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Modern ExplorationGlobal Surveyor
Modern ExplorationGlobal 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 ExplorationGlobal 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 ExplorationGlobal Surveyor
Modern ExplorationGlobal Surveyor
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Modern ExplorationGlobal Surveyor
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Modern ExplorationGlobal Surveyor
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Modern ExplorationGlobal Surveyor
Credit: Malin Space Science Systems – www.msss.com
Modern ExplorationGlobal Surveyor
Credit: NASA/JPL/ASU
Modern ExplorationGlobal Surveyor
Credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
Modern ExplorationGlobal Surveyor
Credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
Modern ExplorationGlobal 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 ExplorationGlobal SurveyorHow 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 ExplorationMars Pathfinder
Modern ExplorationMars 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 ExplorationMars PathfinderLanded in Ares Vallis which was believed to be the site of an ancient floodLanding site selection made using Viking orbiter imageryFirst rover; first to use airbags
Modern ExplorationMars Pathfinder
Landing Site Locations
Modern ExplorationMars Pathfinder
Pathfinder Landing Site
Modern ExplorationMars 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 ExplorationMars Pathfinder
Modern ExplorationMars Pathfinder
Notable results from PathfinderMore than 16,500 images from the lander and 550
images from the roverMore than 15 chemical analyses of rocks and soil and
extensive data on winds and other weather factorsFindings 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 ExplorationMars 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 ExplorationMars Odyssey
Modern ExplorationMars 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 ExplorationOdyssey
3 instruments: Thermal Emission Imaging
System (THEMIS); mineralogy Gamma Ray Spectrometer
(GRS); elemental composition Martian Radiation
Environment Experiment (MARIE)
Modern ExplorationOdyssey
Credit: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona
Modern ExplorationOdyssey
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Modern ExplorationOdyssey
Credit: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona
Modern ExplorationOdyssey
Notable results from Odyssey Evidence for vast amounts of subsurface water ice at both
polar regions Can you see it?
Modern ExplorationOdyssey
Credit: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona
Modern ExplorationOdyssey
Modern ExplorationOdyssey
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 ExplorationOdyssey
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