Publications (4)6.04 Total impact
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Article: The 1999 Marsokhod rover mission simulation at Silver Lake, California: Mission overview, data sets, and summary of results
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ABSTRACT: We report on a field experiment held near Silver Lake playa in the Mojave Desert in February 1999 with the Marsokhod rover. The payload (Descent Imager, PanCam, Mini-TES, and Robotic Arm Camera), data volumes, and data transmission/receipt windows simulated those planned for the Mars Surveyor mission selected for 2001. A central mast with a pan and tilt platform at 150 cm height carried a high-resolution color stereo imager to simulate the PanCam and a visible/near-infrared fiberoptic spectrometer (operating range 0.35-2.5 m). Monochrome stereo navigation cameras were mounted on the mast and the front and rear of the rover near the wheels. A field portable infrared spectroradiometer (operating range 8-14 m) simulated the Mini-TES. A Robotic Arm Camera, capable of close-up color imaging at 23 m/pixel resolution, was used in conjunction with the excavation of a trench into the subsurface. The science team was also provided with simulated images from the Mars Descent Imager and orbital panchromatic and multispectral imaging of the site obtained with the French SPOT, airborne Thermal Infrared Mapping Spectrometer, and Landsat Thematic Mapper instruments. Commands sequences were programmed and sent daily to the rover, and data returned were limited to 40 Mbits per communication cycle. During the simulated mission, 12 commands were uplinked to the rover, it traversed 90 m, six sites were analyzed, 11 samples were collected for laboratory analysis, and over 5 Gbits of data were collected. Twenty-two scientists, unfamiliar with the location of the field site, participated in the science mission from a variety of locations, accessing data via the World Wide Web. Remote science interpretations were compared with ground truth from the field and laboratory analysis of collected samples. Using this payload and mission approach, the science team synergistically interpreted orbital imaging and infrared spectroscopy, descent imaging, rover-based imaging, infrared spectroscopy, and microscopic imaging to deduce a consistent and largely correct interpretation of the geology, mineralogy, stratigraphy, and exobiology of the site. Use of imaging combined with infrared spectroscopy allowed source outcrops to be identified for local rocks on an alluvial fan. Different lithologies were distinguished both near the rover and at distances of hundreds of meters or more. Subtle differences such as a contact between dolomite and calcite were identified at a distance of 0.5 km. A biomarker for endolithic microbiota, a plausible life form to be found on Mars, was successfully identified. Microscopic imaging of soils extracted from the surface and subsurface allowed the mineralogy and fluvial history of the trench site to be deduced. The scientific productivity of this simulation shows that this payload and mission approach has high science value and would contribute substantially to achieving the goals of Mars exploration.Journal of Geophysical Research 01/2001; · 3.02 Impact Factor -
Article: Marsokhod Rover Mission Simulation at Silver Lake CA, 2000: Mission Overview
Journal of Geophysical Research 01/2001; 106(E4):7639-7664. · 3.02 Impact Factor -
Article: Mars Scout: Micromissions to Investigate Martian Environments
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ABSTRACT: Environments can be local, regional, or global. They can include one or more geological, morphological, climatological, and biological types. An environment also represents all the interactions that take place in the identified boundaries. Current planned missions to Mars in the Surveyor Program assume a good knowledge of the Martian environment that we do not have because it cannot be obtained only from orbit. There is a missing step between orbital data and the complex Surveyor missions to be landed that needs to be filled. The Ames/IRSPS Scout Mission Concept originally proposed in February 1999 filled this gap by landing a series of small (less than 10 kgs. each) scout missions. The Mars Environment Scout Mission Concept is being developed to explore the possibility of sending a series of small, simple, and inexpensive stations to the surface of Mars. The objective(s) would be to document either: (a) the environmental diversity of Mars, (b) a specific Martian environment, and/or (c) a region of interest. This type of mission will provide critical information about environments that is currently not available, and could also be used as precursors helping the design, preparation, and planning of more complex future missions to come.08/2000; -
Article: Mars Scout: An Astrobiology Micromission to Investigate Martian Environments
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ABSTRACT: The Mars Scout Mission Concept explores the possibility of sending a series of small, simple, and cheap stations at the surface of Mars which will provide the critical information about environments that are missing today.04/2000;
