David A. K. Pedersen
A5047589073- Planetary Science and Exploration
- Astro and Planetary Science
- Advanced X-ray and CT Imaging
- Geochemistry and Geologic Mapping
- Space Satellite Systems and Control
- Space Exploration and Technology
- Geological and Geochemical Analysis
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Particle Detector Development and Performance
- X-ray Spectroscopy and Fluorescence Analysis
- Robotics and Sensor-Based Localization
- Spacecraft Design and Technology
- Marine and environmental studies
- Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life
- Infrared Target Detection Methodologies
- Atmospheric and Environmental Gas Dynamics
- Mechanical and Optical Resonators
- Advanced X-ray Imaging Techniques
- Image and Object Detection Techniques
- CCD and CMOS Imaging Sensors
- Biosensors and Analytical Detection
- Electrochemical Analysis and Applications
- Radioactivity and Radon Measurements
- Advanced MRI Techniques and Applications
- Advanced Measurement and Detection Methods
Technical University of Denmark
2014-2025
DTU Space
2022-2024
University of Alberta
2023
University of California, Davis
2000
The Perseverance rover landed in Jezero crater, Mars, to investigate ancient lake and river deposits. We report observations of the crater floor, below crater's sedimentary delta, finding that floor consists igneous rocks altered by water. lowest exposed unit, informally named Séítah, is a coarsely crystalline olivine-rich rock, which accumulated at base magma body. Magnesium-iron carbonates along grain boundaries indicate reactions with carbon dioxide-rich water under water-poor conditions....
The geological units on the floor of Jezero crater, Mars, are part a wider regional stratigraphy olivine-rich rocks, which extends well beyond crater. We investigated petrology olivine and carbonate-bearing rocks Séítah formation in Jezero. Using multispectral images x-ray fluorescence data, acquired by Perseverance rover, we performed petrographic analysis Bastide Brac outcrops within this unit. found that these composed igneous rock, moderately altered aqueous fluid. mainly made...
Abstract The first samples collected by the Mars 2020 mission represent units exposed on Jezero Crater floor, from potentially oldest Séítah formation outcrops to youngest rocks of heavily cratered Máaz formation. Surface investigations reveal landscape‐to‐microscopic textural, mineralogical, and geochemical evidence for igneous lithologies, some possibly emplaced as lava flows. contain major rock‐forming minerals such pyroxene, olivine, feldspar, accessory including oxides phosphates,...
Collocated crystal sizes and mineral identities are critical for interpreting textural relationships in rocks testing geological hypotheses, but it has been previously impossible to unambiguously constrain these properties using situ instruments on Mars rovers. Here, we demonstrate that diffracted fluoresced x-rays detected by the PIXL instrument (an x-ray fluorescence microscope Perseverance rover) provide information about presence or absence of coherent crystalline domains various...
Abstract The Mars 2020 Perseverance rover has examined and sampled sulfate‐rich clastic rocks from the Hogwallow Flats member at Hawksbill Gap Yori Pass Cape Nukshak. Both strata are located on Jezero crater western fan front, lithologically stratigraphically similar, have been assigned to Shenandoah formation. In situ analyses demonstrate that these fine‐grained sandstones composed of phyllosilicates, hematite, Ca‐sulfates, Fe‐Mg‐sulfates, ferric sulfates, possibly chloride salts. Sulfate...
Abstract The Perseverance rover has collected seven oriented samples of sedimentary rocks, all likely older than the oldest signs widespread life on Earth, at exposed base western fan in Jezero crater, Mars. include a sulfate‐ and clay‐bearing mudstone sandstone, fluvial sandstone from stratigraphically low position front, carbonate‐bearing deposited above sulfate‐bearing strata. All contain aqueously precipitated materials most or were deposited. Although instruments have not confidently...
The Jezero crater floor features a suite of related, iron-rich lavas that were examined and sampled by the Mars 2020 rover Perseverance, whose textures, minerals, compositions characterized Planetary Instrument for X-ray Lithochemistry (PIXL). This suite, known as Máaz formation (fm), includes dark-toned basaltic/trachy-basaltic rocks with intergrown pyroxene, plagioclase feldspar, altered olivine overlying trachy-andesitic lava reversely zoned phenocrysts in K-rich groundmass. Feldspar...
