Journal article
MOSAIC: A Satellite Constellation to Enable Groundbreaking Mars Climate System Science and Prepare for Human Exploration
The planetary science journal, Vol.2(5), p.211
10/01/2021
DOI: 10.3847/psj/ac0538
Abstract
The Martian climate system has been revealed to rival the complexity of Earth's. Over the last 20 yr, a fragmented and incomplete picture has emerged of its structure and variability; we remain largely ignorant of many of the physical processes driving matter and energy flow between and within Mars' diverse climate domains. Mars Orbiters for Surface, Atmosphere, and Ionosphere Connections (MOSAIC) is a constellation of ten platforms focused on understanding these climate connections, with orbits and instruments tailored to observe the Martian climate system from three complementary perspectives. First, low-circular near-polar Sun-synchronous orbits (a large mothership and three smallsats spaced in local time) enable vertical profiling of wind, aerosols, water, and temperature, as well as mapping of surface and subsurface ice. Second, elliptical orbits sampling all of Mars' plasma regions enable multipoint measurements necessary to understand mass/energy transport and ion-driven escape, also enabling, with the polar orbiters, dense radio occultation coverage. Last, longitudinally spaced areostationary orbits enable synoptic views of the lower atmosphere necessary to understand global and mesoscale dynamics, global views of the hydrogen and oxygen exospheres, and upstream measurements of space weather conditions. MOSAIC will characterize climate system variability diurnally and seasonally, on meso-, regional, and global scales, targeting the shallow subsurface all the way out to the solar wind, making many first-of-their-kind measurements. Importantly, these measurements will also prepare for human exploration and habitation of Mars by providing water resource prospecting, operational forecasting of dust and radiation hazards, and ionospheric communication/positioning disruptions.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- MOSAIC: A Satellite Constellation to Enable Groundbreaking Mars Climate System Science and Prepare for Human Exploration
- Creators
- Robert Lillis - University of California, BerkeleyDavid Mitchell - University of California, BerkeleyLuca Montabone - Space Science InstituteNicholas Heavens - Space Science InstituteTanya Harrison - Planet Biotechnology (United States)Cassie Stuurman - Jet Propulsion LaboratoryScott Guzewich - Goddard Space Flight CenterScott England - Virginia TechPaul Withers - Boston UniversityMike Chaffin - Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space PhysicsShannon Curry - University of California, BerkeleyChi Ao - Jet Propulsion LaboratorySteven Matousek - Jet Propulsion LaboratoryNathan Barba - Jet Propulsion LaboratoryRyan Woolley - Jet Propulsion LaboratoryIsaac Smith - York UniversityGordon Osinski - Western UniversityArmin Kleinböhl - Jet Propulsion LaboratoryLeslie Tamppari - Jet Propulsion LaboratoryMichael Mischna - Jet Propulsion LaboratoryDavid Kass - Jet Propulsion LaboratoryMichael Smith - Goddard Space Flight CenterMichael Wolff - Space Science InstituteMelinda Kahre - Ames Research CenterAymeric Spiga - Laboratoire de Météorologie DynamiqueFrancois Forget - Laboratoire de Météorologie DynamiqueBruce Cantor - Malin Space Science Systems (United States)Justin Deighan - Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space PhysicsAmanda Brecht - Ames Research CenterStephen Bougher - University of MichiganChristopher Fowler - University of California, BerkeleyDavid Andrews - Swedish Institute of Space PhysicsMartin Patzold - Rhenish Institute for Environmental ResearchKerstin Peter - Rhenish Institute for Environmental ResearchSilvia Tellmann - Rhenish Institute for Environmental ResearchMark Lester - University of LeicesterBeatriz Sánchez-Cano - University of LeicesterJanet Luhmann - University of California, BerkeleyFrançois Leblanc - Laboratoire atmosphères, milieux, observations spatialesJasper Halekas - University of IowaDavid Brain - Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space PhysicsXiaohua Fang - Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space PhysicsJared Espley - Goddard Space Flight CenterHermann Opgenoorth - Umeå UniversityOleg Vaisberg - Space Research InstituteDavid Hinson - Search for Extraterrestrial IntelligenceSami Asmar - Jet Propulsion LaboratoryJoshua Vander Hook - Jet Propulsion LaboratoryOzgur Karatekin - Royal Observatory of BelgiumAroh Barjatya - Embry–Riddle Aeronautical UniversityAbhishek Tripathi - University of California, Berkeley
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- The planetary science journal, Vol.2(5), p.211
- DOI
- 10.3847/psj/ac0538
- ISSN
- 2632-3338
- eISSN
- 2632-3338
- Publisher
- IOP Science
- Grant note
- DOI: 10.13039/100000104, name: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, award: 80NSSC20K0578
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 10/01/2021
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984429014102771
Metrics
16 Record Views