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Astronomymarssection2studentcopy 131104151841-phpapp02-1
The document summarizes past Mars rovers and landers, including Viking 1 and 2 from the 1970s, Mars Pathfinder and Sojourner from 1997, and the ongoing Spirit and Opportunity rovers from 2004. It also discusses the Phoenix lander from 2008, which confirmed the presence of water ice on Mars. Key findings include evidence of past water activity from chemical analyses and geological features, measurements of atmospheric conditions and weathering, and ongoing assessments of habitability and potential for past or present life.
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Astronomymarssection2studentcopy 131104151841-phpapp02-1
- 1. Martian Rovers andLanders • Viking 1 • Viking 2 • Mars Pathfinder and Sojourner Rover • Spirit Rover • Opportunity Rover • Phoenix Lander • Curiosity Rover
- 2. Viking 1 &2 • Performed chemical analysis • The reaction between the iron rich soil and atmospheric Oxygen make iron oxide which gives Mars its color
- 3. Martian Landers • Viking1 Orbiter • Viking 1 Lander-1976
- 4. View from Viking1-Chryse Planitia
- 5. Viking Mission Viking 1Lander Scientific Equipment • Launch Date: Aug 20, 1975 • Orbital insertion: June 19, 1976 • Lander reached surface July 20, 1976-Chryse Planitia • Mission Duration Aug 20, 1975 thru Nov 11, 1982 • Imaged in 2006 on the surface of Mars by MRO • 2 cameras • Analysis tools – Metabolic – Photosynthetic – *Gas-chromatograph mass spectrometer- identifies substances in a soil sample – X-ray fluorescence spectrometer – Pressure, temperature, wind velocity sensor – A 3 axis seismometer – Various engineering sensors
- 6. Viking 1 SoilAnalysis Results • Soil contained – Silicon – Iron – Magnesium – Aluminum – Sulfur – Chlorine – Calcium – Titanium – Potassium – Trace amounts of • Strontium • yttrium • The sulfur and chlorine are likely the result of evaporating sea water • All soil samples heated in the GCMS gave off water vapor • Search for life – One experiment gave a positive result for life – DEBATED to this day!! – Antarctica’s dry areas have no detectable organic compounds-but there are organisms living in the rocks
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- 8. Viking Mission Viking 2Lander Scientific Equipment • Launched Sept 9, 1975 • Orbital insertion August 7, 1976 • Lander reached surface Sept 3, 1976 • Mission duration Sept 9,1975 thru April 11, 1980 • 2 cameras • Sampler arm with collector • Temperature sensor, wind velocity sensor • Magnet • Seismometer • *High gain antenna-sends info from the lander/rover to the orbiter and then back to Earth • X-ray fluorescence spectrometer • Pressure sensor
- 9. Mars Pathfinder &Sojourner Rover Testing and Packing up Airbag testing
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- 12. Pathfinder-Sojourner Rover Landed nearan outflow channel Two craft landed on the surface • Pathfinder – Long life-planned for 1 month, lasted 3 months – Measured the atmosphere and atmospheric dust • Sojourner Rover – Chemical analysis of soil and rocks-consistent w/flood waters – Round pebbles – Travelled 50 m
- 13. Mars Pathfinder (lander) •Launch date Dec 4, 1996 • Landed July 4, 1997 • Used the airbag touchdown • Consisted of a Lander and a Rover • Mission ended Sept 27, 1997 • MRO photographed the Pathfinder from orbit • Scientific instruments – Camera – Meteorology package – X-ray Spectrometer • These instruments measured: – Geology – Geochemistry – Magnetic and mechanical properties – Atmosphere and rotational dynamics
- 14. More Pathfinder results •Atmospheric particle size= 1 μm (1 millionth of a meter) • Soil test indicated a warmer and wetter past • Magnets determined soil contained maghemite (not pure magnetite) • Using Doppler it was determined the core is solid
- 15. Sojourner Rover (climbedoff Pathfinder) ***First rover to be deployed on another planet*** Scientific equipment Findings • 3 cameras • Laser striper hazard detection system • X-ray spectrometer – Examines chemical composition of soil • Accelerometers – Measures proper acceleration • Potentiometers – Controls and measures electrical devices • Confirmed previous volcanic activity • Found basaltic rock • Found elements: – Silicon – Magnesium iron silicate – Aluminum silicates of • Potassium • Sodium • Calcium – Quartz (silicon dioxide) – Magnetite – Iron sulfide – Calcium phosphates
- 16. Magnetite on theSurface of Mars • Magnetite was an important find on the surface of Mars because: – Magnetite (Fe3 O4 ) • can be broken down into FeO. Fe2O3 • one part wustite and one part hematite • hematite is only formed in the presence of water – Magnetite is known to be (on Earth) in bacteria, brains of bees, termites, fish, mollusc teeth, some birds, and humans • Used to detect polarity or the inclination of the Earth’s magnetic field
