Radar Sounding Investigations of the Martian Subsurface by the 2018 ExoMars-C Rover

International audienceThe WISDOM (Water Ice Subsurface Deposit Observation on Mars) Ground Penetrating Radar will fly on the ESA-NASA 2018 ExoMars-C mission, which combines the science payload of the original ESA ExoMars Rover with the robotic arm and sample cache of NASA's Max-C Rover into a single rover, whose samples will ult imately be retrieved by a future Mars Sample Return mission. WISDOM was designed to investigate the nearsubsurface down to a depth of ~2-3 m, commensurate with the sampling capabilit ies of the rover's drill. The information provided by WISDOM will assist in understanding the large-scale geology and history of the landing site, as well as selecting the most appropriate locations where to drill and collect sub surface samples for further analysis. Here we review the real-world performance of the instrument as experimentally observed in various field test environments

Revealing the properties of Chuyurmov-Gerasimenko's shallow sub-surface through CONSERT's measurements at grazing angles

International audienceThe aim of the Comet Nucleus Sounding Experiment by Radiowave Transmission (CONSERT) is the characterization of the inner structure and electrical properties of the Chuyurmov-Gerasimenko's nucleus. The instrument will sound the comet's nucleus between the lander Philae at the comet's surface and the Rosetta main spacecraft. A coarse three-dimensional model of the complex dielectric permittivity inside the nucleus will be reconstructed from the whole set of data obtained during the first science phase [3]. The work presented here show how a limited set of data acquired at grazing angles during a single low altitude fly-by can be used to characterize the shallow sub-surface of the nucleus. The study is based on simulated data obtained by two different electromagnetic models: the accurate pseudo spectral time-domain method and a much faster ray-based approximation taking into account material and path-loss

Results from the First Field Tests of the WISDOM GPR (2018 ExoMars Mission)

International audienceIntroduction: The WISDOM (Water Ice Subsur- face Deposit Observation on Mars) Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is one of the instruments that have been selected as part of the Pasteur payload of ESA’s 2018 ExoMars Rover mission[1]. The Pasteur payload actu- ally consists of two different sets of instruments: the Panoramic Instruments, which include a wide angle camera and the WISDOM radar, that will be used to perform large-scale scientific investigations of the landing site and the Analytical Laboratory Instruments that will analyze the core samples obtained by the sub- surface drill. WISDOM will help identify the location of sedimentary layers, where organic molecules are the most likely to be found and well-preserved. WISDOM has been designed to investigate the near subsurface environment down to a depth of ~2-3 m with a vertical resolution of a few centimeters [2]. WISDOM is a step frequency radar operating over a wide frequency band between 0.5 and 3 GHz. Particular attention was paid to the design of the antenna system, which needs to be able to conduct polarimetric measurements over the whole bandwidth without significant distortion [3]

CONSERT suggests a change in local properties of 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko's nucleus at depth

International audienceAfter the successful landing of Philae on the nucleus of 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, the Rosetta mission provided the first opportunity of performing measurements with the CONSERT tomographic radar in November 2014. CONSERT data were acquired during this first science sequence. They unambiguously showed that propagation through the smaller lobe of the nucleus was achieved. Aims. While the ultimate objective of the CONSERT radar is to perform the tomography of the nucleus, this paper focuses on the local characterization of the shallow subsurface in the area of Philae’s final landing site, specifically determining the possible presence of a permittivity gradient below the nucleus surface.Methods. A number of electromagnetic simulations were made with a ray-tracing code to parametrically study how the gradient of the dielectric constant in the near-subsurface affects the ability of CONSERT to receive signals.Results. At the 90 MHz frequency of CONSERT, the dielectric constant is a function of porosity, composition, and temperature. The dielectric constant values considered for the study are based on observations made by the other instruments of the Rosetta mission, which indicate a possible near-surface gradient in physical properties and on laboratory measurements made on analog samples. Conclusions. The obtained simulated data clearly show that if the dielectric constant were increasing with depth, it would have prevented the reception of signal at the CONSERT location during the first science sequence. We conclude from our simulations that the dielectric constant most probably decreases with depth

Habitability on Early Mars and the Search for Biosignatures with the ExoMars Rover

