International Mars Ice Mapper: Overview and Development Status
Abstract
The International Mars Ice Mapper Mission (I-MIM) is a joint concept under study by the Agenzia Spatiale Italiana (ASI), the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) ["the mission partners"]. The mission's primary goal is to characterize accessible, near-surface (within the uppermost 10 m) water ice and the geotechnical properties of its overburden in mid- to low-latitudes of Mars to support future human exploration. The mission has been organized around three requirements-driving Reconnaissance Objectives (RO): RO-1 - Location and Extent of Water Ice; RO-2 - Accessibility of Water Ice, and; RO-3: Candidate Human Landing Site Assessment. The partner agencies have also outlined Supplemental Science Objectives (SSO) and Mission Support Objectives (MSO) to augment the mission's potential return on investment. Building from a Statement of Intent signed in early 2021, the mission partners have jointly advanced the technical and scientific preparations for a mission to be flown no earlier than 2028. The primary payload, a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) centered at 930 MHz, would be provided by the CSA. JAXA would develop the spacecraft, outfitted with a communications subsystem and reflector antenna provided by ASI. NASA would contribute overall system integration and launch services. A variety of programmatic and technical trades are underway to optimize the overall architecture and maximize the reconnaissance and scientific return. Additionally, a Measurement Definition Team (MDT) was internationally competed in 2021. The group comprises expertise in planetary science and human exploration, and was tasked to: (1) define the core measurements and payload required to achieve the ROs; (2) suggest augmentations in the form of science investigations and hardware that may be included, and: (3) develop a model concept of operations based on the findings of Tasks 1 and 2. This presentation will provide an up-to-date status on the programmatic and technical developments of the I-MIM concept, and share highlights of the MDT findings and recommendations. Feedback on both topics from the scientific and human exploration community is actively sought.
- Publication:
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44th COSPAR Scientific Assembly. Held 16-24 July
- Pub Date:
- July 2022
- Bibcode:
- 2022cosp...44..425H