Atmospheric Chemistry Suite

Last updated
Atmospheric Chemistry Suite
Operator European Space Agency
ManufacturerRussia & France
Instrument type Fourier infrared spectrometer
FunctionAtmospheric chemical analysis
Mission duration7 years (planned)
Began operations19 October 2016
Properties
Spectral band Infrared
Host spacecraft
Spacecraft ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter
Operator Roscosmos
Launch date14 March 2016, 09:31 (2016-03-14UTC09:31)  UTC
Rocket Proton-M/Briz-M
Launch site Baikonur 200/39
COSPAR ID 2016-017A
Orbit Mars

The Atmospheric Chemistry Suite (ACS) is a science payload consisting of three infrared spectrometer channels aboard the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) orbiting Mars since October 2016. [1] The three channels are: the near-infrared channel (NIR), the mid-infrared channel (MIR), and the far infrared channel (FIR, also called TIRVIM).

Contents

The ACS was proposed in 2011 by Russian Academy Section and eventually accepted by the European Space Agency (ESA) and Roscosmos as one of two Russian instruments onboard TGO. [2] The instrument was funded by Roscosmos and Centre national d'études spatiales (CNES) of France, and has components of both Russia and France. Its development and fabrication was under Russian leadership. The functionality of all the three channels was confirmed during cruise to Mars.

Objectives

The main objective of the ACS suite is to make an inventory and map minor atmospheric species or trace gases in the atmosphere of Mars. This will allow scientists to profile the upper limits on the methane contents, and to possibly to detect sulfur dioxide (SO
2), a gas of volcanic origin. [2]

Channels

The near-infrared channel (NIR), is a compact spectrometer operating in the range of 0.7–1.7 μm with a resolving power of λ/Δλ ~ 20,000 and with a spectral range of 10–20 nm. It is designed to operate in nadir and in solar occultation modes. [2]

The mid-infrared channel (MIR) is an echelle spectrometer with crossed dispersion, designed exclusively for solar occultation measurements in the 2.2–4.4 μm spectral range with a resolving power of approximately 50,000. [2]

The far-infrared channel covers the thermal infrared spectroscopy; it is a Fourier spectrometer called the TIRVIM. It has an aperture of ~5 cm and it measures the spectrum of 1.7–17 μm. Its main task will be for temperature sounding of the Martian atmosphere in the 15-μm CO
2 band. TIRVIM has 10 times higher performances than the PFS spectrometer of Mars Express orbiter. [2]

Channel designationAbbreviation Wavelength Trace gas detected [2]
Near-InfraredNIR0.7–1.7 μm H
2O, O
2, CO
2, O−
2, OH−
, and NO−
Mid-InfraredMIR2.2–4.4 μm CH
4, H
2O, HO
2, HDO, HF, HCl, CO, SO
2, CO
2 and their isotopes, etc.
Far-Infrared
(Thermal-Infrared)		FIR or TIRVIM1.7–17 μmTemperature profiles, CO
2, H
2O
2, dust, water ice.

Methane

Of particular interest to this astrobiology mission, is the detection and characterization of the atmospheric methane (CH
4), as it may be of geological or biological nature. Large differences in the abundances were measured between observations taken in 2003, 2006, and in 2014 NASA reported that the Curiosity rover detected a tenfold increase ('spike') in methane in the atmosphere in late 2013 and early 2014. This suggests that the methane was locally concentrated and is probably seasonal. Because methane on Mars would quickly break down due to ultraviolet radiation from the Sun and chemical reactions with other gases, its persistent presence in the atmosphere also implies the existence of an unknown source to continually replenish the gas. [3]

Measuring the ratio of hydrogen and methane levels on Mars may help determine the likelihood of life on Mars. [4] [5] According to the scientists, "...low H2/CH4 ratios (less than approximately 40) indicate that life is likely present and active." [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Envisat</span> ESA Earth observation satellite (2002–2012)

Envisat is a large Earth-observing satellite which has been inactive since 2012. It is still in orbit and considered space debris. Operated by the European Space Agency (ESA), it was the world's largest civilian Earth observation satellite.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">STS-66</span> 1994 American crewed spaceflight