The second ExoMars mission will be launched in 2020 to target an ancient location interpreted to have strong potential for past habitability and for preserving physical and chemical biosignatures (as well as abiotic/prebiotic organics). The mission will deliver a lander with instruments for atmospheric and geophysical investigations and a rover tasked with searching for signs of extinct life. The ExoMars rover will be equipped with a drill to collect material from outcrops and at depth down to 2 m. This subsurface sampling capability will provide the best chance yet to gain access to chemical biosignatures. Using the powerful Pasteur payload instruments, the ExoMars science team will conduct a holistic search for traces of life and seek corroborating geological context information. Key Words: Biosignatures—ExoMars—Landing sites—Mars rover—Search for life. Astrobiology 17, 471–510

Findings from the PP-SESAME experiment on board the Philae/ROSETTA lander on the surface of comet 67P

International audienceThe Permittivity Probe (PP-SESAME [1]) on-board the Philae Lander of the ROSETTA mission was designed to constrain the complex permittivity of the first 2 meters of the nucleus of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko and to monitor its variations with time. Doing so, it is meant to provide unique insight into the composition (and activity if data could have been acquired longer) of the comet. In this paper, we present the analysis of the PP-SESAME measurements acquired during the first science sequence, on November 13, 2014, on the surface of the comet

The WISDOM Radar: Unveiling the Subsurface Beneath the ExoMars Rover and Identifying the Best Locations for Drilling

The search for evidence of past or present life on Mars is the principal objective of the 2020 ESA-Roscosmos ExoMars Rover mission. If such evidence is to be found anywhere, it will most likely be in the subsurface, where organic molecules are shielded from the destructive effects of ionizing radiation and atmospheric oxidants. For this reason, the ExoMars Rover mission has been optimized to investigate the subsurface to identify, understand, and sample those locations where conditions for the preservation of evidence of past life are most likely to be found. The Water Ice Subsurface Deposit Observation on Mars (WISDOM) ground-penetrating radar has been designed to provide information about the nature of the shallow subsurface over depth ranging from 3 to 10 m (with a vertical resolution of up to 3 cm), depending on the dielectric properties of the regolith. This depth range is critical to understanding the geologic evolution stratigraphy and distribution and state of subsurface H2O, which provide important clues in the search for life and the identification of optimal drilling sites for investigation and sampling by the Rover's 2-m drill. WISDOM will help ensure the safety and success of drilling operations by identification of potential hazards that might interfere with retrieval of subsurface samples

Correction to: The Thermal, Mechanical, Structural, and Dielectric Properties of Cometary Nuclei After Rosetta

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The high-resolution map of Oxia Planum, Mars; the landing site of the ExoMars Rosalind Franklin rover mission

This 1:30,000 scale geological map describes Oxia Planum, Mars, the landing site for the ExoMars Rosalind Franklin rover mission. The map represents our current understanding of bedrock units and their relationships prior to Rosalind Franklin’s exploration of this location. The map details 15 bedrock units organised into 6 groups and 7 textural and surficial units. The bedrock units were identified using visible and near-infrared remote sensing datasets. The objectives of this map are (i) to identify where the most astrobiologically relevant rocks are likely to be found, (ii) to show where hypotheses about their geological context (within Oxia Planum and in the wider geological history of Mars) can be tested, (iii) to inform both the long-term (hundreds of metres to ∼1 km) and the short-term (tens of metres) activity planning for rover exploration, and (iv) to allow the samples analysed by the rover to be interpreted within their regional geological context

Sounding Radars and Ground Penetrating Radars Designed for the Exploration of Our Solar System–Focus on Planet Mars

International audienceThis chapter is specifically devoted to sounding radars and ground penetrating radars that are considered to be essential elements of the instrumental payload in almost all planetary missions. It explores the specificities of these radars in terms of design, operations and data interpretation. The chapter gives an overview of past, current and future radars developed for planetary exploration and will be illustrated by a limited selection of important results. It shows how the spatial context imposes constraints that have an impact on the design and the technical performances of the radar and can have consequences on the data interpretation. The chapter focuses on planet Mars. The Martian subsurface has been to date sounded by a series of four radars operating in different frequency ranges, which provide a range of interesting and complementary results that were able to provide significant inputs to scientific questions