J. I. Nunez

Science Applications of a Multispectral Microscopic Imager for the Astrobiological Exploration of Mars

Future astrobiological missions to Mars are likely to emphasize the use of rovers with in situ petrologic capabilities for selecting the best samples at a site for in situ analysis with onboard lab instruments or for caching for potential return to Earth. Such observations are central to an understanding of the potential for past habitable conditions at a site and for identifying samples most likely to harbor fossil biosignatures. The Multispectral Microscopic Imager (MMI) provides multispectral reflectance images of geological samples at the microscale, where each image pixel is composed of a visible/shortwave infrared spectrum ranging from 0.46 to 1.73 μm. This spectral range enables the discrimination of a wide variety of rock-forming minerals, especially Fe-bearing phases, and the detection of hydrated minerals. The MMI advances beyond the capabilities of current microimagers on Mars by extending the spectral range into the infrared and increasing the number of spectral bands. The design employs multispectral light-emitting diodes and an uncooled indium gallium arsenide focal plane array to achieve a very low mass and high reliability. To better understand and demonstrate the capabilities of the MMI for future surface missions to Mars, we analyzed samples from Mars-relevant analog environments with the MMI. Results indicate that the MMI images faithfully resolve the fine-scale microtextural features of samples and provide important information to help constrain mineral composition. The use of spectral endmember mapping reveals the distribution of Fe-bearing minerals (including silicates and oxides) with high fidelity, along with the presence of hydrated minerals. MMI-based petrogenetic interpretations compare favorably with laboratory-based analyses, revealing the value of the MMI for future in situ rover-mediated astrobiological exploration of Mars.

Mauna Kea, Hawaii, as an Analog Site for Future Planetary Resource Exploration: Results from the 2010 ILSO-ISRU Field-Testing Campaign

The major advances in knowledge of extraterrestrial bodies come from in situ measurements on robotized measuring devices deployed by international space missions, for example, on the Moon and Mars. It is essential to test these instruments in environments on Earth thatbearacloseresemblancetoplanetaryconditions.Withintheframeworkofthe2010InternationalLunarSurfaceOperationInSituResource Utilization (2010 ILSO-ISRU) Analog Test, a suite of scientific instruments developed for in situ lunar research was field tested and cali- brated on the Mauna Kea volcano in Hawaii on January 27 to February 11, 2010. This site will beused as one ofthe future standard test sites to calibrate instruments forin situ lunarresearch.In 2010, atotalof eight scientificteams tested instrument capabilities at the test site.In this paper, a geological setting for this new field-test site, a description of the instruments that were tested during the 2010 ILSO-ISRU field campaign, and a short discussion of each instrument about the validity and use of the results obtained during the test are provided. These results will serve as reference for future test campaigns. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)AS.1943-5525.0000200.

New insights into gully formation on Mars: Constraints from composition as seen by MRO/CRISM

Over 100 martian gully sites were analyzed using orbital data collected by the Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM) and High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO). Most gullies are spectrally indistinct from their surroundings, due to mantling by dust. Where spectral information on gully sediments was obtained, a variety of mineralogies were identified. Their relationship to the source rock suggests that gully-forming processes transported underlying material downslope. There is no evidence for specific compositions being more likely to be associated with gullies, or with the formation of hydrated minerals in situ as a result of recent liquid water activity. Seasonal CO2 and H2O frosts were observed in gullies at mid- to high latitudes, consistent with seasonal frost-driven processes playing important roles in the evolution of gullies. Our results do not clearly indicate a role for long-lived liquid water in gully formation and evolution.