- 17. Delta II HeavyLifter-Spirit and Opportunity Launch Vehicle Launch Patch
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- 19. Mars Exploration RoverMission-twin rovers-Managed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory• Spirit and Opportunity Rovers
- 20. Earth from Mars-pictaken by Spirit
- 21. Spirit Rover maps Landingsite Traverse Map
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- 23. Spirit Rover What didSpirit do? • Gusev Crater • Named site “Columbia Memorial Stadium” • Landed Jan 4, 2004 • Planned mission 90 sols(Martian days) • Got stuck in soil on May 1, 2009 • Worked as a lander after that • Last communication March 2010 • Travelled 7,730.48 m or 4.8 mi • Histories first grinding of a rock on Mars-using the Rock Abrasion Tool (RAT) – Adirondack • Solar Panel efficiency jumped from 60% to 93% in March 2005- dust devils cleared off the solar panels – http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gall ery/press/spirit/20050527a.html • In 2007, Spirit’s stuck wheel revealed a silica rich soil which is similar to hot spring environments on Earth – On Earth, bacteria thrive in hot springs
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- 26. Spirit Rover cont. ScienceInstruments Mission and Findings • Panoramic camera • Navigation camera • Mini Thermal Emission Spectrometer (Mini-TES) – ID’s rocks for investigation • Mossbauer spectrometer – Determines mineral content • Alpha particle spectrometer – Determines abundance of elements • Magnets – Collects magnetic dust particles • Microscopic imager – Close-up images of rocks • Rock Abrasion Tool (RAT) – Exposes rock surface • Look for evidence of water • Mineral composition of soil and rocks – Including iron-containing minerals • Determine geologic processes and how they effect the chemistry of the planet • Assess habitability (life) • Spirit Rover found magnetite in the dust and soil on Mars • Evidence of past water
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- 31. Opportunity Rover What didOpportunity do? • Launched July 7, 2003 • Landed Jan 25, 2004 • Eagle Crater – Challenger Memorial Stadium • Planned mission 90 sols (Martian days) • Currently still operating on Mars • Longest Mars surface mission • First discovery of a meteor on another planet –named Heat Shield Rock • Studied Victoria Crater for 2 years • Studied many other craters – Endurance Crater – Erebus Crater • Studying Matijevic Hill overlooking Endeavor Crater • As of Aug 2012 she has travelled 21 miles
- 32. Opportunity Cont. Science Instruments Missionand Findings • Panoramic camera • Navigation camera • Mini Thermal Emission Spectrometer (Mini-TES) – ID’s rocks for investigation • Mossbauer spectrometer – Determines mineral content • Alpha particle spectrometer – Determines abundance of elements • Magnets – Collects magnetic dust particles • Microscopic imager – Close-up images of rocks • Rock Abrasion Tool (RAT) – Exposes rock surface • Reinforced previous findings of the evidence of previous liquid water on Mars • Hematite-nicknamed blueberries • Has made astronomical observations • Has taken atmospheric data
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- 35. Eagle Crater HematiteSpectograph
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- 37. Heat Shield & HeatShield Rock
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- 39. Phoenix On theGround!
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- 41. Phoenix Lander Phoenix MarsLanding: Nerves and Joy • Video-youtube • http://www.youtube.com/w atch?v=hH5pNFROlYU • Launched-Aug 4, 2007 • Landed- May 25, 2008 • Shutdown-November 10, 2008 • Planned for 90 sols, actual duration 125 sols
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- 44. Phoenix Lander Scientific instruments Findings •Used MRO to relay info to Earth • Robotic arm • Wet Chemistry Lab – Microscopy, Electrochemistry, and Conductivity Analyzer (MECA) – Thermal and Evolved Gas Analyzer (TEGA) • Soil heated to 1,000 C which causes the gases to be released and sent to the mass spectrometer for analysis – Microscopic imager • Polygon shaped surface features – Ice expands and contracts with temperature change, soil falls into the cracks • Photographed ice sublimation • Water vapor detected by TEGA’s mass spectrometer • CONFIRMED WATER ICE ON MARS • Blobs on the struts of Phoenix that changed size – Were they salt water that absorbed more water from the atmosphere? – Grew for 44 sols and then evaporated
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- 47. Phoenix Lander (Last slidefor Mars Spacecraft Test) Findings cont. • Soil pH is between 8 and9 (alkaline) • Magnesium • Sodium • Potassium • Chloride • Perchlorate – act as an antifreeze which lower the freezing point of water – This would allow the water to be liquid under the temperature and pressure conditions at the Phoenix landing site