Science Objectives for the Mission to Deimos and
Phobos
From your reading, you should have discovered the scientific interests
in Phobos and Deimos. First, scientists are not sure what they are made of. They
look like rock, but their density suggests that they are a mixture of rock and
ice. Studying the composition of the moons may settle this question. Scientists
are also not sure where they came from. Most scientists think they are captured asteroids that used to be in the outer
asteroid belt, but others disagree. The composition and magnetism of the moons may
give more information. Some people are curious about the feasibility of using the moons as either a site of a
permanent space station to observe Mars or as a rest stop for spacecraft that
want to send landers to Mars. If they were to do this, they would want to know detailed
morphology and topology to map out the surface. Lastly, a Soviet spacecraft had readings of a gas coming from Phobos, but
the spacecraft died before it could identify the gas. Scientists have guessed it is water, but they are not sure.
In order to try to address these scientific interests, the Primary Investigator has
decided on the following science objectives:
Primary objectives:
- To determine the surface composition of the moons, including what
elements make it up as well as its mineralogy.
- To measure interactions with the solar wind and search for possible
intrinsic magnetism.
- To investigate surface morphology through comprehensive imaging under a
variety of lighting conditions.
Secondary objectives:
- To measure detailed topographic profiles of the moons.
- To search for evidence of current activity as indicated by dust or gas
in the vicinity of the moons.
- To determine the gross physical properties of Deimos and Phobos,
including size, shape, configuration, volume, mass, and spin state.
Go on to
Spending and Weight Limitations
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Quiz on Demios and Phobos
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