STS-66 was a Space Shuttle program mission that was flown by the Space Shuttle Atlantis. STS-66 launched on November 3, 1994, at 11:59:43.060 am EDT from Launch Pad 39-B at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Atlantis landed at Edwards Air Force Base on November 14, 1994, at 10:33:45 am EST.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ExoMars</span> Astrobiology programme

ExoMars is an astrobiology programme of the European Space Agency (ESA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atmosphere of Mars</span> Layer of gases surrounding the planet Mars

The atmosphere of Mars is the layer of gases surrounding Mars. It is primarily composed of carbon dioxide (95%), molecular nitrogen (2.85%), and argon (2%). It also contains trace levels of water vapor, oxygen, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and noble gases. The atmosphere of Mars is much thinner and colder than Earth's having a max density 20g/m3 with a temperature generally below zero down to -60 Celsius. The average surface pressure is about 610 pascals (0.088 psi) which is 0.6% of the Earth's value.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Planetary Fourier Spectrometer</span>

The Planetary Fourier Spectrometer (PFS) is an infrared spectrometer built by the Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica along with the Istituto di Fisica dello spazio Interplanetario and the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche. The instrument is currently used by the European Space Agency on both the Mars Express Mission and the Venus Express Mission. It consists of four units which together weigh around 31.4 kg, including a pointing device, a power supply, a control unit, and an interferometer with electronics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Venera-D</span> Proposed Russian mission to Venus

Venera-D is a proposed Russian space mission to Venus that would include an orbiter and a lander to be launched in 2029. The orbiter's prime objective is to perform observations with the use of a radar. The lander, based on the Venera design, would be capable of operating for a long duration on the planet's surface. The "D" in Venera-D stands for "dolgozhivuschaya," which means "long lasting" in Russian.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mars general circulation model</span>

The Mars general circulation model is the result of a research project by NASA to understand the nature of the general circulation of the atmosphere of Mars, how that circulation is driven and how it affects the climate of Mars in the long term.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Extraterrestrial atmosphere</span> Area of astronomical research

The study of extraterrestrial atmospheres is an active field of research, both as an aspect of astronomy and to gain insight into Earth's atmosphere. In addition to Earth, many of the other astronomical objects in the Solar System have atmospheres. These include all the giant planets, as well as Mars, Venus and Titan. Several moons and other bodies also have atmospheres, as do comets and the Sun. There is evidence that extrasolar planets can have an atmosphere. Comparisons of these atmospheres to one another and to Earth's atmosphere broaden our basic understanding of atmospheric processes such as the greenhouse effect, aerosol and cloud physics, and atmospheric chemistry and dynamics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trace Gas Orbiter</span> Mars orbiter, part of ExoMars programme

The ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter is a collaborative project between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Russian Roscosmos agency that sent an atmospheric research orbiter and the Schiaparelli demonstration lander to Mars in 2016 as part of the European-led ExoMars programme.

Paul O. Wennberg is the R. Stanton Avery Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry and Environmental Science and Engineering at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). He is the director of the Ronald and Maxine Linde Center for Global Environmental Science. He is chair of the Total Carbon Column Observing Network and a founding member of the Orbiting Carbon Observatory project, which created NASA's first spacecraft for analysis of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. He is also the principal investigator for the Mars Atmospheric Trace Molecule Occultation Spectrometer (MATMOS) to investigate trace gases in Mars's atmosphere.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ADEOS I</span> Derelict Japanese Earth observation satellite

ADEOS I was an Earth observation satellite launched by NASDA in 1996. The mission's Japanese name, Midori means "green". The mission ended in July 1997 after the satellite sustained structural damage to the solar panel. Its successor, ADEOS II, was launched in 2002. Like the first mission, it ended after less than a year, also following solar panel malfunctions.

Rosalind Franklin, previously known as the ExoMars rover, is a planned robotic Mars rover, part of the international ExoMars programme led by the European Space Agency and the Russian Roscosmos State Corporation. The mission was scheduled to launch in July 2020, but was postponed to 2022. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has caused an indefinite delay of the programme, as the member states of the ESA voted to suspend the joint mission with Russia; in July 2022, ESA terminated its cooperation on the project with Russia. As of May 2022, the launch of the rover is not expected to occur before 2028 due to the need for a new non-Russian landing platform.

