Field Observations Using the FIDO Infrared Point Spectrometer: Mineralogical Interpretation and Implications for In Situ Investigations on Mars

Details Field Observations Using the FIDO Infrared Point Spectrometer: Mineralogical Interpretation and Implications for In Situ Investigations on Mars Field Observations Using the FIDO Infrared Point Spectrometer: Mineralogical Interpretation and Implications for In Situ Investigations on Mars

Dec 2002

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2002agufm.p22a0400f&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2002, abstract #P22A-0400

Mathematics

Logic

5464 Remote Sensing, 5470 Surface Materials And Properties, 5494 Instruments And Techniques, 6225 Mars

Scientific paper

The Field Integrated Design and Operations (FIDO) Rover was deployed for 10 days in August, 2002 in a blind field trial that simulated 20 sols of mission operations. This deployment was conducted in support of the Mars Exploration Rover (MER) mission which is scheduled to launch two rovers to Mars in 2003. The FIDO rover is equipped with a mast-mounted Infrared Point Spectrometer (IPS) that has a 9.3 mrad field of view, a spectral sampling of 1 nm, and a spectral resolution of 8 nm. The IPS collects data in the ShortWave InfraRed (SWIR) from 1.3 to 2.5 um, although low signal levels and instrument noise truncate the useful wavelength range at ~2.4 um. The spectrometer is bore-sighted with the FIDO navigation cameras to enable the remote targeting of spectral observations based on navigation imagery. Over the course of the trial nearly 250 IPS observations were acquired in order to characterize the mineralogy of the field site. The spectral data definitively indicated the widespread presence of kaolinite and were suggestive of additional clay minerals and isolated carbonate phases associated with mud cracks and talus material. Several of the lessons learned during the rover trial have direct relevance to future landed Mars exploration missions. Principally, the mineralogical identification of key units is critical if the local geologic history and dominant chemical processes are to be understood. However, the value of mineralogical observations is compromised by inadequate co-registration of imaging and spectral data. Accurate co-registration is an essential aspect of data interpretation, especially in the case of spatially restricted or poorly exposed mineral deposits. Calibrated orbital remote sensing data can be used synergistically with rover observations to increase science return from the rover by aiding in the planning of scientifically meaningful traverses. Proper attention must be paid to environmental conditions (time of day, lighting geometry, weather conditions) that may adversely affect the quality of spectroscopic measurements. To this end, the use of advanced data visualization tools is invaluable in maximizing the quality of data returned by rover operations.

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