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Surface Exploration of Mars

Surface Exploration of Mars. Surface Exploration of Mars: Past & Future. Martian Meteorites Martian Moons Martian Surface Exploration The Viking Landers (early 80s) Pathfinder (1997) Current Surface Explorers (three en route!) Future of Martian Exploration (“astrobiology”).

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Surface Exploration of Mars

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  1. Surface Exploration of Mars www.assignmentpoint.com

  2. Surface Exploration of Mars: Past & Future • Martian Meteorites • Martian Moons • Martian Surface Exploration • The Viking Landers (early 80s) • Pathfinder (1997) • Current Surface Explorers (three en route!) • Future of Martian Exploration (“astrobiology”) • Review of Mars www.assignmentpoint.com

  3. Martian Meteorites Martian data without going there! What are these “meteorites”? Unusual rocks found in Antarctica How did they get to Earth? An impact on Mars (crater size: 10-100 km) ejected part of the Martian surface How do we know these meteorites are from Mars? Chemical composition does not match usual meteorites Only 1.3 billion yrs old (most asteroid-type meteorites MUCH older); Higher content of volatile substances Why aren’t they orange – the color of Mars surface? Has to do with how the rocks weathered www.assignmentpoint.com

  4. What DO they tell us? • Physical processes on Mars • Crust/core developed early in Solar System • Volcanism until < 1 Billion Years ago • Chemical composition • Different than normal asteroid (meteorite) comp. • Interaction with water • Martian atmosphere composition What DON’T they tell us? • Location of origin (on Mars – which part of surface?) • Enough about Mars’ water & atmosphere • Need to actually RETURN ROCKS from Mars!! Case Study: Martian Rock ALH84001 Mass = 1.9 kg Igneous Rock Discovered in Antarctica (easier to find) 1984 Formed on Mars 4.5 Billion yr ago Ejected ~16 Million yr ago Landed ~13,000 yr ago www.assignmentpoint.com

  5. Controversial – microbial presence in meteorites?? Close up views reveal structure similar to Earth microbes? Globules of carbonate minerals (the yellow-orange grains) are scattered along cracks in this small chip of ALH 84001. The rims contain iron oxides (including magnetite) and iron sulfides--incompatible minerals that on Earth would suggest microbial action Astrobiology: exciting field of research – study of origin of life in the solar system,universe - LIFE IS UBIQUITOUS in the universe – we just haven’t found it - LIFE IS A SPECIAL quirk of nature and timing – very very rare! www.assignmentpoint.com

  6. Deimos Comparison: Asteroid Eros (33 km x 13 km) Martian Moons • Two moons: Deimos, Phobos • Small (~20km) irregularly shaped • Orbit Mars in 8hr, 30hr • Probably captured asteroids Phobos (20 km x 27 km) www.assignmentpoint.com

  7. PROS for Space Missions Closest views of the planets that are possible Access to wavelengths that are unavailable on the ground Atmospheric effects gone – get clearer views than on Earth Development of sophisticated tech. and research CONS for Space Missions Can not fix/test equipment as easily Large risk with rocket launch Much much more costly! (although more costly for manned than unmanned) Lifetime is usually shorter Upgrades much more difficult Risks from UV radiation, cosmic rays Risks of Solar System Missions www.assignmentpoint.com

  8. Viking Landers 1 and 2 • Viking 1 launched in August of 1975, Viking 2 launched in Sept. 1975 • Vikings arrived at Mars in June, August of 1976 • Orbiter + Lander – Orbiters alone weighed close to a ½ ton each – • very expensive launch/rocket equipment !! • - these days NASA’s mantra: “Faster Better Cheaper” www.assignmentpoint.com

  9. Viking Lander Images of Mars’ Surface • landing site chosen from Orbiter images – two different regions in Northern Lowlands • revealed that the surface of Mars was littered with jagged rocks and fine dust everywhere • rocks were probably result of crater-forming impact (“ejecta”) • rocks resemble lava-rocks on Earth – lava flows broken up by impacts www.assignmentpoint.com

  10. Viking Landers: Search for Life on Mars • Science Instruments: • chem lab to explore reactions of Mars rock with water (none detected) • scoop arm with magnet – found that the soil was IRON-rich • confined to study only one part of Martian surface – its landing site • inspired NASA to propose for • missions with MOVING surface • vehicles – Pathfinder 1997! www.assignmentpoint.com

  11. Mars has a very thin atmosphere and no magnetosphere. If humans populated the Martian surface, what environmental problems will they be concerned about? • Global Warming • (2) Solar flare particles and ultraviolet radiation • (3) Nitrogen poisoning • (4) Lead contamination from volcanoes • (5) Magnetic anomalies in the interior causing brain disorders www.assignmentpoint.com

  12. Mars Pathfinder Mission – landed on Mars 4 July 1997 • Demonstration mission for • “Faster Better Cheaper” • NASA mantra • used lightweight airbags • to land • small, efficient robotic • vehicle • 10x as many images as • previous missions (computers) • landed 500 miles from • Vikings – flood plain area • (volcanic rocks with silicon) www.assignmentpoint.com

  13. Panoramic View from Mars’ Pathfinder’s Sojourner Rover www.assignmentpoint.com

  14. ATHENA: MARS EXPLORATION ROVERSOpportunity & Spirit (or MER A and MER B) • 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 Rover www.assignmentpoint.com

  15. ATHENA: MARS EXPLORATION ROVER Mars Rover Entry Sequence www.assignmentpoint.com

  16. cartoon of the “airbag” landing of the Mars Exploration Rovers on surface www.assignmentpoint.com

  17. Choosing a site to land on Mars Can not just land anywhere – need to consider the safety of the vessel! - previous missions have landed in the northern lowlands www.assignmentpoint.com

  18. 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 www.assignmentpoint.com

  19. 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. www.assignmentpoint.com

  20. Mars Exploration Rover: 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?) www.assignmentpoint.com

  21. 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 “channel” www.assignmentpoint.com

  22. 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 www.assignmentpoint.com

  23. Mars Express – European Effort www.assignmentpoint.com

  24. MARS EXPRESS • Launched June 2003 • Radar instrument (MARSIS) built at University of Iowa (Prof. D. Gurnett, P.I.) • other instruments, including a small rover called “Beagle 2” www.assignmentpoint.com

  25. MARS EXPRESS: Radar Experiment • Radar reflection signal of water is very different from rock • Echoes can differentiate between rock and ice or water • Radar transmitter operates at 1-2 MHz and penetrates ground to several km depth • Probably cannot distinguish between CO2 and H20. www.assignmentpoint.com

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  27. Mars Surface Exploration – the Future! www.assignmentpoint.com

  28. Mars Surface Exploration – the Future! www.assignmentpoint.com

  29. Future Mars Exploration: “Scout Missions” • lightweight/efficient ballons • fleet of small aircraft to explore Mars • develop new technology • also SAMPLE RETURNS www.assignmentpoint.com

  30. Martian Outpost: 2030 www.assignmentpoint.com

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