We present a synthesis of PIXL elemental data and SHERLOC Raman spectra collected on two targets investigated by the Perseverance rover during first year its exploration Jezero Crater, Mars. The Bellegarde target (in Máaz formation) Dourbes Séítah exhibit distinctive mineralogies that are an ideal case study for in situ analysis PIXL. Each instrument alone produces valuable about chemistry spatial distribution mineral phases at sub-millimeter scale. However, combining from both instruments...
Abstract The Mars 2020 rover, Perseverance , encountered a range of basaltic igneous rocks on the floor Jezero crater, two which are olivine cumulates, formed by accumulation crystals from magma. These cumulates lie in geomorphically distinct region, named Séítah, crater floor. To understand origin and their relationship with adjacent basalts Máaz formation, we calculated composition parent magma one Brac, based chemical analyses mineralogic interpretations Planetary Instrument for X‐ray...
A major objective of the Mars 2020 mission is to sample rocks in Jezero crater that may preserve organic matter for later return Earth. Using an ultraviolet Raman and luminescence spectrometer, Perseverance rover detected signals with maximal intensities at 330 350 nanometers 270 290 were initially reported as consistent organics. Here, we test alternative hypothesis 330- 350-nanometer 270- 290-nanometer trace Ce 3+ phosphate silicate defects, respectively. By comparing distributions...
The thermal environment on the surface of Mars presents a challenge to any mission and instrumentation conducting operations Mars, Planetary Instrument for X-Ray Lithochemistry (PIXL) is no exception. martian diurnal temperature swing can span almost 100 degrees Celsius, depending season location planet. Being required operate under such large span, while performing proximity science, acquiring measurements accurate tens microns, calls novel solutions. PIXL's Micro Context Camera (MCC)...
Abstract The Planetary Instrument for X-ray Lithochemistry (PIXL) onboard the Perseverance rover, part of NASA’s Mars 2020 mission, has first camera system that utilizes active light sources to generate multispectral data directly on a planetary surface. PIXL collects using three different components in Optical Fiducial System (OFS): Micro Context Camera (MCC), Floodlight Illuminator (FLI), and Structure illuminator (SLI). MCC captures images illuminated at wavelengths by FLI while...
A structured light system is used to position a scientific instrument mounted on Mars rover robotic arm relative surface sample. Fifty laser spots are projected the The identification of individual spots, centroiding algorithm, and calibration discussed. Results show that measures distance sample more accurate than 50 μm at nominal operating 30 mm.
In some applications, a robot arm has to position instrumentation/payloads accurately relative an unknown surface. This article describes optical sensor system for doing so. The is based on number of different image processing techniques combined with stimulation. More specifically, the utilizes camera, floodlight, structured light illumination, terrain navigation (TRN), camera pose estimation, and circle finding. been developed Planetary Instrument X-Ray Lithochemistry (PIXL) instrument...
ESA's mission PROBA3 consists of two space segments, the Coronagraph spacecraft and Occulter operated at a distance between 25m 250m, co-aligned to sun direction. In addition in-orbit Formation Flying demonstration, one science objective is achieve observation Sun's corona close solar rim specific inter-satellite 150m. This configuration creates challenging illumination conditions for optical instruments which are needed control various operations scenarios, e.g. when cameras on Sunwards...
<title>Abstract</title> Phosphorus is an essential component for life, and in-situ identification of phosphate minerals that formed in aqueous conditions directly contributes toward one the main goals Mars 2020 Perseverance rover: to seek signs ancient habitable environments. In Jezero crater, proximity science analyses within a conglomerate outcrop, “Onahu” demonstrate presence rare Fe3+-bearing (likely beraunite, metavivianite, ferrolaueite, and/or santabarbaraite) embedded carbonate-rich...
Abstract We have developed an optical stimulator system for vision-based sensors. The is efficient tool stimulating a camera during on-ground testing with scenes representative of spacecraft flights. Such include starry sky, planetary objects, and other spacecraft. used as test bench to simulate high-precision navigation by different types systems that are onboard spacecraft, rovers, rendezvous proximity maneuvers. Careful hardware design preoperational calibration the result in high...