Reviewing in situ analytical techniques used to research Martian geochemistry: From the Viking Project to the MMX future mission

[EN] The study of space has always been a field of great interest and thus space missions are becoming more and more ambitious with time. Therefore, with the 50th anniversary of the first spacecraft to land on Mars, a review about how traditional analytical techniques have been adapted to the era of in situ space exploration is presented. From the Viking Project to the future MMX mission, the techniques used for the in situ study of the geochemistry of the Martian surface is described. These techniques have been differentiated according to the type of analysis: elemental and molecular. On the one hand, among the elemental analytical techniques the XRF, APXS, ISE and LIBS stand out. On the other hand, GCMS, TEGA, MBS, XRD, Raman and IR spectroscopy have been the molecular techniques used in the missions to Mars. Miniaturization, real-time measurements, automation, low power consumption and reliability of operation under extreme conditions are some of the major challenges that analytical chemistry has faced as a result of the technological and scientific requirements of space missions. In this way, this review gathers all the in situ analytical techniques that have reached the surface of Mars onboard landers or rovers with the aim of studying its geochemistry.J. Huidobro is grateful to the Basque Government for her pre-doctoral contract. J. Aramendia is grateful to the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 754513 and the Aarhus University Research Foundation for her fellowship

Mars telescopic observations

Papers presented at the workshop described the current NASA plans for Mars exploration over the next decade, current and recent Mars research being performed by professional astronomers, and current and past Mars observations being performed by amateur observers and observing associations.sponsored by Lunar and Planetary Institute.edited by J.F. Bell, III and J.E. Moersc

Mars 2001

The purpose of the meeting was to share results from recent missions, to share plans for the 2001 mission, and to come to an agreement on a landing site for this mission.Lunar and Planetary Institute, Mars Program Office, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, National Aeronautics and Space Administrationedited by John Marshall and Cathy Weitz.PARTIAL CONTENTS: The Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) Instrument for the Mars 2001 Orbiter / P.R. Christensen, B.M. Jakosky, H.H. Kieffer, M.C. Malin, H.Y. McSween Jr., K. Nealson, G. Mehall, S. Silverman, and S. Ferry -- Melas Chasma: Potential Landing Site for the Mars 2001 Mission / F. Costard, N. Mangold, Ph. Masson, D. Mege, and J.P. Peulvast -- Nannobacteria on Earth Are Truly Living Organisms / R.L. Folk and F.L. Lynch -- The Mars Pathfinder Mission and Science Results / M.P. Golombek -- Constraints, Approach and Present Status for Selecting the Mars Surveyor '01 Landing Site / M. Golombek, F. Anderson, N. Bridges, G. Briggs, M. Gilmore, V. Gulick, A. Haldemann, T. Parker, R. Saunders, D. Spencer, J. Smith, L. Soderblom, and C. Weitz -- The Mars Environmental Compatibility Assessment (MECA) Wet Chemistry Experiment on the Mars '01 Lander / S.M. Grannan, M. Frant, M.H. Hecht, S.P. Kounaves, K. Manatt, T.P. Meloy, W.T. Pike, W. Schubert, S. West, and X. Wen -- The Hypothesis of Caves on Mars Revisited Through MGS Data: Their Potential as Targets for the Surveyor Program / E.A. Grin, E.A. Cabrol, and C.P. McKay -- Rock Statistics at the Mars Pathfinder Landing Site, Roughness and Roving on Mars / A.F.C. Haldemann, N.T. Bridges, R.C. Anderson, and M.P. Golombek -- Oceans on Mars / J.W. Head -- Site Selection for Mars Surveyor Landing Sites: Some Key Factors for 2001 and Relation to Long-term Exploration of Mars / J.W. Head -- Hand-held Lens for Mars / P. Jakes -- The Mars In-Situ-Propellant-Production Precursor (MJP) Flight Demonstration / D.l. Kaplan, J.E. Ratliff, R.S. Baird, G.B. Sanders, K.R. Johnson, P.B. Karlmann, C.R. Baraona, G.A. Landis, P.P. Jenkins, and D.A. Scheiman -- Workshop Report: Spectroscopy of the Martian Surface: What Next? / L.E. Kirkland

