Multiscale and Multispectral Characterization of Mineralogy with the ExoMars 2022 Rover Remote Sensing Payload

Abstract

In 2020, the European Space Agency and Roscosmos will launch the ExoMars rover, with the scientific objective to detect evidence of life within the Martian surface via the deployment of a 2 m drill. The ExoMars Pasteur payload contains several imaging and spectroscopic instruments key to this objective: the Panoramic Camera (PanCam), Infrared Spectrometer for ExoMars (ISEM), and Close-UP Imager (CLUPI). These instruments are able to collect data at a variety of spatial (sub-mm to decimeter) and spectral (3.3 to 120 nm) resolutions across the 440 to 3,300 nm wavelength range and collectively will form a picture of the geological and morphological characteristics of the surface terrain surrounding the rover. We deployed emulators of this instrument suite at terrestrial analog sites that formed in a range of aqueous environments to test their ability to detect and characterize science targets. We find that the emulator suite is able to effectively detect, characterize, and refine the compositions of multiple targets at working distances spanning from 2 to 18 m. We report on (a) the detection of hydrothermal alteration minerals including Fe-smectites and gypsum from basaltic substrates, (b) the detection of late-stage diagenetic gypsum veins embedded in exposures of sedimentary mudstone, (c) multispectral evidence of compositional differences detected from fossiliferous mudstones, and (d) approaches to cross-referencing multi-scale and multi-resolution data. These findings aid in the development of data products and analysis toolkits in advance of the ExoMars rover mission.

Optimizing ExoMars Rover Remote Sensing Multispectral Science: Cross‐Rover Comparison Using Laboratory and Orbital Data

“…In these bedrock regions, which are likely to be high priority targets for drilling and sampling, it is likely that complementary instruments, such as ISEM, will also be critical for mafic mineral identification. Previous studies have used emulators for studying the performance of PanCam and other ExoMars instruments in the field on Earth (e.g., Allender et al, 2020Allender et al, , 2021Harris et al, 2015), and we can also use multispectral instrument application on Mars as a guide to best practice use (e.g., Farrand et al, 2006Farrand et al, , 2007Farrand et al, , 2008Farrand et al, , 2013Farrand et al, , 2014Rice et al, 2010;. These studies made particular use of spectral parameters, which capture some specified spectral feature (e.g., Bell et al, 2000;Pelkey et al, 2007;Viviano-Beck et al, 2014), to help indicate broad mineralogical composition, abundance, or grain size fluctuations.…”

Biomimetic lizard robot for adapting to Martian surface terrain

“…Since the Soviet Union first launched satellites into space in 1957, opening the door to the space age, many planetary probes have subsequently been sent by a number of countries [1,2]. These systematic investigations are conducive to unraveling planetary geological composition, cosmic evolution, and expanding potential habitable spaces for human beings [3,4].…”

“…Therefore, the vertical forces of the robot foot in the forward direction are considered during motion. Based on the approximate sizes of the toe in contact with the soil in this study (D = 10.78 mm, H = 38.53 mm), the range of f (H/D) is taken between(2,4). A = 1.25 * 10 −3 m 2 , and the angle distribution α = 53.3 • .…”

Bionic Design of Multi-Toe Quadruped Robot for Planetary Surface Exploration

“…In the US, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) conceived, developed, and operated a line of so-called Rocker-Bogie suspension, six-wheeled rovers for Mars exploration, and NASA's Johnson Space Center is currently developing the VIPER rover for the polar regions of the Moon [1]. The European Space Agency has completed the development of the ExoMars Rover for Mars, which features metallic flexible wheels [2]. China has successfully operated the YuTu and YuTu-2 rovers on the Moon [3] and ZhuRong on Mars [4].…”