Scientific and Technical Aerospace Reports Volume 39 April 6, 2001

20010023043 Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech., Pasadena, CA USA
MOD: An Instrument for the 2005 Mars Explorer Program HEDS Payload
Bada, J. L., Scripps Institution of Oceanography, USA; Blaney, D. L., Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech., USA; Grunthaner,
F. J., Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech., USA; McDonald, G. D., Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech.,
USA; Webster, C. R., Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech., USA; Duke, M., Lunar and Planetary Inst., USA; Mathies,
R. A., California Univ., USA; McKay, C. P., NASA Ames Research Center, USA; Paige, D. A., California Univ., USA; Ride, S.
K., California Univ., San Diego, USA; Concepts and Approaches for Mars Exploration; July 2000, Part 1, pp. 9-10; In English;
See also 20010023036; No Copyright; Avail: CASI; A01, Hardcopy; A03, Microfiche
The Mars Organic Detector (MOD) was recently selected for the definition phase of the HEDS ’05 (originally scheduled for
’03) lander instrument package for fundamental biology and in situ resource utilization. MOD is designed to detect organic compounds
in rock and soil samples directly on the surface of Mars in order to assess the biological potential of the planet. In addition,
a MOD Tunable Diode Laser Spectrometer (TDLS) will provide information on desorption and decomposition temperatures, as
well as the release rates and quantities of water and carbon dioxide that can be liberated from regolith samples, thereby providing
the parameters needed for the design of systems for the future large-scale in situ extraction of valuable consumable resources. A
MOD TDLS will also measure the atmospheric water and carbon dioxide content, as well as the atmospheric carbon dioxide isotopic
composition, in order to determine whether there is an isotopic offset between atmospheric and surface carbon.
Derived from text
Instrument Packages; Mars Missions; Mars Exploration; Samplers; Spacecraft Instruments; Life Detectors
20010023044 Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech., Pasadena, CA USA
A Network Mission: Completing the Scientific Foundation for the Exploration of Mars
W. B. Banerdt, Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech., USA; Concepts and Approaches for Mars Exploration; July 2000,
Part 1, pp. 11-12; In English; See also 20010023036; No Copyright; Avail: CASI; A01, Hardcopy; A03, Microfiche
Despite recent setbacks and vacillations in the Mars Surveyor Program, in many respects the exploration of Mars has historically
followed a relatively logical path. Early fly-bys provided brief glimpses of the planet and paved the way for the initial orbital
reconnaissance of Mariner 9. The Viking orbiters completed the initial survey, while the Viking landers provided our first close-up
look at the surface. Essentially, Mars Pathfinder served a similar role, giving a brief look at another place on the surface. and finally,
Mars Global Surveyor (and the up-coming orbital mission in 2001) are taking the next step in providing in-depth, global observations
of many of the fundamental characteristics of the planet, as well as selected high-resolution views of the surface. With this
last step we are well on our way to acquiring the global scientific context that is necessary both for understanding Mars in general,
its origin and evolution, and for use as a basis to plan and execute the next level of focused investigations. However, even with
the successful completion of these missions this context will be incomplete. Whereas we now know a great deal about the surface
of Mars in a global sense, we know very little about its interior, even at depths of only a meter or so. Also, as most of this information
has been acquire by remote sensing, we still lack much of the bridging knowledge between the global view and the processes
and character of the surface environments themselves. Thus, in many ways we lack sufficient fundamental understanding to intelligently
cast the critical investigations into important questions of the origins and evolution of Mars in general, and in particular,
life. The next step in building our understanding of Mars has been identified by several previous groups who were charged with
creating a strategy for Mars exploration (e.g., COMPLEX, MarSWG, Planetary Roadmap Team). This is a so-called ”network”
mission, which places a large number of science platforms simultaneously on the surface.
Derived from text
Mars Exploration; Mars Global Surveyor; Mars Missions; Networks
20010023045 University of Central Florida, Dept. of Physics, Orlando, FL USA
”Following the Water” on Mars: Where Is It, How Much Is There, and How Can We Access It?
Barlow, N. G., University of Central Florida, USA; Concepts and Approaches for Mars Exploration; July 2000, Part 1, pp.
12a-12b; In English; See also 20010023036; No Copyright; Avail: CASI; A01, Hardcopy; A03, Microfiche
Analysis of Mariner, Viking, Mars Pathfinder, and Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) data have revealed that water has played
an important role in the evolution of Mars. Although the planet is cold and dry today, increasing evidence points to warmer and
wetter episodes in the past, perhaps to be repeated in the future. Although the evidence from the valley network and outflow channels
has been recognized since Mariner 9, it has been the analysis of Viking and MGS data which have revealed such features as
probable paleolacustrine deposits, possible paleo-shorelines, and abundant evidence for large standing bodies of water in the
northern plains. Much of the water which appears to have existed on the planet is likely still there. The challenge still facing us
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