IDEFIX, the MMX Rover – in-situ science on Phobos

IDEFIX is a small rover, contributed by the Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES) and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) to JAXA´s Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission which will investigate the Martian moons Phobos and Deimos [1,2]. IDEFIX will be delivered to the surface of Phobos to perform in-situ science but also to serve as a scout, gathering data to prepare the landing of the main spacecraft. The MMX Rover will deliver information on the regolith properties by high resolution imaging (NavCams and WheelCams), measurement of the spectral properties in the thermal infrared as well as the thermophysical properties using a radiometer (miniRAD) and Raman spectroscopy (RAX) [3,4]

Relevance of Phobos in-situ science for understanding asteroids

The origin of the martian moons, Phobos and Deimos is under debate since a very long time. There exist arguments and counter arguments that they may be captured asteroids. Other models favor, e.g., a massive impact at Mars as their origin [1]. The Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, JAXA, is going to explore both Martian moons remotely, but also return samples from Phobos, and deliver a small Rover to its surface [2,3]. This rover, provided by CNES and DLR, with contributions from INTA and the University of Tokyo has a payload of four scientific instruments, analyzing the physical, dynamical and mineralogical properties of Phobos´ surface. Parallels to asteroids of a similar size are eminent and the results will help deciphering the origin of Phobos [4]

Regolith science with the cameras on the MMX Rover

The JAXA Martian Moons Exploration (MMX) mission [1] has a primary objective to study the formation and origins of Phobos and Deimos. The MMX spacecraft will also deploy a CNES/DLR rover to the surface of Phobos [2,3]. This rover will be the first of its kind to attempt wheeled-locomotion on a low gravity surface. As such, this rover provides a unique opportunity to study not only the surface properties of Phobos, but also regolith dynamics on small-bodies. This information is valuable for understanding the surface processes and geological history of Phobos in addition to being of high importance to the landing (and sampling) operations of the main MMX spacecraft [1]

The ESA Hera Mission : Detailed Characterization of the DART Impact Outcome and of the Binary Asteroid (65803) Didymos

Funding Information: To achieve these objectives, Milani is carrying two scientific payloads, the ASPECT visual and near-infrared (Vis-NIR) imaging spectrometer and the VISTA thermogravimeter aimed at collecting and characterizing volatiles and dust particles below 10 μm. Additionally, navigation payloads include a visible navigation camera and lidar. The Milani consortium is composed of entities and institutions from Italy, the Czech Republic, and Finland. The consortium Prime is Tyvak International, responsible for the whole program management and platform design, development, integration, testing, and final delivery to the customer. Politecnico di Torino is tasked with defining requirements and performing thermal, radiation, and debris analysis. Politecnico di Milano is responsible for mission analysis and GNC. Altec will support the Ground Segment architecture and interface definition. Centro Italiano per la Ricerca Aerospaziale (CIRA) is responsible for the execution of the vehicle environmental campaign. HULD contributes to developing the mission-specific software. VTT is the main payload (ASPECT hyperspectral imager) provider and is supported by the following entities dealing with ASPECT-related development: University of Helsinki (ASPECT calibration); Reaktor Space Lab (ASPECT Data Processing Unit development), Institute of Geology of the Czech Academy of Sciences (ASPECT scientific algorithms requirements and testing); and Brno University of Technology (ASPECT scientific algorithms development). INAF-IAPS is the secondary Payload (VISTA, dust detector) provider. Funding Information: The Mission PI is appointed by ESA and is the primary interface to ESA. The Hera SMB consists of the ESA Hera Project Scientist (ESA PS), the Mission PI, and the Hera Advisory Board, consisting of four mission advisors. The Mission PI chairs the HIT and is supported by the Hera Advisory Board. The tasks of the Hera SMB are 1. advising the Hera mission project team on all aspects related to the Hera mission objectives; 2. ensuring that the WGs’ activities cover the needs of the Hera mission; 3. providing recommendations to ESA concerning the membership in the HIT; and 4. implementing the Publication Policy. Funding Information: Hera is the ESA contribution to the AIDA collaboration. Hera, Juventas, Milani, and their instruments are developed under ESA contract supported by national agencies. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No. 870377 (project NEO-MAPP), the CNRS through the MITI interdisciplinary programs, ASI, CNES, JAXA, the Academy of Finland project no. 335595, and was conducted with institutional support RVO 67985831 of the Institute of Geology of the Czech Academy of Sciences. M.L., E.P., P.T .and E.D. are grateful to the Italian Space Agency (ASI) for financial support through Agreement No. 2022-8-HH.0 in the context of ESA’s Hera mission. We are grateful to the whole Hera team, including Working Group core members and other contributors for their continuous efforts and support. Their names can be found on the following website: https:// www.heramission.space/team. Publisher Copyright: © 2022. The Author(s). Published by the American Astronomical Society.Hera is a planetary defense mission under development in the Space Safety and Security Program of the European Space Agency for launch in 2024 October. It will rendezvous in late 2026 December with the binary asteroid (65803) Didymos and in particular its moon, Dimorphos, which will be impacted by NASA’s DART spacecraft on 2022 September 26 as the first asteroid deflection test. The main goals of Hera are the detailed characterization of the physical properties of Didymos and Dimorphos and of the crater made by the DART mission, as well as measurement of the momentum transfer efficiency resulting from DART’s impact. The data from the Hera spacecraft and its two CubeSats will also provide significant insights into asteroid science and the evolutionary history of our solar system. Hera will perform the first rendezvous with a binary asteroid and provide new measurements, such as radar sounding of an asteroid interior, which will allow models in planetary science to be tested. Hera will thus provide a crucial element in the global effort to avert future asteroid impacts at the same time as providing world-leading science.Peer reviewe

