Mathematics – Logic
Scientific paper
Apr 2003
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2003eaeja.....5849c&link_type=abstract
EGS - AGU - EUG Joint Assembly, Abstracts from the meeting held in Nice, France, 6 - 11 April 2003, abstract #5849
Mathematics
Logic
Scientific paper
From radio and radar observations, providing information on the upper 0.1 to 10 m of the Martian crust, we know that subsurface properties seem to be slightly different from those at the surface, suggesting subsurface layering in many places. This idea has been strongly strengthened by the recent observation in sedimentary areas of the Martian surface, made by MGS and Odyssey Spacecrafts. Moreover indications on the presence of shallow water has been also suggested. Unfortunately many doubts exist on the nature, timing and duration of alteration and sedimentation processes on Mars. This study will permit to infer the history of erosion, transport and deposition of loose material. This material can reach a thickness ranging from a few centimeters to meters. Up to present, the Viking and Pathfinder investigations have studied only the upper layers of the soil. The Martian soil analyzed by the two Viking landers showed a surprising similarity, despite the great distance between the two landing sites: it will be extremely important to verify if this similarity is also present in different areas and, particularly, in the subsurface layers. The study of the Mars subsurface can give us an indication of how deeply the weathering has modified the Martian surface. The ASI driller will be able to penetrate different kinds of materials, both loose and hard. The drill will be able to cut both hard rock and loose soil as well as mixtures of them. Thanks to the ASI drill it will be possible to investigate at least the first half-meter of this complex structure. We describe here a miniaturized imaging spectrometer that can be included in the drill tip in order to infer the mineralogical characteristics of subsurface layers. The data are acquired through a flat optical window on the drill wall: through this window the inner surface of the hole is illuminated by means of different lamps. The image is acquired by an array of optical fibers simulating a slit. An optical system situated inside the drill will permit to observe details from few tenths of microns to hundreds of microns and to perform low resolution spectroscopy in the range 0.8-2.8 microns. The linear array of optical fibers mimics the slit. The focal plane is a two-dimensional matrix of HgCdTe or PbS of 32-64 pixels in the spatial direction by 25-256 pixels in the spectral direction. The spectral reflectance in the visible and near infrared can provide information on the mineralogy and petrology of surface materials, and therefore on crust composition and Fe mineralogy. Analysis of VIS and NIR reflectance spectra of low albedo areas is a primary source of evidence for basaltic crust on Mars, with the identification of abundant clinopyroxenes and other mafic minerals. The instrument prototype has already been tested in laboratory and we will show some of the obtained results.
Amici Stefania
Bianchi R.
Capaccioni Fabrizio
Capria Maria Teresa
Coradini Angioletta
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