Mars Observer: The Next Mars Mission

摘要

The next mission to Mars, called Mars Observer, will be launched in September 1992. After the capture of theudspacecraft by the planet and the adjustment into a low, Sun-synchronous, polar-mapping orbit in late 1993,udobservations will continue for a Mars year (687 days). The scientific mission centers around global geoscienceudand climatology observations of the Mars atmosphere, surface, and interior. The seven experiments carried byudthe spacecraft involve gamma-ray spectroscopy, magnetometry, surface and atmospheric imaging, atmosphericudsounding, laser altimetry, gravity mapping, and thermal emission spectroscopy. All experiments contain microprocessors,udwhich will be controlled remotely from the investigator's home institution. The long planned periodudof continuous 24 hi day observation promises a rich harvest of global and seasonal information. Mars Observerudstands between the initial exploration of Mars and the more intensive explorations,. possibly involving humanudbeings, that are only now being planned.