Biology
Scientific paper
Apr 1995
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1995adspr..15..179s&link_type=abstract
Advances in Space Research (ISSN 0273-1177), vol. 15, no. 4, p. (4)179-(4)188
Biology
Atmospheric Circulation, Environmental Surveys, Exobiology, Geochemistry, Mars (Planet), Mars Environment, Planetary Geology, Planetary Structure, Delta Launch Vehicle, Experiment Design, Mission Planning, Spacecraft Instruments
Scientific paper
The Mars Observer (MO) mission, to be launched in the fall of 1992, will orbit the planet, making global maps of its surface with a variety of advanced sensors. It also will address the study of atmospheric structure and circulation from orbit and the low-altitude study of the martian magnetic field. Missions to meet the post-MO science objectives at Mars will be difficult undertakings. This difficulty comes from the simple fact that most of the important science that can be done from orbit will have been done after MO, so that the next step requires a return to the martian surface. More than that, it requires a return to the surface in force, since the highest priority objectives after MO involve sampling the full geologic diversity of Mars and making measurements on the surface at globally-distributed sites. It is for this reason that so many studies have identified a global 'network mission' as the next step in Mars exploration. The most important characteristic of a Mars network mission is that it will send many landers to widely-dispersed sites on the martian surface. Since a global distribution of landers is necessary, trajectories and vehicle designs must be chosen that can reach nearly all points on the martian surface, and that can survive once they get there. Simultaneous operation of many stations for long periods is needed, so the landers must be capable of long life. The landers must be simple and rugged; simple so that many of them can be sent for a reasonable cost, and rugged so that they can survive a wide range of landing and environmental conditions. A specific mission design has been found that meets these requirements: the Mars Environmental Survey (MESUR) mission.
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