<i>Schiaparelli</i> EDM Mars landing demonstration system

Schiaparelli EDM was a failed Entry, Descent, and Landing Demonstrator Module (EDM) of the ExoMars programme—a joint mission of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Russian Space Agency Roscosmos. It was built in Italy and was intended to test technology for future soft landings on the surface of Mars. It also had a limited but focused science payload that would have measured atmospheric electricity on Mars and local meteorological conditions.

<i>Kazachok</i> A planned Mars lander, part of ExoMars programme

The ExoMars Kazachok was a planned robotic Mars lander led by Roscosmos, part of the ExoMars 2022 joint mission with the European Space Agency. Kazachok translates as "Little Cossack", and is also the name of an East Slavic folk dance.

Mars Multispectral Imager for Subsurface Studies (Ma_MISS) is a miniaturized imaging spectrometer designed to provide imaging and spectra by reflectance in the near-infrared (NIR) wavelength region and determine the mineral composition and stratigraphy. The instrument is part of the science payload on board the European Rosalind Franklin rover, tasked to search for biosignatures, and scheduled to launch not earlier than 2028. Ma_MISS is essentially inside a drill on the Rover, and will take measurements of the sub-surface directly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MicrOmega-IR</span>

MicrOmega-IR is an infrared hyperspectral microscope that is part of the science payload on board the European Rosalind Franklin rover, tasked to search for biosignatures on Mars. The rover is planned to be launched not earlier than 2028. MicrOmega-IR will analyse in situ the powder material derived from crushed samples collected by the rover's core drill.

Infrared Spectrometer for ExoMars (ISEM) is an infrared spectrometer for remote sensing that is part of the science payload on board the European Space Agency'sRosalind Franklin rover, tasked to search for biosignatures and biomarkers on Mars. The rover is planned to be launched not earlier than 2028 and land on Mars in 2029.

The Fine-Resolution Epithermal Neutron Detector (FREND) is a neutron detector that is part of the instrument payload on board the Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO), launched to Mars in March 2016. This instrument is currently mapping hydrogen levels to a maximum depth of 1 m beneath the Martian surface, thus revealing shallow water ice distribution. This instrument has an improved resolution of 7.5 times over the one Russia contributed to NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey orbiter.

Nadir and Occultation for MArs Discovery (NOMAD) is a 3-channel spectrometer on board the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) launched to Mars orbit on 14 March 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Natural methane on Mars</span>

The reported presence of methane in the atmosphere of Mars is of interest to many geologists and astrobiologists, as methane may indicate the presence of microbial life on Mars, or a geochemical process such as volcanism or hydrothermal activity.

References

  1. ↑ Three infrared spectrometers, an atmospheric chemistry suite for the ExoMars 2016 Trace Gas Orbiter. Korablev, O., et al., 2014. J. Appl. Remote Sensing. 8, 4983.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Science Investigations for the Atmospheric Chemistry Suite on ExoMars TGO. (PDF) O. Korablev, N. I. Ignatiev, A. A. Fedorova, A. Yu. Trokhimovskiy, A. V. Grigoriev, A. V. Shakun, Space, F. Montmessin, F. Lefevre, F. Forget. Sixth International Workshop on the Mars Atmosphere: Modelling and Observations. Granada, Spain 17–20 January 2017.
  3. ↑ Webster, Christopher R. (23 January 2015). "Mars methane detection and variability at Gale crater" (PDF). Science. 347 (6220): 415–417. Bibcode:2015Sci...347..415W. doi:10.1126/science.1261713. PMID   25515120. S2CID   20304810.
  4. 1 2 Oze, Christopher; Jones, Camille; Goldsmith, Jonas I.; Rosenbauer, Robert J. (7 June 2012). "Differentiating biotic from abiotic methane genesis in hydrothermally active planetary surfaces". PNAS . 109 (25): 9750–9754. Bibcode:2012PNAS..109.9750O. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1205223109 . PMC   3382529 . PMID   22679287.
  5. ↑ Staff (25 June 2012). "Mars Life Could Leave Traces in Red Planet's Air: Study". Space.com . Retrieved 27 June 2012.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.