Other
Scientific paper
May 2004
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2004agusm.u43a..05s&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Spring Meeting 2004, abstract #U43A-05
Other
5464 Remote Sensing, 5494 Instruments And Techniques, 6225 Mars
Scientific paper
The 2001 Mars Odyssey mission has completed just over one Mars year of orbital science operations. Observations of Mars and its environment are being carried out by three science instrument packages: (1) the Gamma Ray Spectrometer suite (GRS), which is composed of the Gamma Sensor Subsystem (GSS), the Neutron Spectrometer (NS) and the High Energy Neutron Detector (HEND), (2) the Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS), and (3) the Martian Radiation Environment Experiment (MARIE). Currently, two of the three science investigations are returning data. The MARIE instrument is in a powered off mode and is undergoing anomaly troubleshooting. The Odyssey mission has added significantly to our understanding of Mars. Gamma and neutron observations of the high latitudes have been used to identify water-ice-rich soil to 1-m depth at latitudes poleward of 60 degrees north and south along with identifying enigmatic deposits of hydrogen in mid-latitudes, with water equivalent mass fractions of 2-10%. In addition, Gamma ray emission maps for six elements have been constructed, and analysis is ongoing. The THEMIS instrument has provided daytime and nighttime infrared imaging over 72% and 98% of the planet respectively. These data show a remarkable diversity of temperature signatures, implying a large variability in surface properties, ranging from bedrock outcrops to areas with extensive dust coverage. A dedicated visible imaging campaign (36-m/pixel) has provided a comprehensive view of the south polar-layered deposits, facilitating comparisons in surface variations as a function of season. The MARIE instrument has detected radiation signatures from the high solar activity during the first 18 months of operations, including events with significantly different signatures at Mars and Earth. The orbiter has played a key role as a data relay platform for the Mars Exploration Rovers. In addition, coordinated observations between the rovers and Odyssey allow ground truthing of the orbital data. The nominal Odyssey science mission will cover 917 days, until August 2004. Extended mission operations appear to be feasible, given the current inventory of propellant. Goals for a possible extended mission include inter-annual comparative observations, global high- resolution mapping by the THEMIS visible camera, and synergistic science and operations support for other Mars missions.
Plaut Jeffrey J.
Senske David A.
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