Passive neutron sensing of martian subsurface from onboard rovers: results from MSL/DAN and expectations from ExoMars/Adron-RM

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergey Nikiforov ◽  
Igor Mitrofanov ◽  
Maxim Litvak ◽  
Maya Djachkova ◽  
Dmitriy Golovin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Landing Site ◽  
Energy Bands ◽  
Neutron Spectrometer ◽  
Water Abundance ◽  
Hydrogen Water ◽  
Gale Crater ◽  
Scientific Potential ◽  
Neutron Leakage ◽  
Passive Measurements ◽  
Curiosity Rover

<p>During more than 7 years, the NASA MSL Curiosity rover is successfully traversing across the Mars surface exploring Gale crater with the Dynamic Albedo of Neutron (DAN) instrument installed onboard. This year, next generation neutron spectrometer Adron-RM is ready to be launched to Mars as a payload of the ExoMars 2020 rover. The main objectives of these instruments are analogous  and consist in the assessment of Water Equivalent Hydrogen (WEH) in the shallow martian subsurface.</p><p>The hydrogen presence significantly influences the neutron leakage spectrum because of  neutron moderation and thermalization through collisions with hydrogen nuclei. As a result, the variations of neutron flux detected onboard in different energy bands correlate with subsurface hydrogen/water abundance.</p><p>In our study, we will demonstrate scientific potential and latest results of natural neutron background measurements (called as passive measurements) by DAN. We will provide assessment on average WEH content in the area of the ExoMars 2020 landing site, which could be expected from first measurements of Adron-RM.</p>

Experience of DAN investigation of subsurface water on Mars onboard the rover Curiosity for the future ADRON-RM experiment on the ExoMars rover

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergei Nikiforov ◽  
Igor Mitrofanov ◽  
Maxim Litvak ◽  
Maya Djachkova ◽  
Dmitry Golovin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cross Sections ◽  
Landing Site ◽  
Planetary Science ◽  
Subsurface Water ◽  
Energy Bands ◽  
Neutron Spectrometer ◽  
Advanced Technique ◽  
Water Abundance ◽  
Hydrogen Water ◽  
Scientific Potential

<p>     Remote neutron sensing onboard martian rovers is an advanced technique in planetary science. Such measurements provide investigations on hydrogen abundances and elements with high thermal neutron absorption cross sections down to ~60 cm of subsurface [<strong>1</strong>]. The presence of hydrogen (mostly water/ice) in subsurface significantly influences the neutron leakage spectrum due moderation and thermalization through collisions with hydrogen nuclei. As a result, the variations of neutron flux detected onboard in different energy bands correlate with subsurface hydrogen/water abundance.</p> <p><em>     Dynamic Albedo of Neutrons</em> (DAN) is the first neutron spectrometer installed on the NASA’s rover [<strong>2</strong>]. More than 7 years, NASA rover is successfully traversing across Mars surface exploring Gale crater. Adron-RM is the next generation neutron spectrometer, which is a part of the ExoMars 2022 rover payload [<strong>3</strong>].</p> <p>     This work will present scientific potential of remote neutron technique to distinguish local features in martian subsurface, based on DAN findings. In addition, we will provide Adron-RM measurement schematic and scientific potential on investigations in the area of the ExoMars 2022 landing site.</p> <p><em>     References</em></p> <p>[<strong>1</strong>] <em>Nikiforov, S. Y., et al., (2020). Assessment of water content in martian subsurface along the traverse of the Curiosity rover based on passive measurements of the DAN instrument. Icarus, 346, 113818.</em> https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2020.113818</p> <p>[<strong>2</strong>] <em>Mitrofanov, I. G., et al., (2012). Dynamic Albedo of Neutrons (DAN) experiment onboard NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory. Space Science Reviews, 170(1–4), 559–582.</em> https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-012-9924-y</p> <p>[<strong>3</strong>] <em>Mitrofanov, I. G., et al., (2017). The ADRON-RM Instrument Onboard the ExoMars Rover. Astrobiology, 17(6–7), 585–594.</em> https://doi.org/10.1089/ast.2016.1566</p>

scholarly journals Gale crater: the Mars Science Laboratory/Curiosity Rover Landing Site

