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Mars Mission

Mars Mission. Fadhi Ali, Isaac Alpert, George Kostov , Bilal Shahabuddin Tuesday, May 8 th , 2012 Earth Science - 351. Mission Statement.

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Mars Mission

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  1. Mars Mission Fadhi Ali, Isaac Alpert, George Kostov,Bilal Shahabuddin Tuesday, May 8th, 2012 Earth Science - 351

  2. Mission Statement BIG-F Seismometer aims to place a single geophysical lander on Mars to study its deep interior, with a focus on understanding the processes that shaped the rocky planets of the inner solar system (including Earth) more than four billion years ago.

  3. Chronology of Previous Mars Missions • 1960’s and early 1970’s Mariner 3 to Mariner 9 • 1975 Viking 1 and Viking 2 • 1996 Mars Pathfinder • 2001 Mars Odyssey • 2003 Spirit and Opportunity Rovers • 2005 Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter • 2007 Phoenix • 2011 Mars Science Laboratory (Curiosity)

  4. What We Know About Mars So Far……. • Presence of volcanoes, lava plains, immense canyons, cratered areas, wind-formed features, and evidence of surface water. • New Cluster Analysis of samples from Viking mission show signs of microbial life in Mars soil. • Recent consensus seems to be shifting towards early Mars being cold and dryrather than warm and wet.

  5. Hemispheric Dichotomy • The origin and age are still debated, and hypotheses fall into two categories: • The dichotomy was produced by a mega-impact event or several large impacts early in the planet’s history • The dichotomy was produced by crustal thinning in the northern hemisphere by mantle convection, overturning, or other chemical and thermal processes in the planet’s interior (endogenic theories)

  6. Viking Missions • Although both Viking landers carried a seismometer on board, there was no seismic data collected. • Instrument packaging difficulties • The two seismometers were put on the top of the landers. • Elucidated information about noises and possibilities, though

  7. Mars’s Composition • Goal is to solve the mystery of differentiation in planetary formation post-accretion • The mean density of Mars is less than that of Earth, Venus, and Mercury but greater than that of the Moon. • Implies that Mars has a smaller total Fe-Ni • Mars is the only terrestrial planet which could have chrondritic abundances or iron

  8. Seismometer Capability • Seismometer would let us know the internal structure (contextualization) • Seismic activity would prove past life • Different cores mean different things

  9. Olympus Mons

  10. Mission • To learn about geological history of Mars, and its relevance to past life • Landing Site: Olympus Mons • Largest volcano, highest formation on Mars • Extinct • Possible seismic readings • Mars is known to be seismically inactive, hope to get readings on Olympus Mons • Sampling the volcanic soil could reveal much about Martian history

  11. Instruments • Seismometer • Simple device for measuring amplitude, frequency of ground oscillations in three dimensions Source: Imperial College London

  12. Instruments • Spectrometer • Uses radiation (different frequencies) to determine chemical and elemental composition of samples Source: University of Cambridge

  13. Technical Considerations • Solar-powered, long lifetime • Low-risk of dust storms, higher risk of radiation damage from sun -> sensitive instruments must be well-shielded • Presence of seismic activity will mean: • Potential for further research, more seismometers (arraying) • Information on planetary dynamics through classification of ground motions.

  14. Mission Logistics • Launch Site: Cape Canaveral, United States • Launch Window: Jan 22 – Feb 9, 2016 • Arrival at Mars: ~Nov 20, 2017 • Corresponds with the start of summer on Mars in the year 2017 • Want to maximize exposure to Sun • Cost: ~ 500 million USD This mission to Mars is funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration

  15. Arrival on Mars • Upon atmospheric entry, heat shield slows spacecraft • Within minutes, parachute is deployed • Landing legs are deployed next • Spacecraft descends on Mars using rockets • Impact is cushioned by airbags This mission to Mars is funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration

  16. Post Arrival • Solar panels deployed (energy source) • Relay spacecraft health telemetry back to Earth • Begin experiments This mission to Mars is funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration

  17. Communication with Earth • Use UHF relays • Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter • Mars Express This mission to Mars is funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration

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