MERLIN: Mars-Moon Exploration, Reconnaissance and Landed Investigation

Igneous processes in the small bodies of the Solar System II: Small satellites and dwarf planets

“… 80 The latter value of 1.876 g cm −3 is an adjustment with respect to previous Viking measurements in which both satellites were assessed having essentially the same density of 1.9–2.0 ± 0.6 g cm −3 . 81 , 82 , 83 Their irregular shapes and their spectroscopic characteristics are similar to those of D-type asteroids, 84 , 85 or Amalthea, 44 which are mostly located in the outer AB and in the outer Solar System. It was initially suggested as a possible origin by an atmospheric drag capture mechanism for these small satellites.…”

“… 100 However, the nature and composition of this surface layer are still unknown, and it might have a composition similar to that of D-type asteroids or be also characterized by Martian impact basin ejecta; that is why sample return missions are of valuable importance. 85 , 101 , 102 , 103 Thermal models for both Deimos and Phobos were developed since the late 80’s to the early 90’s, 104 , 105 based on Mariner 106 , 107 , 108 , 109 and Viking 81 , 100 data as the evolution of the standard thermal model (STM) of Mars developed by Kieffer et al. 110 The thermal model developed by Kührt and Giese 104 approximated the figure of Deimos and Phobos to triaxial ellipsoids 111 covered by regoliths and with no inner heat sources.…”

Mothership-Cubesat Radioscience for Phobos Geodesy and Autonomous Navigation

“…Understanding the interior structure of Phobos can put constraints on the formation of Martain moons, as well as that of the early solar system. In addition to the endeavors of Phobos-1 and -2 in the late 1980s, many mission concepts, such as the Phobos-Grunt, PHOOTPRINT, MERLIN, and MMX, for exploring the Martian moons have been proposed and intensively studied by space agencies [4][5][6][7][8]. A mothership-CubeSat radioscience mission is proposed in this paper for probing Phobos and supporting autonomous navigation at the Martian distance from the Earth.…”