highest-resolution camera, for the time
 Laser altimeter
 TES; lithology, mineralogy
 Magnetometer; remnant magnetic field

Modern Exploration
Mars Pathfinder

Modern Exploration
Mars Pathfinder
The primary mission objectives were to demonstrate the
feasibility of low-cost landings on, and exploration of, the
Martian surface (Faster, Better, Cheaper)
Scientific objectives included
 atmospheric entry science
 long-range and close-up surface imaging
 the general objective was to characterize the Martian environment
for further exploration

Modern Exploration
Mars Pathfinder
Landed in Ares Vallis which was believed to be the site of
an ancient flood
Landing site selection made using Viking orbiter imagery
First rover; first to use airbags

Modern Exploration
Mars Pathfinder
Landing Site Locations

Modern Exploration
Mars Pathfinder
Pathfinder Landing Site

Modern Exploration
Mars Pathfinder
Lander Instruments
 Imager for Mars Pathfinder (IMP)
 Meteorological Station
Rover Instruments
 Three cameras, two stereo cameras in the front and a rear
color imaging system; cameras worked in tandem with a
laser system to detect and avoid obstacles
 Alpha-Proton-X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS); assess the
composition of rocks and soils

Modern Exploration
Mars Pathfinder
Notable results from Pathfinder
More than 16,500 images from the lander and 550
images from the rover
More than 15 chemical analyses of rocks and soil and
extensive data on winds and other weather factors
Findings from the investigations carried out by scientific
instruments on both the lander and the rover suggest
that Mars was at one time in its past warm and wet, with
water existing in its liquid state and a thicker
atmosphere

Modern Exploration
Mars Pathfinder
How did Pathfinder advance scientific understanding of
Mars?
 Evidence on the ground for a warm, wet past
What technological advance(s) did Pathfinder carry?
 First rover; can be remotely operated
 New landing system

Modern Exploration
NASA’s theme for Mars exploration - Follow the Water -
began with the 2001 Mars Odyssey mission
Odyssey, and every mission since, has addressed the
Mars programs’ four goals:
 Determine whether life ever arose on Mars
 Characterize the climate of Mars
 Characterize the geology of Mars
 Prepare for human exploration

Modern Exploration
Mars Odyssey

Modern Exploration
Mars Odyssey
Objectives:
 Determine the abundance of hydrogen, most likely in the
form of water ice, in the shallow subsurface
 Globally map the elements that make up the surface
 Acquire high-resolution thermal infrared images of surface
minerals
 Provide information about the structure of the Martian surface
 Record the radiation environment in low Mars orbit as it
relates to radiation-related risk to human exploration

Modern Exploration
Odyssey
3 instruments:
 Thermal Emission Imaging
System (THEMIS); mineralogy
 Gamma Ray Spectrometer
(GRS); elemental composition
 Martian Radiation
Environment Experiment
(MARIE)

Modern Exploration
Odyssey
Credit: NASA/JPL/University of
Arizona

Modern Exploration
Odyssey
Credit:NASA/JPL/Universityof
Arizona

Modern Exploration
Odyssey
Notable results from Odyssey
 Evidence for vast amounts of subsurface water ice at both
polar regions
 Can you see it?

Modern Exploration
Odyssey
Notable results from Odyssey
 Evidence for vast amounts of subsurface water ice at both
polar regions
 Can you see it?
 Where is it?
 Underneath the surface but…
 How deep?
 Is it dirty ice? Or icy dirt?

Modern Exploration
Odyssey
How is Odyssey advancing scientific understanding of
Mars?
 Water-ice exists underneath the surface in the polar regions,
not just at the poles
What technological advance(s) does Odyssey carry?
 GRS; able to “look” below the surface

Modern exploration mgs mpf_mo

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