In-Situ Analysis of the Phobos Surface Mineralogy by the Mössbauer Spectrometer MIMOS II on Phobos Grunt.
Abstract
Müssbauer spectroscopy is a powerful tool for quantitative mineralogical analysis of Fe bearing materials. The miniature Müssbauer spectrometer MIMOS II [1] is a component of the Athena science payload on board of the two Mars Exploration Rovers currently working on the Martian surface. Both MIMOS instruments are still operational after 6 years of mission with a total integration time over 1 year. The MER mission has proven that Müssbauer spectroscopy is a valuable technique for the in situ exploration of extraterrestrial bodies and the study of Fe-bearing samples [2,3]. Currently MIMOS II is part of scientific payload of the "Phobos-Grunt"-Russian sample return mission to Phobos, one of the moons of Mars. Originally, "Phobos-Grunt" was scheduled to launch in October 2009, but the launch was delayed to 2011 for additional testing of the spacecraft and payload to ensure mission success. Mission goals are: (i) Sample return. for Laboratory analysis of Phobos surface material delivered to Earth; (ii) In situ and remote studies of Phobos surface including analysis of soil samples; (3) Exploration of Phobos and its ambient space from an orbiter. MIMOS II is mounted on the robotic arm (on the landing module). Scientific objectives are: (i) Identification of iron-bearing phases (e.g., oxides, silicates, sulfides, sulfates, and carbonates); (ii) Quantitative measurement of the distribution of iron among those phases; (iii) Quantitative measurement of the distribution of iron among its oxidation states. The Müssbauer spectrometer for "Phobos-Grunt" is based on the MER version [1] with some modifications and improvements. A number of improvements were made to ensure optimal instrument performance at low temperatures (down to -150 C). Acknowledgments: Funded by German Space Agency DLR under contract 50 QM 0703. Support by the Russian Space Agency is acknowledged. References: [1] Klingelhoefer et al., JGR. 108(E12) (2003), [2] Morris et al., JGR111 (2006), [3] Morris et al., JGR 111 (2006) XXVII, 1344-1345.
- Publication:
-
38th COSPAR Scientific Assembly
- Pub Date:
- 2010
- Bibcode:
- 2010cosp...38..639B