The MECA payload on the 2007 Phoenix Mars Scout mission

Details The MECA payload on the 2007 Phoenix Mars Scout mission The MECA payload on the 2007 Phoenix Mars Scout mission

Dec 2003

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2003agufm.p41b0404h&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2003, abstract #P41B-0404

Physics

5400 Planetology: Solid Surface Planets, 5470 Surface Materials And Properties, 5499 General Or Miscellaneous

Scientific paper

Originally developed as the Mars Environmental Compatibility Assessment on the cancelled 2001 Mars Surveyor Lander, the MECA payload will be adapted to the study of icy soils for the Phoenix 2007 Mars Scout mission. The original wet chemistry cells will be retained to analyze four discrete soil samples for a range of soluble constituents and electrochemical properties. The existing microscopy facility, including both optical and atomic force microscopes, will be requalified for use on icy samples. A new component, the Thermal and Electrical Conductivity Probe (TECP) will be carried on the end of the robot arm. Together, these elements will be called the Microscopy, Electrochemistry, and Conductivity Analyzer, retaining the original acronym. The TECP consists of four small spikes that will be inserted into the sides of an excavated trench. In addition to measuring temperature, the decay of a short heat pulse will indicate the thermal diffusivity and conductivity of the soil, for use in models of surface/atmosphere interactions. Using the same spikes, the electrical conductivity will be measured to indicate any transient wetness that might result from the excavation. Thermal analyses of such trenches indicate that they are radiation traps, and can become quite warm in direct sunlight. Since the phase diagram in the northern landing site allows for the presence of liquid water, we anticipate that surface films of water or damp soil might be detectable by this method.

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