The ESA Hera Mission: Detailed Characterization of the DART Impact Outcome and of the Binary Asteroid (65803) Didymos

Hera is a planetary defense mission under development in the Space Safety and Security Program of the European Space Agency for launch in 2024 October. It will rendezvous in late 2026 December with the binary asteroid (65803) Didymos and in particular its moon, Dimorphos, which will be impacted by NASA's DART spacecraft on 2022 September 26 as the first asteroid deflection test. The main goals of Hera are the detailed characterization of the physical properties of Didymos and Dimorphos and of the crater made by the DART mission, as well as measurement of the momentum transfer efficiency resulting from DART's impact. The data from the Hera spacecraft and its two CubeSats will also provide significant insights into asteroid science and the evolutionary history of our solar system. Hera will perform the first rendezvous with a binary asteroid and provide new measurements, such as radar sounding of an asteroid interior, which will allow models in planetary science to be tested. Hera will thus provide a crucial element in the global effort to avert future asteroid impacts at the same time as providing world-leading science

Generic identification and classification of morphostructures in the Noachis-Sabaea region, southern highlands of Mars

The Noachis-Sabaea region in the southern highlands preserves some of the oldest Martian crust. It records deformation by both endogenic and exogenic processes. This deformation includes giant impacts and their impact stresses, which could have resulted in both the reactivation and modification of pre-impact tectonic structures, in addition to impact-generated tectonic structures. There are also widespread extensional and compressional tectonic structures, which were formed due to endogenic processes. We have produced the first detailed morphostructural map of the Noachis-Sabaea region, which details the characteristics and spatial arrangements of structures in the region, forms the basis for making inferences about Noachian-Hesperian crustal activity, and provides information for further studies regarding the reconstruction of the evolutional history of the region

Generic identification and classification of morphostructures in the Noachis-Sabaea region, southern highlands of Mars

<p>The Noachis-Sabaea region in the southern highlands preserves some of the oldest Martian crust. It records deformation by both endogenic and exogenic processes. This deformation includes giant impacts and their impact stresses, which could have resulted in both the reactivation and modification of pre-impact tectonic structures, in addition to impact-generated tectonic structures. There are also widespread extensional and compressional tectonic structures, which were formed due to endogenic processes. We have produced the first detailed morphostructural map of the Noachis-Sabaea region, which details the characteristics and spatial arrangements of structures in the region, forms the basis for making inferences about Noachian-Hesperian crustal activity, and provides information for further studies regarding the reconstruction of the evolutional history of the region.</p

Scientific Objectives of the MMX Rover Mission to Phobos

The Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, JAXA, aims for the Martian Moons Phobos and Deimos. It will return samples from Phobos back to Earth and deliver a small (about 25 kg) Rover to the surface. The Rover accommodates a payload of four scientific instruments: a Raman spectrometer (RAX) to measure the mineralogical composition of the surface material, a stereo pair of cameras looking forwards (NavCams; also used for navigation), a radiometer (miniRAD) to measure the surface brightness temperature and determine thermal properties of both regolith and rocks (if in the field of view), and two cameras looking at the wheel-surface interface, (WheelCams). The NavCams and WheelCams will serve for both, technological and scientific needs. After delivery from the main spacecraft to the surface of Phobos, the Rover shall be able to operate for about 100 days and investigate the terrain along its path of several tens of meters. This will allow putting the returned samples into context, studying the surface heterogeneity and obtaining information on the physical properties of undisturbed surface material. MMX will be launched in September 2024, the Rover delivery to Phobos is currently planned for 2026 - 2027. The Rover is a contribution by the Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES) and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) with additional contributions from INTA (Spain) and JAXA

Phobos Surface Science with the MMX Rover

International audienceThe Mars Moon eXploration (MMX) mission by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, JAXA, which is going to explore the Martian Moons Phobos and Deimos and also return samples from Phobos back to Earth will also deliver a small (about 25 kg) Rover to the surface of Phobos.The payload of this rover consists of a Raman spectrometer (RAX) to measure the mineralogical composition of the surface material, a stereo pair of cameras looking affront (NavCam, also used for navigation) to provide the properties of the investigated area, a radiometer (miniRAD) to measure the surface brightness temperature and determine thermal properties of both regolith and rocks, and two cameras looking at the wheel-surface interface (WheelCam) to investigate the properties and dynamics of the regolith. The cameras will, thus, serve for both, technological and scientific needs.After the Rover has been delivered by the main spacecraft, it shall upright itself and operate for about 100 days on the surface of Phobos to investigate terrain and mineralogy along its path.The measurements are going to provide ground truth by studying in-situ properties such as the physical properties and heterogeneity of the surface material.MMX is planned to be launched in September 2024, the Rover delivery is currently planned for 2027.The Rover is a contribution by the Centre National d&#8217;Etudes Spatiales (CNES) and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) with additional contributions from INTA (Spain) and JAXA