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
James J. Wray
Keyword(s):  
Clay Minerals ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Spectral Properties ◽  
Landing Site ◽  
Science Laboratory ◽  
Deep Lakes ◽  
Mars Science Laboratory ◽  
Gale Crater ◽  
Diagenetic Processes ◽  
Curiosity Rover

AbstractGale crater formed from an impact on Mars ∼3.6 billion years ago. It hosts a central mound nearly 100 km wide and ∼5 km high, consisting of layered rocks with a variety of textures and spectral properties. The oldest exposed layers contain variably hydrated sulphates and smectite clay minerals, implying an aqueous origin, whereas the younger layers higher on the mound are covered by a mantle of dust. Fluvial channels carved into the crater walls and the lower mound indicate that surface liquids were present during and after deposition of the mound material. Numerous hypotheses have been advocated for the origin of some or all minerals and layers in the mound, ranging from deep lakes to playas to mostly dry dune fields to airfall dust or ash subjected to only minor alteration driven by snowmelt. The complexity of the mound suggests that multiple depositional and diagenetic processes are represented in the materials exposed today. Beginning in August 2012, the Mars Science Laboratory rover Curiosity will explore Gale crater by ascending the mound's northwestern flank, providing unprecedented new detail on the evolution of environmental conditions and habitability over many millions of years during which the mound strata accumulated.

MORPHOLOGICAL DIVERSITY OF MARTIAN EOLIAN BEDFORMS AS REVEALED BY THE CURIOSITY ROVER AT GALE CRATER, MARS

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mathieu G.A. Lapotre ◽  
◽  
Ryan C. Ewing ◽  
Ryan C. Ewing ◽  
Michael P. Lamb ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Diversity ◽  
Gale Crater ◽  
Curiosity Rover

scholarly journals Scientists Turn Back Time to Track Methane Emissions on Mars

Eos ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 103 ◽  
Author(s):  
JoAnna Wendel
Keyword(s):  
Methane Emissions ◽  
Gale Crater ◽  
Curiosity Rover

Period spikes of methane on Mars could originate inside Gale crater, where NASA’s Curiosity rover is currently exploring.s

scholarly journals Terrain physical properties derived from orbital data and the first 360 sols of Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover observations in Gale Crater

2014 ◽  
Vol 119 (6) ◽  
pp. 1322-1344 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. E. Arvidson ◽  
P. Bellutta ◽  
F. Calef ◽  
A. A. Fraeman ◽  
J. B. Garvin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Properties ◽  
Science Laboratory ◽  
Mars Science Laboratory ◽  
Gale Crater ◽  
Orbital Data ◽  
Curiosity Rover

scholarly journals First Detections of Dichlorobenzene Isomers and Trichloromethylpropane from Organic Matter Indigenous to Mars Mudstone in Gale Crater, Mars: Results from the Sample Analysis at Mars Instrument Onboard the Curiosity Rover

Astrobiology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 292-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cyril Szopa ◽  
Caroline Freissinet ◽  
Daniel P. Glavin ◽  
Maeva Millan ◽  
Arnaud Buch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Sample Analysis ◽  
Gale Crater ◽  
Curiosity Rover

A surface gravity traverse on Mars indicates low bedrock density at Gale crater

Science ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 363 (6426) ◽  
pp. 535-537 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin W. Lewis ◽  
Stephen Peters ◽  
Kurt Gonter ◽  
Shaunna Morrison ◽  
Nicholas Schmerr ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gravitational Field ◽  
Precise Measurement ◽  
Attitude Determination ◽  
Sedimentary Rocks ◽  
Gravitational Acceleration ◽  
High Porosity ◽  
Rock Density ◽  
Gravitational Fields ◽  
Gale Crater ◽  
Curiosity Rover

Gravimetry, the precise measurement of gravitational fields, can be used to probe the internal structure of Earth and other planets. The Curiosity rover on Mars carries accelerometers normally used for navigation and attitude determination. We have recalibrated them to isolate the signature of the changing gravitational acceleration as the rover climbs through Gale crater. The subsurface rock density is inferred from the measured decrease in gravitational field strength with elevation. The density of the sedimentary rocks in Gale crater is 1680 ± 180 kilograms per cubic meter. This value is lower than expected, indicating a high porosity and constraining maximum burial depths of the rocks over their history.

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