A5014647456- Planetary Science and Exploration
- Astro and Planetary Science
- Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life
- Spacecraft Design and Technology
- Space Exploration and Technology
- Space exploration and regulation
- Spacecraft and Cryogenic Technologies
- Spaceflight effects on biology
- Ionosphere and magnetosphere dynamics
- Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics
- Laser-induced spectroscopy and plasma
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Dust and Plasma Wave Phenomena
- Scientific Research and Discoveries
- Adaptive optics and wavefront sensing
- Space Satellite Systems and Control
- Spacecraft Dynamics and Control
- Methane Hydrates and Related Phenomena
- Modular Robots and Swarm Intelligence
- Aeolian processes and effects
- Geochemistry and Geologic Mapping
- Aerospace Engineering and Energy Systems
- Earthquake Detection and Analysis
- Optical Polarization and Ellipsometry
- Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Studies
European Space Research and Technology Centre
2014-2024
European Space Agency
2004-2024
California Institute of Technology
2018
University of Arizona
2018
Cornell University
1989-1993
The second ExoMars mission will be launched in 2020 to target an ancient location interpreted have strong potential for past habitability and preserving physical chemical biosignatures (as well as abiotic/prebiotic organics). deliver a lander with instruments atmospheric geophysical investigations rover tasked searching signs of extinct life. equipped drill collect material from outcrops at depth down 2 m. This subsurface sampling capability provide the best chance yet gain access...
The search for traces of life is one the principal objectives Mars exploration. Central to this objective concept habitability, set conditions that allows appearance and successful establishment microorganisms in any location. While environmental may have been conducive early martian history, habitable were always heterogeneous on a spatial scale geological time frame. This "punctuated" scenario habitability would had important consequences evolution life, as well presence preservation at...
The Raman Laser Spectrometer (RLS) on board the ESA/Roscosmos ExoMars 2020 mission will provide precise identification of mineral phases and possibility to detect organics Red Planet. RLS work powdered samples prepared inside Pasteur analytical suite collected surface subsurface by a drill system. spectroscopy is well-known technique based inelastic scattering matter incident monochromatic light (the effect) that has many applications in laboratory industry, yet be used space applications....
The Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer (MOMA) instrument onboard the ESA/Roscosmos ExoMars rover (to launch in July, 2020) will analyze volatile and refractory organic compounds martian surface subsurface sediments. In this study, we describe design, current status of development, analytical capabilities instrument. Data acquired on preliminary MOMA flight-like hardware experimental setups are also presented, illustrating their contribution to overall science return mission. Key Words: Mars-Mass...
The European Space Agency's ExoMars mission will seek evidence of organic compounds biological and non-biological origin at the martian surface. One instruments in Pasteur payload may be a Life Marker Chip that utilizes an immunoassay approach to detect specific molecules or classes molecules. Therefore, it is necessary define prioritize molecular targets for antibody development. Target have been selected represent meteoritic input, fossil matter, extant (living, recently dead)...
Extraterrestrial habitability is a complex notion. We briefly review what known about the origin of life on Earth, that is, based carbon chemistry and water. then discuss habitable conditions (past present) for established survival microorganisms. Based these elements, we propose to use term only necessary life, proliferation life. Not covered by this would be prebiotic allow recognition extinct or hibernating Finally, apply concept potential emergence Mars where suitable start, proliferate,...
MicrOmega is a visible near-infrared hyperspectral microscope that designed to characterize the texture and composition of martian samples presented instrument within ExoMars rover's analytical laboratory drawer. The spectral range (0.5–3.65 μm) sampling (20 cm−1 from 0.95 3.65 have been chosen allow identification most constituent minerals, ices/frosts, organics with astrobiological relevance each 20 × μm2 pixel over 5 mm2 field view. Such an unprecedented characterization will enable (1)...
Up to now, observations had been unable show conclusively a one‐to‐one correspondence between perpendicular ion acceleration and particular type of plasma wave within the O + source region below 2000 km. In this paper we demonstrate that intense (100–300 mV/m) lower hybrid waves are responsible for transversely accelerating H ions characteristic energies up 6 eV. This wave‐particle interaction takes place in thin filamentary density cavities oriented along geomagnetic field lines. The...
We report observations of the transverse acceleration ions in localized regions intense lower hybrid waves at altitudes near 1000 km auroral ionoshpere. The are thin filaments with dimensions across geomagnetic field lines about 50--100 m corresponding to 5--10 thermal ion gyroradii or one hot gyroradius. Within region reach peak-to-peak amplitudes 100--300 mV/m and accelerated transversely characteristic energies order 10 eV. These consistent theories wave collapse.
ISEM (Infrared Spectrometer for ExoMars) is a pencil-beam infrared spectrometer that will measure reflected solar radiation in the near range context assessment of surface mineralogy vicinity ExoMars rover. The instrument be accommodated on mast rover and operated together with panoramic camera (PanCam), high-resolution (HRC). study mineralogical petrographic composition martian rover, combination other remote sensing instruments, it aid selection potential targets close-up investigations...
The Ma_MISS (Mars Multispectral Imager for Subsurface Studies) experiment is the visible and near infrared (VNIR) miniaturized spectrometer hosted by drill system of ExoMars 2020 rover. will perform IR spectral reflectance investigations in 0.4–2.2 μm range to characterize mineralogy excavated borehole walls at different depths (between 0 2 m). sampling about 20 nm, whereas spatial resolution over target 120 μm. Making use drill's movement, instrument slit can scan a ring build up...
The search for evidence of past or present life on Mars is the principal objective 2020 ESA-Roscosmos ExoMars Rover mission. If such to be found anywhere, it will most likely in subsurface, where organic molecules are shielded from destructive effects ionizing radiation and atmospheric oxidants. For this reason, mission has been optimized investigate subsurface identify, understand, sample those locations conditions preservation found. Water Ice Subsurface Deposit Observation (WISDOM)...
The scientific objectives of the ExoMars rover are designed to answer several key questions in search for life on Mars. In particular, unique subsurface drill will address some these, such as possible existence and stability organics. PanCam establish surface geological morphological context mission, working collaboration with other instruments. Here, we describe geology, atmospheric science, 3-D vision. We discuss design PanCam, which includes a stereo pair Wide Angle Cameras (WACs), each...
Abstract Mars exploration motivates the search for extraterrestrial life, development of space technologies, and design human missions habitations. Here, we seek new insights pose unresolved questions relating to natural history Mars, habitability, robotic exploration, planetary protection, impacts on society. Key observations findings include: – high escape rates early Mars' atmosphere, including loss water, impact present-day habitability; putative fossils will likely be ambiguous...
The Close-Up Imager (CLUPI) onboard the ESA ExoMars Rover is a powerful high-resolution color camera specifically designed for close-up observations. Its accommodation on movable drill allows multiple positioning. science objectives of instrument are geological characterization rocks in terms texture, structure, and search potential morphological biosignatures. We present CLUPI objectives, performance, technical description, followed by description instrument's planned operations strategy...
High time resolution ion mass spectrometer distribution function measurements and wave data from a sounding rocket flight over an aurora have revealed the fine structure of transverse acceleration mechanism in upper ionosphere. The transversely accelerated (TAI) events can occur volume with cross‐field dimension as small several tens meters thus appear 50–100 ms bursts due to payload motion. Bulk heating characteristic energy eV tail direction perpendicular B few percent ambient ions order...