Workshop on Mars Telescopic Observations

The Mars Telescopic Observations Workshop, held August 14-15, 1995, at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, was organized and planned with two primary goals in mind: The first goal was to facilitate discussions among and between amateur and professional observers and to create a workshop environment fostering collaborations and comparisons within the Mars observing community. The second goal was to explore the role of continuing telescopic observations of Mars in the upcoming era of increased spacecraft exploration. The 24 papers presented at the workshop described the current NASA plans for Mars exploration over the next decade, current and recent Mars research being performed by professional astronomers, and current and past Mars observations being performed by amateur observers and observing associations. The workshop was divided into short topical sessions concentrating on programmatic overviews, groundbased support of upcoming spacecraft experiments, atmospheric observations, surface observations, modeling and numerical studies, and contributions from amateur astronomers

Mars Telescopic Observations 2

Papers presented at the workshop described the current NASA plans for Mars exploration over the next decade, current and recent Mars research being performed by professional astronomers, and current and past Mars observations being performed by amateur observers and observing associations.Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Lunar and Planetary Institute, National Aeronautics and Space Administration.edited by A.L. Sprague and J.F. Bell II

Utilization of dependency structure matrix analysis to assess implementation of NASA's complex technical projects

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, System Design & Management Program, 2002.This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 93-96).by Timothy K. Brady.S.M

NASA Pocket Statistics: 1997 Edition

POCKET STATISTICS is published by the NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION (NASA). Included in each edition is Administrative and Organizational information, summaries of Space Flight Activity including the NASA Major Launch Record, Aeronautics and Space Transportation and NASA Procurement, Financial and Workforce data. The NASA Major Launch Record includes all launches of Scout class and larger vehicles. Vehicle and spacecraft development flights are also included in the Major Launch Record. Shuttle missions are counted as one launch and one payload, where free flying payloads are not involved. All Satellites deployed from the cargo bay of the Shuttle and placed in a separate orbit or trajectory are counted as an additional payload

Mars Telescopic Observations Workshop II

Mars Telescopic Observations Workshop E convened in Tucson, Arizona, in October 1997 by popular demand slightly over two years following the first successful Mars Telescopic Observations Workshop, held in Ithaca, New York, in August 1995. Experts on Mars from the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, and the United States were present. Twenty-eight oral presentations were made and generous time allotted for useful discussions among participants. The goals of the workshop were to (1) summarize active groundbased observing programs and evaluate them in the context of current and future space missions to Mars, (2) discuss new technologies and instrumentation in the context of changing emphasis of observations and theory useful for groundbased observing, and (3) more fully understand capabilities of current and planned Mars missions to better judge which groundbased observations are and will continue to be of importance to our overall Mars program. In addition, the exciting new discoveries presented from the Pathfinder experiments and the progress report from the Mars Global Surveyor infused the participants with satisfaction for the successes achieved in the early stages of these missions. Just as exciting was the enthusiasm for new groundbased programs designed to address new challenges resulting from mission science results. We would like to thank the National Aeronautics and Space Administration as well as Dr. David Black, director of the Lunar and Planetary Institute, and the staff of the Institute's Publications and Program Services Department for providing logistical, administrative, and publication support services for this workshop

Concepts and Approaches for Mars Exploration

Abstracts describe missions, mission elements or experiments for consideration in the 2005-2020 time frame. Also the technologies and the support necessary to achieve the results are discussed.NASA Headquarters; Lunar and Planetary Institutehosted by Lunar and Planetary Institute ; sponsored by NASA Headquarters, Lunar and Planetary Institute ; convener Scott Hubbard