Mars Multispectral Imager for Subsurface Studies (Ma_MISS) is a miniaturized

imaging spectrometer An imaging spectrometer is an instrument used in hyperspectral imaging and imaging spectroscopy to acquire a spectrally-resolved image of an object or scene, usually to support analysis of the composition the object being imaged. The spectral data ...

designed to provide imaging and spectra by reflectance in the

near-infrared Infrared (IR; sometimes called infrared light) is electromagnetic radiation (EMR) with wavelengths longer than that of visible light but shorter than microwaves. The infrared spectral band begins with the waves that are just longer than those of ...

(NIR) wavelength region and determine the mineral composition and

stratigraphy Stratigraphy is a branch of geology concerned with the study of rock layers (strata) and layering (stratification). It is primarily used in the study of sedimentary and layered volcanic rocks. Stratigraphy has three related subfields: lithost ...

. The instrument is part of the science payload on board the European ''Rosalind Franklin'' rover, tasked to search for

biosignature A biosignature (sometimes called chemical fossil or molecular fossil) is any substance – such as an element, isotope, molecule, or phenomenon – that provides scientific evidence of past or present life on a planet. Measurable ...

s, 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. Ma_MISS will help on the search for biosignatures by studying minerals and ices ''in situ'' before the collection of samples. The instrument is integrated within the Italian

core drill A modern core drill is a drill specifically designed to remove a cylinder of material, much like a hole saw. The material left inside the drill bit is referred to as the ''core''. Core drills used in metal are called annular cutters. Core dr ...

system called DEEDRI, and it will be dedicated to ''in situ'' studies of the mineralogy inside the excavated holes in terms of visible and infrared spectral reflectance.Ma_MISS on ExoMars: Mineralogical Characterization of the Martian Subsurface
Maria Cristina De Sanctis, Francesca Altieri, Eleonora Ammannito, David Biondi, Simone De Angelis, Marco Meini, Giuseppe Mondello, Samuele Novi, Riccardo Paolinetti, Massimo Soldani, Raffaele Mugnuolo, Simone Pirrotta, Jorge L. Vago. ''Astrobiology'', Vol. 17, No. 6-7. 1 July 2017. . The Principal Investigator is Maria Cristina De Sanctis, from the

INAF The National Institute for Astrophysics (, or INAF) is an Italian research institute in astronomy and astrophysics, founded in 1999. INAF funds and operates twenty separate research facilities, which in turn employ scientists, engineers and tech ...

(''Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica'') in Italy.

Overview

The instrument is based on the design conceived by planetary scientist

Angioletta Coradini Angioletta Coradini (1 July 1946 – 4 September 2011) was an Italian astrophysicist and planetary scientist. Biography In 1970 she completed a master's degree in physics at the University of Rome, the city where she would do her research ove ...

in 2001.MA MISS: Mars Multispectral Imager for Subsurface Studies
(PDF) A. Coradini, G. Piccioni, etal. ''Adv. Space Res''. Vol. 28, No. 8, pp. 1203-1208, 2001. Ma_MISS is integrated in the ''Rosalind Franklin'' rover 2-metre DEEDRI core drill and shares its structure and electronics. It will perform visible and

near-infrared spectroscopy Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a spectroscopic method that uses the near-infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum (from 780 nm to 2500 nm). Typical applications include medical and physiological diagnostics and research inc ...

(NIR) in the 0.4 to 2.2 μm range of the excavated borehole wall.The ExoMars Rover Instrument Suite: Ma_MISS - Mars Multispectral Imager for Subsurface Studies
European Space Agency. Accessed: 20 July 2018.VNIR spectral measurements on rock slabs with ExoMars Ma_Miss instrument
S. De Angelis, M.C. De Sanctis, E. Ammannito, C. Carli, T. Di Iorio, A. Frigeri, P. Manzari. EPSC Abstracts. Vol. 9, EPSC2014-243, 2014. European Planetary Science Congress 2014. A 5

watt The watt (symbol: W) is the unit of Power (physics), power or radiant flux in the International System of Units (SI), equal to 1 joule per second or 1 kg⋅m2⋅s−3. It is used to quantification (science), quantify the rate of Work ...

lamp and an optical fiber array will provide the illumination of the target (about 100 μm spot) as well as collect the scattered light from the target. An optical fiber carries the light to the spectrometer. It will be operated periodically during the pauses of the drilling activity and will also be able to provide images of the hole wall by a

sapphire Sapphire is a precious gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum, consisting of aluminium oxide () with trace amounts of elements such as iron, titanium, cobalt, lead, chromium, vanadium, magnesium, boron, and silicon. The name ''sapphire ...

window connected to an array of

optical fibre An optical fiber, or optical fibre, is a flexible glass or plastic fiber that can transmit light from one end to the other. Such fibers find wide usage in fiber-optic communications, where they permit transmission over longer distances and at ...

s.MA_MISS: Mars Multispectral Imager for Subsurface Studies
De Sanctis, M. C.; Coradini, A.; Ammannito, E.; Boccaccini, A.; Di Iorio, T.; Battistelli, E.; Capanni, A. ''EGU General Assembly 2012'', held 22–27 April 2012 in Vienna, Austria. pg. 6592. MA-MISS will provide important information about

mineralogy Mineralogy is a subject of geology specializing in the scientific study of the chemistry, crystal structure, and physical (including optical mineralogy, optical) properties of minerals and mineralized artifact (archaeology), artifacts. Specific s ...

petrology Petrology () is the branch of geology that studies rocks, their mineralogy, composition, texture, structure and the conditions under which they form. Petrology has three subdivisions: igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary petrology. Igneous ...

, and geological processes of sedimentary materials of the Martian subsurface. It will also give insights about materials that have not been altered by surface processes such as erosion, weathering or oxidation. The instrument is noted for its location inside the drill where it will have close contact with the Martian sub-surface. There is a window on the side of the drill, and as the drill turns it can take measurements around the circumference of the bore hole.

Objectives

The ExoMars programme is an

astrobiology Astrobiology (also xenology or exobiology) is a scientific field within the List of life sciences, life and environmental sciences that studies the abiogenesis, origins, Protocell, early evolution, distribution, and future of life in the univ ...

project focused on the search for

s in the subsurface of Mars, and to better understand the geological evolution and

habitability Habitability is the adequacy of an environment for human living. Where housing is concerned, there are generally local ordinances which define habitability. If a residence complies with those laws, it is said to be habitable. In extreme environ ...

of Mars. The study of the Martian subsurface will provide important constraints on the nature, timing and duration of alteration and sedimentation processes on Mars, as well as on the complex interactions between the surface and the atmosphere. The stated objectives of the Ma_MISS experiment are: *Determine the composition of subsurface materials. *Map the distribution of subsurface

water Water is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula . It is a transparent, tasteless, odorless, and Color of water, nearly colorless chemical substance. It is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known liv ...

and ices. *Characterize grain size. *Reconstruct a

stratigraphic Stratigraphy is a branch of geology concerned with the study of rock layers (strata) and layering (stratification). It is primarily used in the study of sedimentary and layered volcanic rocks. Stratigraphy has three related subfields: lithost ...

column for clues on subsurface geological processes.

References

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