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Effects of the 2007 Martian Global Dust Storm on Boundary Positions in the Induced Magnetosphere
Holmström, Mats; Coates, Andrew J.; Frahm, Rudy A. +8 more
Mars's magnetosphere is a sensitive system, varying due to external and internal factors, such as solar wind conditions and crustal magnetic fields. A signature of this influence can be seen in the position of two boundaries; the bow shock and the induced magnetospheric boundary (IMB). The bow shock moves closer to Mars during times of high solar …
Mapping "Brain Terrain" Regions on Mars Using Deep Learning
Zhao, Daniel; Noe, Eldar; Morgan, Alexander M. +2 more
One of the main objectives of the Mars Exploration Program is to search for evidence of past or current life on the planet. To achieve this, Mars exploration has been focusing on regions that may have liquid or frozen water. A set of critical areas may have seen cycles of ice thawing in the relatively recent past in response to periodic changes in…
Spectral Analysis of Clay-bearing Outcrops in Northern Xanthe Terra, Mars: Comparison with Oxia Planum, the Landing Site for the ExoMars Rover Mission
Altieri, Francesca; Brossier, Jeremy; De Sanctis, Maria Cristina +5 more
Clay minerals detected on Mars are valuable targets to seek traces of life on the planet, where biosignatures might be preserved. Here, we report an in-depth spectral analysis of clay-rich outcrops identified in northern Xanthe Terra (300°-320° E, 10°-20° N). We focused particularly on the absorptions centered in the 1.0-2.6 µm spectral rang…
Pre- and Post-entry, Descent and Landing Assessment of the Martian Atmosphere for the Mars 2020 Rover
Kleinböhl, Armin; Mischna, Michael A.; Lewis, Stephen R. +10 more
This review provides an analysis of activities undertaken by the Mars 2020 Council of Atmospheres (CoA) in support of the entry, descent, and landing (EDL) of the Mars 2020 rover Perseverance in Jezero crater, Mars. The activities of the CoA were designed to evaluate the safety of early-stage landing site candidates and, later, to constrain the ra…
Planet Four: Derived South Polar Martian Winds Interpreted Using Mesoscale Modeling
Schwamb, Megan E.; Michaels, Timothy I.; Lintott, Chris J. +3 more
For the first time, model-derived and imagery-derived wind directions and speeds have been compared in Mars's south polar region. Seasonal fan-shaped deposits are routinely observed by HiRISE in the polar regions. They are widely accepted to result from CO2 gas jet eruptions. Fan lengths, sizes, and shapes can provide information about …
The Timing of Alluvial Fan Formation on Mars
Wilson, Sharon A.; Kite, Edwin S.; Holo, Samuel J. +1 more
The history of rivers on Mars is an important constraint on Martian climate evolution. The timing of relatively young, alluvial fan-forming rivers is especially important, as Mars's Amazonian atmosphere is thought to have been too thin to consistently support surface liquid water. Previous regional studies suggested that alluvial fans formed prima…
Knowledge Inventory of Foundational Data Products in Planetary Science
Beyer, Ross A.; Laura, Jason R.
Some of the key components of any Planetary Spatial Data Infrastructure (PDSI) are the data products that end-users wish to discover, access, and interrogate. One precursor to the implementation of a PSDI is a knowledge inventory that catalogs what products are available, from which data producers, and at what initially understood data qualities. …
The Mars Orbiter for Resources, Ices, and Environments (MORIE) Science Goals and Instrument Trades in Radar, Imaging, and Spectroscopy
Murchie, Scott L.; Ehlmann, Bethany L.; Calvin, Wendy M. +9 more
The Mars Orbiter for Resources, Ices, and Environments (MORIE) was selected as one of NASA's 2019 Planetary Mission Concept Studies. The mission builds upon recent discoveries and current knowledge gaps linked to two primary scientific questions: (1) when did elements of the cryosphere form and how are ice deposits linked to current, recent, and a…