Mars Multispectral Imager for Subsurface Studies (MA-MISS) is a miniaturized imaging spectrometer 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 those of visible light. It is therefore invisible to the human eye. IR is generally understood to encompass wavelengths from around ...

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

s, and scheduled to land on Mars in spring 2023. 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 A drill is a tool used for making round holes or driving fasteners. It is fitted with a bit, either a drill or driverchuck. Hand-operated types are dramatically decreasing in popularity and cordless batter ...

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. The Principal Investigator is Maria Cristina De Sanctis, from the

INAF The National Institute for Astrophysics ( it, Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica, 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 ...

(Istituto di Astrofisica Spaziale e Fisica Cosmica) 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 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 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 quantify the rate of energy transfer. The watt is named after James Wa ...

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, chromium, vanadium, or magnesium. The name sapphire is derived via the Latin "sap ...

window connected to an array of

optical fibre An optical fiber, or optical fibre in Commonwealth English, is a flexible, transparent fiber made by drawing glass (silica) or plastic to a diameter slightly thicker than that of a human hair. Optical fibers are used most often as a means ...

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) properties of minerals and mineralized artifacts. Specific studies within mineralogy include the proce ...

petrology Petrology () is the branch of geology that studies rocks and the conditions under which they form. Petrology has three subdivisions: igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary petrology. Igneous and metamorphic petrology are commonly taught together ...

, 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, 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 ...

project focused on the search for

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

habitability Habitability refers to 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 e ...

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 (chemical formula ) is an inorganic, transparent, tasteless, odorless, and nearly colorless chemical substance, which is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known living organisms (in which it acts as ...

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: lithostr ...

column for clues on subsurface geological processes.

References

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