Infrared Spectrometer for ExoMars (ISEM) is an

infrared spectrometer Infrared spectroscopy (IR spectroscopy or vibrational spectroscopy) is the measurement of the interaction of infrared radiation with matter by absorption, emission, or reflection. It is used to study and identify chemical substances or function ...

for remote sensing that is part of the science payload on board the

European Space Agency , owners = , headquarters = Paris, Île-de-France, France , coordinates = , spaceport = Guiana Space Centre , seal = File:ESA emblem seal.png , seal_size = 130px , image = Views in the Main Control Room (120 ...

''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, or molecule – or phenomenon that provides scientific evidence of past or present life. Measurable attribute ...

s and

biomarker In biomedical contexts, a biomarker, or biological marker, is a measurable indicator of some biological state or condition. Biomarkers are often measured and evaluated using blood, urine, or soft tissues to examine normal biological processes, p ...

s on Mars. The rover is planned to be launched in August–October 2022 and land on Mars in spring 2023. ISEM will provide context assessment of the surface mineralogy in the vicinity of the ''Rosalind Franklin'' rover for selection of potential astrobiological targets. The Principal Investigator is Oleg Korablev from the

Russian Space Research Institute The Russian Space Research Institute (russian: Институт космических исследований Российской академии наук, Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, SRI RAS, Russian abbrevi ...

(IKI).

Overview

The Infrared Spectrometer for ExoMars (ISEM) is being developed by the

(IKI). It will be the first instance of

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) observations done from the Mars surface. The instrument will be installed on the ''Rosalind Franklin'' rover's mast to measure reflected solar radiation in the

near infrared Infrared (IR), sometimes called infrared light, is electromagnetic radiation (EMR) with wavelengths longer than those of visible light. It is therefore invisible to the human eye. IR is generally understood to encompass wavelengths from around ...

range for context assessment of the surface mineralogy in the vicinity of ''Rosalind Franklin'' for selection of potential astrobiological targets.Infrared Spectrometer for ExoMars: A Mast-Mounted Instrument for the Rover
(PDF). Oleg I. Korablev, Yurii Dobrolensky, Nadezhda Evdokimova, Anna A. Fedorova, Ruslan O. Kuzmin, Sergei N. Mantsevich, Edward A. Cloutis, John Carter, Francois Poulet, Jessica Flahaut, Andrew Griffiths, Matthew Gunn, Nicole Schmitz, Javier Martin-Torres, Maria-Paz Zorzano, Daniil S. Rodionov, Jorge L. Vago, Alexander V. Stepanov, Andrei Yu. Titov, Nikita A. Vyazovetsky, Alexander Yu. Trokhimovskiy, Alexander G. Sapgir, Yurii K. Kalinnikov, Yurii S. Ivanov, Alexei A. Shapkin, and Andrei Yu. Ivanov. ''

Astrobiology Astrobiology, and the related field of exobiology, is an interdisciplinary scientific field that studies the origins, early evolution, distribution, and future of life in the universe. Astrobiology is the multidisciplinary field that investi ...

'', Volume 17, Number 6 and 7, 2017. As the number of samples obtained with the drill will be limited, the selection of high-value sites for drilling will be crucial. Working with PanCam (a high-resolution panoramic camera), ISEM will aid in the selection of potential targets, especially water-bearing minerals, for close-up investigations and drilling sites. ISEM could detect, if present,

organic compound In chemistry, organic compounds are generally any chemical compounds that contain carbon- hydrogen or carbon-carbon bonds. Due to carbon's ability to catenate (form chains with other carbon atoms), millions of organic compounds are known. Th ...

s, including evolving trace gases such as hydrocarbons like methane in the Martian atmosphere.

Objectives

The stated science objectives of ISEM are: ISEM (Infrared Spectrometer for ExoMars) - Overview
(PDF).

(IKI). * Geological investigation and study a composition of Martian soils in the uppermost few millimeters of the surface. * Characterisation of the composition of surface materials, discriminating between various classes of silicates, oxides, hydrated minerals and carbonates. * Identification and mapping of the distribution of aqueous alteration products on Mars. * Real-time assessment of surface composition in selected areas, in support of identifying and selection of the most promising drilling sites. * Studies of variations of the atmospheric dust properties and of the atmospheric gaseous composition.

Development

ISEM is a derivative of the Lunar Infrared Spectrometer (LIS) being developed by the

(IKI) in Moscow for the planned

Luna-25 Luna 25 (Luna-Glob lander) is a planned lunar lander mission by Roscosmos. It will land near the lunar south pole at the Boguslavsky crater. It was renamed from Luna-Glob lander to Luna 25 to emphasize the continuity of the Soviet Luna progr ...

and

Luna-27 Luna 27 (Luna-Resurs 1 lander or Luna-Resource-1 lander) Collaborating institutions include:

Moscow State University M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU; russian: Московский государственный университет имени М. В. Ломоносова) is a public research university in Moscow, Russia and the most prestigious ...

, Main Astrophysical Observatory,

National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine The National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (NASU; uk, Національна академія наук України, ''Natsional’na akademiya nauk Ukrayiny'', abbr: NAN Ukraine) is a self-governing state-funded organization in Ukraine th ...

, the National Research Institute for Physicotechnical and Radio Engineering Measurements (VNIIFTRI) in Russia,

, and the

Aberystwyth University Aberystwyth University ( cy, Prifysgol Aberystwyth) is a Public university, public Research university, research university in Aberystwyth, Wales. Aberystwyth was a founding member institution of the former federal University of Wales. The universi ...

in United Kingdom. The science team includes researchers from Russia, France, Italy, Sweden, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Canada. The instrument has been designed to specifically detect carbonates, oxalates, borates,

nitrates Nitrate is a polyatomic ion with the chemical formula . Salts containing this ion are called nitrates. Nitrates are common components of fertilizers and explosives. Almost all inorganic nitrates are soluble in water. An example of an insol ...

, NH₄-bearing minerals, that are good indicators of past habitable conditions such as aqueous minerals. It is also designed to detect

organic compounds In chemistry, organic compounds are generally any chemical compounds that contain carbon-hydrogen or carbon-carbon bonds. Due to carbon's ability to catenate (form chains with other carbon atoms), millions of organic compounds are known. The ...

, including

polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons A polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) is a class of organic compounds that is composed of multiple aromatic rings. The simplest representative is naphthalene, having two aromatic rings and the three-ring compounds anthracene and phenanthrene. P ...

(PAHs) and those containing

aliphatic In organic chemistry, hydrocarbons ( compounds composed solely of carbon and hydrogen) are divided into two classes: aromatic compounds and aliphatic compounds (; G. ''aleiphar'', fat, oil). Aliphatic compounds can be saturated, like hexane, ...

C-H molecules. In addition, ISEM can also detect seasonal frost, if present at the landing site, and it can be used to analyse the bore hole excavated by the ExoMars drill, if the rover backs away some distance.

References

{{Use British English, date=July 2018 ExoMars Spacecraft instruments Astrobiology Space science experiments Space program of Russia

Overview

Objectives

Development

See also

References