In situ science on Phobos by the Raman spectrometer RAX on board the MMX rover
- 1Centro de Astrobiologia INTA-CSIC, Planetology and Habitability Department, Torrejon de Ardoz, Spain (prietobo@cab.inta-csic.es)
- 2Institute of Optical Sensor Systems, German Aerospace Center, 12489 Berlin, Germany
- 3Department of Earth and Planetary Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- 4Grupo de Astrobiologia ERICA, Universidad de Valladolid. Av. Francisco Valles, 8. 47152 Valladolid, Spain
- 5National Institute for Aerospace Technology (INTA), Ctra. Aljalvir km. 4. 28850 Torrejón de Ardoz, Spain
- 6Department of Physics, Rikkyo University, Tokyo, Japan
- 7Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Cologne, 51147, Germany
- 8Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-5210, Japan
- 9Institut für Planetologie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
Introduction.
Understanding the origin and evolution of Phobos and Deimos is the goal of the coming Martian Moons eXploration mission (MMX) led by JAXA [1, 2, 3]. This mission will be launched in 2024 to the Martian system and return samples from Phobos. Before sample return operations, a rover of 25 kg approximately will be delivered to the surface carrying four instruments: a Raman spectrometer (RAX), a radiometer (miniRad), a stereo pair of cameras looking forwards (NavCams), and two cameras looking at the wheel-surface interface, (WheelCams) [4].
The RAX instrument.
The RAman spectrometer for MMX, RAX, has been developed together by DLR, INTA/UVA, and JAXA/UTo [5]. It consists of three elements: I) The RAX Laser Assembly (RLA), which was originally designed for the RLS instrument of the ExoMars mission, and includes a laser emitting at 532 nm; II) The RAX Spectrometer Module (RSM), comprising a sophisticated confocal optical assembly and a CMOS detector that covers a spectral range of up to 4000 cm-1 with a spectral resolution of ̴ 10 cm-1; III) The Autofocus System (AFS) to measure with high precision at different positions onto the ground.
RAX will in situ examine the minerals of the surface and their formation conditions at rover sampling spots. By analysing the vibrational modes of the substances, RAX will be capable to characterize the igneous phases, volatiles, organic species, and secondary alteration minerals at grain scale. RAX’s targets may be correlated, on the one hand to the orbital data to better approach the spatial distribution and stratigraphic relationship between the Phobos’ blue and red material units, and on the other hand to the mineral and rock types observed on the Mars’ surface by other Raman spectrometers to link their genesis (or not) (e.g. RLS [6], or Supercam [7]). The identified mineral assemblages can be used to determine whether Phobos is a captured asteroid rich in carbon and water, or is a remnant body of a giant impact to Mars. In addition, the information may also support the sample return selection and provide context information of the materials once they are in terrestrial laboratories.
References.
[1] T. Usui, et al., Space Sci. Rev. 216:49, 2020; [2] S. L. Murchie, D. T. Britt, C. M. Pieters., Space Science 102, 2014, 176–182; [3] C.M. Pieters, S. L. Murchie, N. Thomas, and D. Britt, Planetary and Space Science 102, 2014, 144-151; [4] P. Michel, et al., Earth, Planets and Space 74: 2, 2022; [5] Y. Cho et al., Earth, Planets and Space 73:232, 2021; [6] F. Rull et al., Astrobiology 17 (6-7), 2017, 627–654; [7] S. Maurice et al., Space Sci. Rev. 217, 2021.
How to cite: Prieto-Ballesteros, O., Böttger, U., Cho, Y., Huebers, H.-W., Rull, F., Schroeder, S., Belenguer, T., Benito, M., Börner, A., Buder, M., Bunduki, Y., Dietz, E., Hagelschuer, T., Kameda, S., Kopp, E., Lopez-Reyes, G., Moral Inza, A. G., Mori, S., Perez Canora, C., Pertenais, M., Peter, G., Rockstein, S., Rodd-Routley, S., Rodriguez Perez, P., Ryan, C., Santamaria, P., Säuberlich, T., Schrandt, F., Ulamec, S., Usui, T., Weber, I., and Westerdorff, K.: In situ science on Phobos by the Raman spectrometer RAX on board the MMX rover, Europlanet Science Congress 2022, Granada, Spain, 18–23 Sep 2022, EPSC2022-955, https://doi.org/10.5194/epsc2022-955, 2022.
