we propose to use isocam in cam04 cvf mode to observe mars from 2.273 to 5.122 microns. our primary scientific goals are: (1) to detect and spatially map absorption features arising from minerals on the martian surface or in the airborne dust. specifically, we will search for and attempt to spatially map phyllosilicates and other hydrated minerals, pyroxenes, olivines, carbonates, sulfates, and organic (c-h bearing) materials. many of these materials have been shown to exist on mars based on kao and snc meteorite data, but information on their spatial distribution is lacking. for certain minerals like carbonates, spatial mapping can provide important information about the climatic history of mars. (2) to detect and monitor variations in the spatial and temporal airborne dust opacity and the abundance and distribution of water ice and co2 ice clouds in the martian atmosphere. these observations will help constrain the seasonal cycles of volatile transport on mars by defining the style and timing of the north-south atmospheric condensation flow. an accurate knowledge of the seasonal behavior of clouds and surface frosts/ices, especially at the poles, is critical for understanding the global energy balance. (3) to provide imaging and spectroscopic data for the planning and implementation of the nasa mars pathfinder lander mission in 1997. iso is optimal for these observations because it provides the opportunity to unambiguously observe martian mineral, h2o ice, and co2 ice absorptions without interference from telluric lines. the goals of this proposed program are very different from those of the mars gt program of de graauw et al. we stress mineralogic measurements and atmospheric ice and dust cloud detection and mapping; de graauw et al. stress spectroscopy of trace atmospheric components. we believe there is little redundancy and in fact a high degree of complementarity between our proposed program and the mars gt program.
Instrument
CAM04
Temporal Coverage
1997-07-29T21:55:57Z/1997-08-27T22:50:12Z
Version
1.0
Mission Description
The Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) was the worlds first true orbiting infrared observatory. Equipped with four highly-sophisticated and versatile scientific instruments, it was launched by Ariane in November 1995 and provided astronomers world-wide with a facility of unprecedented sensitivity and capabilities for a detailed exploration of the Universe at infrared wavelengths.
European Space Agency, BELL et al., 1998, 'INFRARED IMAGING SPECTROSCOPY OF MARS: CONSTRAINTS ON SURFACE MINERALOGY AND VOLATILE TRANSPORT', 1.0, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-prorxl5
