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EOS, TRANSACTIONS AMERICAN GEOPHYSICAL UNION, VOL. 84, NO. 16, doi:10.1029/2003EO160008, 2003

Strategies to Support Exploration of Mars' Surface

L. Kirkland

Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston, Texas, USA


M. Sykes

University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA


T. Farr

Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California, USA


J. Adams

University of Washington (retired), Seattle, Washington, USA


D. Blaney

Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California, USA


Abstract

Visible-infrared spectroscopy has a long history of providing fundamental compositional discoveries in the solar system. However, we are entering a new era of Mars exploration in which missions will take place nearly every 2 years. The visible-infrared spectral community thus faces a more rapid influx in data volume and variety than it has previously handled. Visible-infrared instruments are on the 1996 Mars Global Surveyor, 2001 Mars Odyssey, 2003 Mars Exploration Rovers, 2003 Mars Express, 2005 Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter; and likely, on the 2007 and 2009 missions. Interpretations of those data sets provide a critical foundation for geologic and climatic interpretations as well as an opportunity to select landing sites. Each mission is intended to provide answers that optimize the success of the next mission. However, spectroscopic studies of surface materials are particularly complex and not yet well enough developed to fully support such ambitious and time-critical exploration objectives. In light of that, the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston sponsored a series of workshops for the Mars visible-infrared spectrometer community to address what support is needed, with a focus on needs that cannot be met by individual researchers alone. This report summarizes the recommendations from the December 2002 community workshop, “Visible-Infrared Spectroscopy of Mars: Laboratory and Field Community Data Sets.”

Index Terms: 9950 Meetings; 5464 Planetology: Solid Surface Planets: Remote sensing; 6225 Planetology: Solar System Objects: Mars.

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Citation: Kirkland, L., M. Sykes, T. Farr, J. Adams, and D. Blaney (2003), Strategies to Support Exploration of Mars' Surface, Eos Trans. AGU, 84(16), doi:10.1029/2003EO160008.