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AGU: Geophysical Research Letters

 

Keywords

  • Phobos
  • Mars Express

Index Terms

  • Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects: Martian satellites
  • Planetary Sciences: Comets and Small Bodies: Gravitational fields
  • Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets: Gravitational fields

Abstract

GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 37, L09202, 4 PP., 2010
doi:10.1029/2009GL041829

Precise mass determination and the nature of Phobos

T. P. Andert

Department of Space Technology, University of German Armed Forces, Munich, Germany

P. Rosenblatt

Department of Reference Systems and Geodynamics, Royal Observatory of Belgium, Brussels, Belgium

M. Pätzold

Department of Planetary Research, Rheinisches Institut für Umweltforschung, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

B. Häusler

Department of Space Technology, University of German Armed Forces, Munich, Germany

V. Dehant

Department of Reference Systems and Geodynamics, Royal Observatory of Belgium, Brussels, Belgium

G. L. Tyler

Department of Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA

J. C. Marty

CNES, GRGS, Toulouse, France

We report independent results from two subgroups of the Mars Express Radio Science (MaRS) team who independently analyzed Mars Express (MEX) radio tracking data for the purpose of determining consistently the gravitational attraction of the moon Phobos on the MEX spacecraft, and hence the mass of Phobos. New values for the gravitational parameter (GM = 0.7127 ± 0.0021 × 10−3 km3/s2) and density of Phobos (1876 ± 20 kg/m3) provide meaningful new constraints on the corresponding range of the body's porosity (30% ± 5%), provide a basis for improved interpretation of the internal structure. We conclude that the interior of Phobos likely contains large voids. When applied to various hypotheses bearing on the origin of Phobos, these results are inconsistent with the proposition that Phobos is a captured asteroid.

Received 3 December 2009; accepted 22 March 2010; published 7 May 2010.

Citation: Andert, T. P., P. Rosenblatt, M. Pätzold, B. Häusler, V. Dehant, G. L. Tyler, and J. C. Marty (2010), Precise mass determination and the nature of Phobos, Geophys. Res. Lett., 37, L09202, doi:10.1029/2009GL041829.

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