Mars Mission

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

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.

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)

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.

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)

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

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

Seismometer Capability• Seismometer would

let us know the internal structure (contextualization)

• Seismic activity would prove past life

• Different cores mean different things

Olympus Mons

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

Instruments

• Seismometer– Simple device for measuring amplitude, frequency

of ground oscillations in three dimensions

Source: Imperial College London

Instruments• Spectrometer– Uses radiation (different frequencies) to determine

chemical and elemental composition of samples

Source: University of Cambridge

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.

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

Arrival on Mars1) Upon atmospheric entry, heat

shield slows spacecraft

2) Within minutes, parachute is deployed

3) Landing legs are deployed next

4) Spacecraft descends on Mars using rockets

5) Impact is cushioned by airbags

This mission to Mars is funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Post Arrival

1) Solar panels deployed (energy source)2) Relay spacecraft health telemetry back to Earth3) Begin experiments

This mission to Mars is funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Communication with Earth

• Use UHF relays– Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter– Mars Express

This mission to Mars is funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration